Big City Accessibility

Hi everyone,

I recently returned to Toronto after spending a week in the small town where I am from. For that one week while I was there I was oral only. I normally live “voice off” but when I am in my home town that is pretty much impossible given the mentality there and people expecting me to speak.

Today was my second day back in Toronto and I was so pleased to spend all day “voice off”. I have come to value how accessible Toronto is to me and the rest of the Deaf community in general. Sure, there are many improvements to be made, but as a whole it is decently accessible.

When I go out for lunch, no one gets freaked out if I gesture and point to the menu items to order. The waiters are willing to write notes, sometimes even initiating it themselves. Then there are all the people that know a little ASL, and regardless of how minimal their ASL knowledge is I really appreciate the effort.

Today I ordered my tea in ASL at Starbucks. The person working was fluent in ASL and it was great to see that. Then I went to Indigo and at the cash the woman know some basic ASL. Enough to communicate with me in a basic sense.

Today just made me very happy and I wanted to share.

Jenny