VIEWERS of RTÉ documentary Deafening were left inspired by the powerful stories of four members of the Irish deaf community as they spoke about their lives.
The documentary, which was produced by Mind the Gap and aired last night, trended on Twitter as viewers at home and abroad praised the insightful film featuring four members of the deaf community with very different lives.
Sarah Jane Moloney O’Regan, an RTÉ broadcaster, spoke of how while she loves being deaf, she worried about what her twins would go through if they were also born deaf.
Upon learning her twins were both hearing, Sarah Jane spoke of her relief.
"I don't know how to say this without sounding like being deaf is the worst disability in the world - it's not - but I felt like my babies will be ok, they'll be fine.
"No matter what they want to do, if they want to be astronauts or doctors, there's nothing stopping them.
"If they'd gone the other way today, I'd be worried about them because the world is really cruel and they'd have to fight for everything."
Scroll down to read viewers' Twitter reactions to Deafening
Siblings Jade and Matthew Visser from South Africa but living in Waterford, both have Cochlear Implants and perfect speech from daily speech therapy they received in South Africa.
In the documentary, the 12 and 14-year-olds shared their concerns about fitting into a mainstream school, the challenges of making friends and how sparring deaf in Taekwon-do puts them at a distinct advantage as they can read their body language.
"We both understand what we've been through," Jade said. "To me it's normal being deaf, I don't know what it feels like not to be deaf."
Sean Herlihy is a teacher at a Deaf school in Dublin, but originally from the West Cork Gaeltacht.
He believes his Deafness is a gift that allows him to travel the world without language barriers.
In his view, its hearing people who are at a disadvantage when it comes to travel.
"There are huge language barriers for them, and they don't have the network that deaf people have.
"If a hearing person goes to Spain, and meets a Spanish person, and neither of them speaks each other's language, then they don't have a network or a method of communication. Deaf people who sign, do," he said.
"It doesn't matter where in the world a deaf person is from, if they sign, it'll only take a minute to learn each other's sign languages and then we can communicate fluently," he added.
But what resonated with viewers most was Sarah Jane Moloney O'Regan asking people to see beyond a method of communication.
"What's far more important is what we're saying - not how we choose to say it," she said.
Here's what some poeple said after watching the documentary...
Spent too much energy crying over my son's hearing impairment. Heartening to see this doc & support from @Ournewears #deafening https://t.co/CscWWeTWxK
— Caroline Brazil (@Carolb06) March 3, 2017
I remember when my daughter was diagnosed it was impossible to find sign lang classes #deafening & speech therapist advised me not to learn
— Samantha Kelly (@Tweetinggoddess) March 2, 2017
Watching #deafening ..my daughter is hearing impaired & has two hearing aids. I used to worry about her future. Thank you @RTEOne
— Samantha Kelly (@Tweetinggoddess) March 2, 2017
Others praised the powerful documentary and highlighting different aspects of the deaf community...
"What we say is more important than the way we choose to say it" #deafening respectful presentation of the many different ways to be deaf
— Muriel Grenon (@MurielGrenon) March 2, 2017
It's important what we say, not the way we say it. Powerful stuff. Great documentary. #deafening
— Darragh Nelson (@TheFullNelson7) March 2, 2017
So many aspects of the reality of the Deaf communities that are invisible to hearing people - exposing those aspects is vital #deafening
— Dr Gearóidín McEvoy (@GaRoDean) March 2, 2017
Best documentary I have seen in ages #deafening
— Áine O Donnell (@AinYeah) March 2, 2017
Others were inspired by those in Deafening...
Would watch an entire documentary just on Seán giving insightful and inspirational life advice #Deafening he has some lucky students
— Dr Gearóidín McEvoy (@GaRoDean) March 2, 2017
We could really learn something from Deaf people, they seem to enjoy life so much more. #deafening
— Suzanne 🇺🇦💙💛🏳️🌈 (@Littlesis87) March 2, 2017
Excellent programme tonight on @rte #deafening an insight to being deaf #identity #proudtobedeaf #equality
— Michael Johnston (@MJohnston1976) March 2, 2017
#Deafening Wonderful, moving documentary. Well done to all featured - thank you for the glimpse into your lives.
— Terry McDonald (@TerryMcDonald) March 2, 2017
#deafening was amazing & fascinating last night! Well done @electricginger & @Herliho -very inspiring #Equality #yestoISL #recognition
— Eoghan Fee (@eoghanfee) March 3, 2017
Truly inspirational people on @rte #Deafening tonight. Tough life but they make it look so easy #rolemodels
— Paddy Hennessy (@clonoultypaddy) March 2, 2017
Some even pledged to learn ISL, Irish Sign Language, which is not officially recognised in Ireland...
#deafening #learnisl .....I intend to.
— GarSull (@GAROSULL) March 2, 2017
Learn the Irish Sign Language alphabet by the very creative Ray Watson @Illustratoray pic.twitter.com/P3EHSYXncC
— Irish Deaf Society (@IrishDeafSoc) March 2, 2017
