In theory, I live in the Deaf Capitol, the District of Columbia, which would be great and all if that was the only thing that defines me. But it’s not. And what was supposed to be a one year stop-over in DC has turned into almost four years. (Egad!) So although my hearing continues to decline, I’m also not getting any younger — it’s time to move.
But where?
I’ve long dreamed of NYC (as a kid in the midwest it seemed the epitome of all that was awesome). Even still, despite the costs: it’s got a huge creative economy; it’s international in its influence; it’s got fantastic grad schools; its population is ethnically diverse; and its an urbanist’s dream. All these things are important to me and my partner. But is it a good city for the Deaf/HOH?My fear of the impatient, fast-talking New Yorker suggests maybe not. However, everytime I’ve been there (which is a lot, no fewer than five former roommates live there), I’ve found everyone to be warm and friendly and to “in nothing-phases a New Yorker” style adjust to alternate forms of communication very easily. Will that still happen in the workplace?
SF on the other hand has top programs for ASL and the Deaf and is very accommodating of difference and of course international, design-centered and urbanist with great grad schools.So which is better? And is there someplace that I’m leaving out that I should also be considering? (On the coasts please, my partner is not moving to fly-over country.) Perhaps LA? Philly? Seattle?
None of these moves are going to be easy, and jobs are competitive while being hard of hearing may well be a knock against me. (I’ll be honest here. It shouldn’t be. But that’s not the way life works.) But we need a goal and we need to get along from the holding pattern that I’m in right now here in DC.Please chime in. And thank you.
[UPDATE: Curious Eyes brings up something that I should have pointed out. we've lived in the Bay Area too in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley from 1998-2004. I went to college in SFand Oakland. I met my partner there. I had jobs in Concord and SF, but the job market was such in 2004 that I wasn't finding full-time work. And friends and former professors were leaving for much the same reason. But I was generally hearing then -- or at least more so -- and thought I would have more years before losing my hearing. That was just hubris. So I'm trying to make a decision that will be good for my developing Deaf identity as well as allow me to eat. And pursue graduate school.]
Image of Manhattan in the San Francisco Bay courtesy of kottke.org
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Pingback on May 28th, 2008 at 23:03
[...] Francisco, I’m still smitten with the idea of moving move to New York City. I didn’t get much feedback from the NYC side of the Deaf/HH community in regards to accessibility and deaf-friendliness, so I [...]
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18 March 2008 at 21:43
All things being equal between two fantastic cities — love ‘em both, but in the interests of full disclosure, I live in the SF Bay Area — the two advantages that SF has over NYC is our incomparable weather and stunning natural environment. SF has a rep for being foggy, but that’s usually nearer to the beach than nearer to the Bay. The rest of the time, it’s pleasant and mild year round. No more skidding on icy sidewalks! To help you better enjoy the climate, there are numerous regional and state parks, open space preserves, recreation areas, lakes, beaches, and whatnot within an hour of SF. If you wanted to go a little further afield, the beauties of Lake Tahoe, the high Sierras, and the storied Yosemite can all be had in less than 4 hours. If you’re not already an outdoor lover, you will become one when you live in California. If you or your partner has a career in a high-tech field, well, Silicon Valley is the center of the universe for that. the prices of SF real estate are in the stratosphere, but you don’t have to live right in the city to enjoy a great place to live. Good luck with your decision-making process!
19 March 2008 at 1:59
SF is a beautiful city and it is fun living here since i moved here back in July, 07.
My quest in San Francisco started when i came here for Graduate school at SFAI (San Francisco Art Inst.). The people were wonderful but the program wasn’t for me. It became obvious that i wont benefit from the program for the cost it was worth and RIT taught me so much to begin with. I left the school and never looked back.
I’m sorry to say that there isn’t much of a deaf community in the city itself. It’s actually the bay area that has more activity. The community rarely meets out here and you’re better off with a car as the BART has its own limits. DPHH is rarely held here too and if you depend on the train to get you there, i’m afraid you’ll have to head home around 10:30 pm so you can get back in the city before the train closes at midnight instead of taking the “owl” bus back which may take a 2-4 hour wait and ride. check out http://www.CalDeaf.com and you’ll rarely see events in SF posted.
As for jobs? Maybe you’ll have a better luck than I did; regardless of my skills and experience in photography, a hearing assistant who doesn’t understand a strobe head or legal issues or the difference between megapixels and CCD size had fared so much better than me due to “communication concerns”. I volunteered for 2 Photography trade organizations for months and promoted heavily only, made bread and treats to appease, business cards and in the end, I was only blessed to have a few photographers actually respond with a false promise to think of me. I know this for certain because i see it and my girlfriend met some of these photographers at graphic design events where they express their concerns with “communication”. Its hard to promote yourself when you also have to teach and prove yourself capable.
According to DCARA, there is a difficulty to find any job in San Francisco because of competition and ignorance as well as a common bigotry. In fact, an illegal who can’t speak a whit of English can more easily get a job than a deaf person with a BA degree.
Not to say this was a complete misfortune; because of these hardships, i was able to focus completely on my photography business. It’s a blessing in disguise. I got to meet many wonderful deaf people in the surrounding area and the few diamonds in the rough around the city. I got to see what makes the city beautiful and why people (and homeless) do love living here. I got to learn more about myself and what i want out of life.
All in all, you’ll find your own piece of San Francisco and the surrounding area as i did. This city is a beautiful, expensive, and an eye-opening experience full of wonderful people when i was fortunate to even see them. Remember, its not San Francisco that makes it beautiful; but the people you meet. The same goes for NYC. As for me, i’m heading to Hawaii to be closer to my father and expand my business there.