For the past several years, even before we joined Milpitas ASL, the congregation has participated in Deaf Nation Expo in Pleasanton CA. Many of you might be wondering what Deaf Nation Expo is? It is an annual event that takes place at one of the exhibit halls at the Alameda Fair Grounds. This event has services, churches, and, businesses that cater to the Deaf community. You might wonder how the Deaf community differs from the Hearing community when it comes to products and services? Well, how do hearing people wake up on time in the morning in order to get to work on time? Easy, an alarm clock with either an annoying alarm or music. But the Deaf can't hear.....so there are special alarm clocks for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. These consist of a vibrator that you can set under your pillow or mattress to vibrate the bed to wake you, or very bright lights (but obviously this doesn't work very well). There are many specialized products made specifically for the Deaf, and since this group are a small in number, some of these products and services are hard to find.
There are other products and services directed to the Deaf community: Sign Language movies (not closed caption, but movies where the actors are signing), jewelry, T-shirts, keychains, books, etc. Also at the Expo there are tables and areas rented offering services to the Deaf community, such as interpreting, legal, religious, real estate, cell phones, etc. There are some very savvy business persons that learn sign language for no other reason that to further their business. Every year there is a Real Estate agent that sets up a table. The Deaf community have a difficult time trusting people in the Hearing community. But the Deaf community like to talk about people that sign, who they can trust. So if a person is a real estate agent, car salesperson, bank executive, etc., the Deaf will tell each other about that person and go to them when they need a house, car, etc. I'm pretty sure that the Real Estate agent we see every year does a good business dealing with Deaf clients. Smart man.
So Jehovah's Witnesses, our Milpitas ASL congregation, sets up a table every year. We have 2 TV's going with our videos (either the Bible, tracts, or dramas), large printed signs advertising JW.org, and usually those invited to sit behind the tables bring their iPad's and set them on the table in front of them, showing visitors how accessible JW Sign Language app is and what it can do for them. Also set out are sign language DVD's and a sign-up sheet just in case they would like a visit from us to their home.
We don't have the numbers in yet, but we heard that the DVD's were not moving as much as in past events, but the JW.org tract was moving like hotcakes. The Deaf LOVE their smartphones. They LOVE apps that are directed specifically to the Deaf. This is exactly why JW Sign Language app was developed. This is how Deaf Jehovah's Witnesses and Hearing Witnesses that attend sign language meetings do our personal study. Very few of us still use DVD's in our TV's or computers.
Another nice thing about Deaf Nation Expo is that we ALWAYS see many of the friends from other local congregations visiting the event. So it was very nice to see brothers and sisters from Oakland, San Francisco, Modesto, Stockton, as well as other Deaf who are not Jehovah's Witnesses that we have met in the past. Every year I look for both of my ASL college professors, but have never seen them. John always runs into a nice man that he works with at Toyota named David. He's always friendly and happy to see us.
We didn't stay too long at the event, but we did enjoy the time we were there, and we are always proud of the witness made by our JW table.
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