Teen Refuses to Speak to Parents Until They Learn Sign Language

Imagine not being able to have a full conversation with your own parents because they refuse to learn your language. This is the reality for a deaf 16-year-old and her autistic stepsister, who have decided to take matters into their own hands. They’ve stopped speaking to their parents until they learn sign language. Let’s dive into this family drama and see how it all started.

Meet the Sisters: Anne and the Narrator

Sign Language: A Lifeline for Communication

Parents’ Lack of Effort

Family Members Who Care

Anne’s Heartbreak

The Silent Protest Begins

No Exceptions, Except Emergencies

An Awkward Encounter with Neighbors

A Bilingual Family?

In Trouble for ‘Lying’

The Silent Stand: Will the Parents Learn Sign Language?

This family drama has reached boiling point, with the deaf and autistic sisters refusing to speak to their parents until they learn sign language. Despite the parents’ lack of effort, other family members have learned to sign, but Mom and Dad just don’t seem to get it. The girls’ silent protest has led to some awkward situations, but they’re determined to stand their ground. Will the parents finally learn sign language and reconnect with their daughters? Let’s see what the internet has to say about this tense situation…

NTA. Deaf child deserves parents who learn to communicate with them.

Encouraging comment, suggests essay material, doubts parents’ change.

Heartbreaking situation, parents need to learn sign language ASAP.

Supportive comment applauds teen’s advocacy for deaf sister.

NTA. Parent-child communication should be a top priority

Heartbreaking story of deaf teacher raised in hearing household. NTA

Confusion arises over family dynamics and ASL class connection

Beautiful solidarity between siblings learning sign language together!

Teen’s admirable resolve to stand up for sister’s needs. #NTA

Teen calls out parents for not learning sign language. NTA

Teen teaches parents sign language, exposes double standard. NTA.

Deaf teen demands parents learn sign language. NTA, good job!

Heartbreaking. Some people just don’t deserve to be parents

Learning sign language is easy and fun, parents are wrong. #NTA

Deaf daughter ignored by parents, teen takes a stand. NTA

Parental refusal to learn sign language for deaf child is unacceptable

Teen’s plan to teach parents sign language supported by commenters.

Embrace sign language and leave unsupportive parents. NTA

Parent’s emergency words not enough, learn more sign language vocabularies.

Parental neglect towards deaf children highlighted, commenter learns sign language.

Learning sign language for your child is a no-brainer

Encouraging support for the teen’s actions with a warning.

NTA. Teen’s decision to teach sign language is commendable

Brother supports sister’s frustration with parents’ lack of sign language

Parent’s refusal to learn sign language makes them the a**holes

Learning sign language shows effort and respect for deaf community. #NTA

Learning sign language for a deaf child should be mandatory

Deaf person frustrated by lack of effort to learn sign language.

Parents should want to learn sign language for their child. NTA

Learning sign language is important for communication.

Deaf teen seeks advice on communicating with non-signing parents.

Deaf teen’s ultimatum to parents sparks NTA debate

NTA. Parent’s refusal to learn sign language is outrageous. Signing enhances communication

Teen’s decision to teach parents sign language praised

Parents called lazy for not learning sign language for child

Teen demands parents learn sign language, commenters agree they’re a**holes

Deaf teen’s refusal to speak until parents learn sign language

Learning sign language is important and worth the effort. NTA.

Deaf teen demands equal effort from parents in learning sign language

Teen teaches sign language, parents refuse, commenters support.

Supportive comment applauds teen’s decision to stand up for herself.

Heartbreaking reality for deaf kids with hearing parents. NTA.

Deaf teen’s drastic measure to communicate with parents. NTA.

Parents’ refusal to learn sign language is disrespectful and impractical. NTA.

Learning ASL for a stranger, but not for your child? NTA calls out abusive behavior.

Encouraging response from a Deaf teacher, urging parents to learn sign language

Supportive comment applauds teen’s stance on communication with parents.

Deaf teen stands up to parents, refuses to speak until understood

Parent criticized for not learning sign language for deaf child. NTA.

Asking to learn ASL and supporting OP’s actions.

Fiery comment condemns parents for not learning sign language

Parents neglecting sign language for D/HH child is abusive

NTA for expecting parents to try learning sign language

Learning sign language is easy, NTA for refusing to speak.

Parents called out for not learning sign language

Parents criticized for not learning sign language by commenters.

Deaf teen’s powerful protest inspires support and hope

NTA. Powerful message about the importance of communication with children.

Empowering comment supports teen’s decision to communicate in sign language

NTA. Teen refuses to speak to neglectful parents until they learn sign language

Parents’ refusal to learn sign language is hurtful and disrespectful

Deaf teen deserves better, NTA for demanding respect and inclusion

Teen demands parents learn sign language, commenters support decision.

Parent expresses support for learning sign language for child’s comfort

Parenting 101: Learn to communicate with your child.

Deaf teen’s encounter with ignorant family, missed opportunity to educate

Learning sign language alphabet is a great skill to have

Parents refuse to learn sign language for their deaf daughter. NTA.

Deaf teen rightfully demands full communication with parents

Learning sign language is basic decency. NTA.

NTA calls out parents for not learning sign language

Proud of OP for standing up for sister and holding parents accountable.

Deafness is not a disability, it’s a culture. NTA.

Learning sign language is a way to show love

Engaging with empathy: Commenter supports learning sign language for loved ones.