Cultural Forms

When I look back at my experiences at Ohio State, I think of the many cultural forms that could negatively affect Lindsay.  There were many rituals and ceremonial procedures that Ohio State partakes in, such as first year commencement.  Since there are so many people in the incoming classes, Lindsay would most likely find herself sitting in the upper balcony of the basketball stadium (where commencement takes place).  Being all the way up there myself, I remember how it was almost impossible to see the speakers, much less get a good look at their mouths.  Though they were also being filmed on large monitors, the camera angle was still not conducive for Lindsay to lip read.  Though an interpreter was present at the event, she was so far away; Lindsay probably could barely see the interpreter.  This may be something that with good enough communication with Disability Services, Lindsay might have been saved a section near the front near an interpreter, but if Lindsay, being overwhelmed by a large school and the stress of transition failed to get in touch with Disability Services, she would not have that luxury.

Much of the ceremony included musical cues as well.  We were taught the alma mater and then instructed to proceed out of the building, when the music started playing again.  While Lindsay is slightly accustomed to not having good accommodations, having grown up in a predominantly hearing hometown, she probably feels pretty uncomfortable being in a new environment, relying entirely on the physical cues of her unfamiliar peers to let her know when to move or stand, or when  the words of the alma mater were on the screen.  Being amidst so many people, it was probably difficult for Lindsay to start up any conversations with other students or administrative staff where she could see all their mouths, or stay focused.

I also think of the football games.  While I was at the institution, Ohio State actually was sued for not having captions on the screens during football games. Though many of my peers thought “it was strange” that someone hard of hearing would want to go to the games, I’m glad that they have added closed captioning to all the games now.  Football is such an integral part of the Ohio State experience (whether you love it or hate it), that to not be able to go and know what was going on would probably have been pretty disheartening for her.  Now, she can partake in this large social/ cultural form with her peers.

There are other cultural forms that probably help to make Lindsay feel included.  An example is the annual campus involvement fair.  During this fair, Lindsay, though still slightly overwhelmed by the amount of people, gets to walk through and read many of the posters and pamphlets of student organizations.  Since much of this experience is much more personable, many of the students working the booth were also very willing to have focused, in-depth conversations with her about their organizations.  The way the involvement fair is set up with personable interactions and many visual aids were helpful and inclusive to Lindsay.  She also found a very active and popular American Sign Language Club, which automatically makes her feel more appreciated (a nonverbal message of sorts).  Another cultural form that is particularly endearing to Lindsay is the gesture.  Since Lindsay is at Ohio State, where the classic gesture of “O-H-I-O” is prevalent all over campus, this is a cultural form she can always readily identify from across the Oval, or at a football game, etc.  Every time she sees this cultural cue, she is reminded of and filled with a sense of pride of being a Buckeye.