How do Polish people see Deaf people in Poland?

I have been wondering how do Polish people see Deaf people in Poland? I have been planning to go to Poland to further my genealogy research but my only fear is that I won't exactly be welcomed and helped because of my deafness.

With their eyes ;) ;) Sorry, I guess they are not accustomed to them. I haven't encountered any deaf people but I guess that they'd adapt like most others.

you know thats a very interesting question, i'm not sure how the Polish view the handicaped/disabled or whatever you want to call people like me and you, lol. I have been wanting to ask the same about the reaction to having short sight.

In the UK i would say that the GP treat deaf/blind people with a respect and sometimes can be a bit patronising (you can put up with that as you know they are trying to be nice). Having been to a lot of nations around the world, the reaction is different, i have been ignored, i've been offered help etc etc that is beyond belief, the best reaction i like is treated as an equal/normal, lol.

I'm not sure but i would say the reactions are pretty similar for the deaf too.

HAHA. I probably should have worded that better.

I'm just a little hesitant because Sign Language is my first language. The communication barrier. Unless they use gestures quite a bit.

can you lip read?? i knnow that a lot of deaf people learn how to lip read at school, i assume you speak or know Polish, although i'm not sure how easy it would be to lip read Polish!!!!

I know numerous of people who are short-sighted. I have heard stories about how other nations react to deafness and such. Some worships the disabled/handicapped as if they were gifted. Some just leave them home because they consider them to be an embarrassment. In Egypt, there's a KFC where most of the workers there are deaf.

It's kind of nerve-wrecking going to another country and wonder how they would treat you.


I really wish I knew how to read or speak Polish. I was never really exposed with Polish culture growing up (which is disappointing.) I am pretty sure it would be hard to lip read Polish. I can lip read English.

To be honest i never really thought about it when i set off for a holiday/sports event/visit/ etc etc, it was more of an after thought when i got back. Usually other short sighted/partially sighted/blind people would ask me how the different nations reacted to me. A lot of the time i found that people just acted as though i was just another usual tourist (the best way) you do get a few who are either side of the nice/nasty line though.


well at least you can lip read in English, even if you cannot lip read in Polish. I'm not sure how you would learn another language though, i know you could learn it 'written' but to speak/lip read it would be almost impossible?? or would it??

There was a conversation about that not so long ago on LBC, that people - especially various services don't treat impaired with due respect and care. Many callers were furious..

As for Poland, I live near a school for audially impaired kids and from what I've seen people don't react to them in any special way, just treat them like other kids. That might not be the case somewhere in the country.

i think sometimes in life people often just think about themselves and themselves only, its a natural characteristic as they say 'you have to look out for number 1' but there is no harm in making sure that others are looked after too. I mean i have my life to get on with but i'm more than happy to help the old lady who drops her walking stick, or push the car of somebody who has broken down.

I am currently learning Japanese. I can learn it written but as for speaking/lip reading I would have to have a lot of one-on-one time with someone so I can learn the tonal pronouncement and such.

I should start learn how to read and write in Polish because that could help my genealogy research further.

Believe it or not, we don't exactly get treated with respect and care here. Sure we have the ADA laws but when it comes to occupation positions and such, we still get discriminated.

Does the school teach the kids sign language or is it a oral school where no sign language is allowed?

To Miss_Alycia:

Don't be shame of your hearing losses. I know how you feel and I can tell you that in Poland they do have someone who sign American sign language. I think you have to find out from someone in your state who can tell you to contact someone from Poland. There are lot of deaf people who will be happy to meet you. As long you won't be alone in hearing world.

Do you have families living in Poland? I am sure they will find out for you.

Good Luck!

Just say kurwa all the time and you will be O.K.

Word of advice for a newbie that you're to this site, do NOT follow southern's advice!

I have no data for adults, but as people familiar with deaf problems maybe you will be glad to know that:
"(between 2003 and 2006) a total number of 1,392,427 children were screened for hearing impairment, what stands for 96.3% of all delivered babies, registered in Poland. The screening program enabled to identify and refer for further treatment 2485 children with various types of hearing loss, 312 with profound (0.02% of population) and 145 with severe sensorineural hearing loss (0.01% of population)."

linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165587608004175

It was possible thanks to "Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity":
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WO%C5%9AP