Deaf U is a Must-See Docuseries

When I was in high school, I spent a lot of time volunteering in the “special education” or “life skills” classroom. I had known a few of the kids there for most of my young life and being disabled myself, I thought it was only logical that I should help out where I could.

Being physically disabled rather than being deaf, non-verbal, being on the autism spectrum, or having other varieties of disability, I’ve always understood that in a lot of ways I was lucky. Phenixx Gaming was even created to celebrate diversity in the gaming industry. Championing accessibility, having people from all walks of life join our ranks, and letting other voices be heard is so very important to me.

When I saw Deaf U on my Netflix front page, it immediately caught my attention. One of the biggest regrets I’ve had in my life is that I never properly learned American Sign Language. My high school (and community college) didn’t offer it and I’ll admit that I used, “I don’t have time,” as an excuse to not add more work on my plate. I think ASL is something everyone should learn, because if we can include others at any point in our lives, why shouldn’t we?

Deaf U quickly captured my attention and after watching the entire series I have come to some conclusions about it. Before we dig into that though, let’s talk about the series itself. Produced by deaf activist, actor, and model Nyle DiMarco, Deaf U is a reality docuseries focusing on life at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. It focuses on the lives of multiple students, their struggles, and to a large degree their relationships.

I’ll admit that when I started watching it, I expected a more… clinical documentary. I expected a series about the struggles of these deaf individuals and something a little deeper. However, Deaf U at times drifts somewhere between Reality Television and a Docuseries. Some people may be turned off by this, but in truth, I find that it is perfect to showcase something disabled people often struggle with.

By focusing on the good, the bad, the messy, and the downright salacious parts of these people’s lives, Deaf U humanizes them in ways that other documentaries about disability do not. Not only does it get into the socio-economic divides of the deaf community itself, but it also focuses on how deaf people navigate relationships, trauma, and even just the stress of life. I’m not going to go into any details about any of the people involved with the documentary, but I can tell you that the docuseries does not pull any punches when it comes to what it will and won’t show.

One of the major parts of the docuseries involved students trying to fit in at Gallaudet. Some students didn’t feel they were “deaf enough” because maybe they didn’t know sign language when they arrived, not having access to those resources beforehand. Some students on the show were able to speak and sign, while others didn’t really speak at all other than signing. As a hearing person, these interactions brought to my attention things that I never even considered before.

I can relate to not being “disabled enough” from when I applied for financial aid. Many of the colleges and scholarship programs felt that because I could do some things for myself but not others, I didn’t qualify for their financial aid. Some colleges had accommodations for people more disabled than I was, or for people less disabled than me, but nothing that really fit my needs.

Aside from that though, I felt that while watching Deaf U, it was something so very eye-opening because the students managed to find ways around their struggles, yet still struggled with the things everyone else deals with. Relationships, family problems, social awkwardness, all of these things are universal. I can’t say whether Deaf U showcases proper diversity in the deaf community because I am not deaf. However, I think the team behind the series did a fantastic job of showing as many different stories and walks of life as they could.

I cannot recommend Deaf U enough to you. Whether you are deaf, can hear, or are somewhere in between, Deaf U is a fascinating and eye-opening experience. It also doesn’t lean too heavily in what some folks would call “inspiration-porn” because these people succeed and struggle not because of their deafness, but because life is about overcoming adversity.

Deaf U is a learning experience. It isn’t about feeling sorry for anyone or dealing with bigotry. It is just a learning experience about a culture and a side of life that some of us have not (and may not) experience. I hope there is a second season because there is so much more that they could delve into. The episodes are short and easily binge-able too, so It is definitely worth bingeing in a day or two.