I also thank everybody who encouraged me to continue the world I created in Miss Tea. That will happen, but I tend to write many stories at once, so it will be a slow process. I've met many deaf writers in my lifetime, and it's always a challenge to write about our own lives because we have that reflex resistance based on fear of audism.
That's why fiction works-- it shows lives and what happens, rather than preaches right and wrong at people. I would like to share a cute video about hearing-deaf relationships called "Quiet Signs of Love." This video was sponsored by the National Relay Service in Australia, and while this is in Australian Sign Language (NOT American Sign Language!) it shows how relay services does make deaf people independent and not "in need of help" by hearing would-be lovers.
Many hearing-deaf relationships fail, due to certain factors shown in this video, but many do succeed and last long-term.The key is family and social (friend) support on both sides, and it takes time for that to happen.
So, for me, Deaf awareness (and fighting ignorant attitudes) is not just for deaf people, their families, employers, coworkers, and friends. It's for all friends of those people, too, any potential employers, etc.
Finally, I think in an ideal world anybody who has just found out his or her baby is deaf should already know something about deafness. But we can't predict who will have a deaf child. Much of deafness is recessive and as high as 70% are born to hearing parents who have never had a deaf relative before, other than a 'deaf great-aunt' or 'a grandfather who went deaf in his late age.' Most haven't really know any deaf people before.
Deafness is a very hard thing to educate yourself on the spot about, especially if you have experts who may be pulling you in different directions, but perhaps not enough telling you about the basic social and linguistic milestone your baby needs, and how to achieve those as best as you can in your area. Some states already have those kind of services, but not all.
So, have a heart. Educate even those who you don't think are interested in deaf people. Ignorance is no excuse anymore.