What was supposed to be an ordinary dinner out in Indiana became an unforgettable moment of connection for Robert and Maggie Haney.
Robert, 42, who lost his hearing at age 3 after meningitis, was pleasantly surprised when their waitress began using sign language to take his order. “My first thoughts were that I was shocked and excited because not many waiters know American Sign Language,” he told PEOPLE.
@robert_and_maggie When you finally have a waitress that knows some sign language! @Tmoney #asl #signlanguage #deaf #dinner #fyp ♬ original sound – HaneyHouse
The sweet exchange meant he didn’t have to rely on his wife, Maggie, 33, to interpret. “Most of the time, I have to work extra hard to communicate with others who don’t know ASL,” Robert explained. “As a deaf person, I can sometimes feel isolated because communication isn’t always easy. When waiters know even just a little bit of ASL, I don’t have to work hard to communicate.”
Maggie, who majored in ASL interpreting in college, typically interprets during their outings simply because “it is just faster.” But she emphasized her husband is more than capable of interacting with hearing individuals independently, using lip reading, speech, gestures, or even talk-to-text apps.
This time, though, the small effort from their waitress made a big difference. “The unexpected connection left him feeling seen, understood, and welcomed in a way that words alone often can’t express,” Maggie shared.
Robert, who owns a moving company, rarely meets people who know ASL. He stresses that even the smallest gestures, like eye contact, writing notes, or learning the ASL alphabet, can help bridge the communication gap. “Please don’t tell them to just read your lips,” he said, pointing out the challenges and limitations of lip reading.
Maggie hopes their experience inspires others: “Too often, I witness people get a look of panic on their face or even frustration when they see that my husband is deaf. I hope our video inspires more people to be kind and respectful.”
Together, the couple, who are also content creators, aim to spread awareness about the deaf community. “Deaf people are capable of doing absolutely anything,” Maggie says. “The only thing they cannot do is hear; that’s it. So when the waitress said she knew a little bit of sign, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to show the impact accessibility can have.”
What started as a simple dinner order turned into something so much more: a reminder that kindness, even in its smallest forms, has the power to make someone feel truly seen.
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