Alphabet

Silent Dinner

What is a "silent dinner?" It is a social event where people meet for dinner at a local restaurant. The group may consist of both deaf people and hearing people, who want to practice their sign language, make new friends, or just plain socialize. In other parts of the world these ‘get togethers’ have become a necessary part of deaf community social life.

People who are willing to travel to the agreed location just for the chance to socialize with deaf and hearing people at a restaurant, are rewarded by the food, fellowship and also new friendships.

Accessibility of the chosen restaurant is important. To be sure that people who cannot drive or do not have cars could attend, we tried to find a restaurant as accessible to public transportation as possible.

It is also a good idea if the chosen restaurant allows for tables to be put together to create a long table. That format encourages more interaction among dinner participants.

In addition to being a way to make friends and practice sign language skills, silent dinners can also be a good way to ensure that people in the deaf community are included in the social interaction that many hearing people experience on a regular basis. If you go to a silent dinner, you don't go for the food - you go for the people