A simple gesture turned an ordinary dinner into a special moment of connection between one man who is deaf and a waitress
Need to know
In July 2025, a man who is deaf and his wife sat down for dinner at one of their favorite restaurants
When the waitress came to take their order, the interaction took an unexpected turn
The moment quickly became meaningful in a way none of them anticipated
A man who is deaf and his wife were caught pleasantly off guard when a waitress at one of their favorite restaurants in Indiana began using sign language.
Robert Haney Jr., 42, who lost his hearing at age 3 after a battle with meningitis, was thrilled to communicate directly without needing his wife to interpret.
While he’s had similar experiences before, it meant even more that it happened somewhere so familiar and meaningful to them.
The unexpected connection left him feeling seen, understood, and welcomed in a way that words alone often can’t express.
“My first thoughts were that I was shocked and excited because not many waiters know American Sign Language (ASL),” Haney tells PEOPLE exclusively.
While his wife majored in ASL interpreting in college, the father of two was excited not to rely on her to communicate.
His wife, Maggie Haney, 33, explains that she typically interprets for him when they’re together, not because he can’t or doesn’t want to communicate on his own, but because “it is just faster for me to interpret.”
She noted that he is fully capable of interacting with hearing individuals independently, using a combination of lip reading, speech, gestures, and talk-to-text apps on his phone.
In this particular situation, the waitress knew enough basic sign language to understand his food order and engage in a brief conversation – something that made the interaction feel smooth and natural.
“Most of the time, I have to work extra hard to communicate with others who don’t know ASL,” he says. “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.”
As the owner of a moving company, Robert rarely encounters people who know ASL. The vast majority of his customers are unfamiliar with sign language.
According to him, the small efforts from hearing individuals – like making eye contact or writing things down – can significantly improve communication.
“Please don’t tell them to just read your lips,” Robert emphasizes, highlighting the challenges and limitations of lip reading.
Even knowing the ASL alphabet or a few basic signs can make a real difference for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing.
“I just want people to be open to learning and communicating with people that are different than them,” Maggie shares.
“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.”
As content creators, Robert and Maggie’s goal is to spread awareness about the deaf community and encourage others to learn sign language and treat deaf individuals with the same respect and consideration as anyone else.
“Deaf people are capable of doing absolutely anything,” she 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.”
