"You can play any music. I still hear nothing." How a deaf Belarusian works as a taxi driver in Warsaw

"A person might think I'm ignoring them"

Valiantsin moved to Poland about four years ago. He chose Warsaw because he saw opportunities for work, business, and his family's future here.

The man has been deaf since birth. In everyday life, he uses sign language, and with people who don't know it, he prefers written communication.

Valiantsin has been driving for many years and working as a taxi driver for over ten. He says that during this time, he never encountered passengers who refused a ride due to his deafness. However, there were many misunderstandings.

— A passenger gets in the car, starts saying something, and I don't respond because I can't hear them. The person might think I'm ignoring them or don't want to talk, — Valiantsin says.

To avoid misunderstandings, the Belarusian hung an informational sign in Polish on the back of the front seat. It states that the driver is deaf, and any questions or wishes can be conveyed to him via phone.

There is also an unusual offer: passengers can play any music or even talk about their problems. Valiantsin jokes that he won't hear anything anyway, which means he won't judge or laugh.

The sign also features QR codes for the SpreadTheSign app, which helps communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

How a deaf driver notices ambulances and police

Valiantsin says that his lack of hearing does not prevent him from driving. Over years of work, he has learned to rely more on sight and carefully monitor the road situation.

— I believe that for a deaf person, eyes are especially important. We rely more on sight, carefully watching the road, mirrors, the movement of other cars, and the behavior of pedestrians.

A separate issue is emergency vehicles. Valiantsin doesn't hear sirens, so he pays attention to visual signals, including flashing lights.

He has had to communicate with Polish police officers numerous times. During checks, Valiantsin immediately explains that he cannot hear, sometimes showing this with gestures. If the police officer needs to clarify something, the driver offers to write a message.

— For me, written communication is not a problem. I am always ready to show all necessary documents.

Technology also helps. Uber and Bolt apps allow informing the passenger that the driver has a hearing impairment. This enables choosing a convenient communication method in advance. Additionally, orders themselves, addresses, and routes are displayed on the phone screen. Therefore, it's not necessary to speak with the passenger to complete trips.

Helped 30 deaf Belarusians find work

Valiantsin not only works as a taxi driver himself but also helps other deaf people get started in this field. According to him, with his participation, at least 30 deaf Belarusians have found employment in Warsaw. He also helped deaf Ukrainians who came to Poland after the start of the full-scale war.

— I helped them find jobs, explained the specifics of the work, trained them, and helped them adapt to new conditions.

Valiantsin says he understands well the difficulties deaf people may face when looking for work. According to his observations, finding a good place outside the taxi industry can be challenging. He is convinced that employers should primarily evaluate a person's professional abilities, not their hearing.

— Hearing impairment does not mean that a person is unable to work, live independently, drive a car, or run a business. Deaf people have their own ways of communication and adaptation, and we can work in many professions on par with others.

Polish sign language differs from Belarusian

In Poland, Valiantsin communicates not only with Belarusians but also with deaf people from other countries. However, even knowing sign language does not always allow immediate understanding of the interlocutor. In Poland, Polish Sign Language (PJM) is used. It differs from the sign languages prevalent in Belarus and other countries.

In everyday life, Valiantsin prefers written communication. For this, a phone and a little patience from the interlocutor are usually sufficient.

— Deaf Belarusians meet Polish women, start families, and live together. Hearing impairment is not an obstacle to love, marriage, and family life, — he is convinced.

Valiantsin admits that linguistic and cultural differences can arise between people from different countries. But he is confident that with mutual desire, they can be overcome.

"If it were bad in Poland, I would have returned"

Over more than ten years of working as a taxi driver, Valiantsin has become familiar with working conditions in various countries, including Belarus, Russia, and Poland. He says that comparing earnings is not easy. Much depends not only on the number of orders but also on car expenses, fuel, repairs, insurance, taxes, and commissions.

— Every driver is their own accountant. It's important to calculate not how much you earned in a day, but how much remained after all expenses.

Valiantsin himself does not name a specific amount for his income. He explains that he has several areas of activity related to taxis and cars, and no fixed work schedule. But when asked where it's better for him to work and live, he answers unequivocally:

— For me personally, Poland is currently winning. If it were bad, I would have returned.

But making long-term plans is not easy for him. According to Valiantsin, much depends on documents and obtaining a residence permit, which can take a long time.

Despite the difficulties, the man wants to continue developing his business. The main motivation for him is his family. Valiantsin has two daughters, for whom he strives to work and create new opportunities.

— It's important for me that they have a good education, the opportunity to play sports, develop, and choose their own path in life. I work hard and try my best to ensure my children have more prospects and confidence in the future.

• 4
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 1