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I’m a 15 year old
profoundly deaf girl. I am a freshman at Shorewood High School. I am oral. I thank my
parents for choosing to make me be oral rather than learning sign language because I
realize I can talk to anybody I want to. I can understand more people. The best thing
about being oral is to have people treat me like a normal person. Learning how to talk is
really hared and tough but it’s worth a lot to my life and my future.
Michelle, freshman, regular high school. Profoundly hearing impaired.
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When I was born and the
doctors had diagnosed my hearing loss, the doctor explained to my parents that I would
never survive the "hearing" world and must be placed in an institution and learn
to communicate by sign language. My mother, in her right mind, objected to this and
sacrificed nearly all her time to teach me to listen and to speak with my hearing aids. It
was tough at first because I had no concept of hearing as well as a blind person had no
concept of seeing. It took my mother months and months to get me to speak and I finally
spoke. Then again, it took me years and years for me to have perfect speech and I’m
still working on it as I excelled in my academics in public schools.
Ryan, freshman, C.U.-Boulder. Profoundly hearing impaired.
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I feel privileged to have the
education that I have had – an education which enabled me to grow and flourish in the
hearing world. I have been mainstreamed all my life, and I was able to take advantage of
some wonderful opportunities. While I was in Cherry Creek High School I participated in
the Speech and Debate program, nationally recognized for its large size and topnotch
quality. In such an environment, I got lots of practice and competition, which made me a
better debater and a more confident public speaker.
Jason, graduate, Amherst College, student, Boston University School of Medicine. Very
severely hearing impaired. |
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