DeafRaptor
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2011
- Messages
- 162
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If you've seen my earlier posts, you'd have seen that I was born deaf & raised oral. In my post titled "Grew up with Hearing Aids: Are they still right for me?", I talked about reasons I have considered giving up HAs/oralism. I didn't mention that my job could be at stake. I've been having a lot of difficulties at work using HAs & trying to remain oral, but I know my office will offer interpreters when I learn ASL. They just don't have the resources to offer me the language themselves through ASL classes.
Well, I have accepted my deafhood
(after months of consideration, which had followed decades of trying to be hearing). I know being immersed in ASL/Deaf Community will help me quickly acquire ASL, which is my best shot of keeping my job. In the meantime, I have been taking an ASL "class" online until I figure out what my level is (took ASL in college, but not use in awhile). I have tried finding support groups/Deaf groups to join in my area (Tysons Corner, VA near DC/MD) as I know there is supposed to be a huge Deaf Community in my region, but maybe I am just looking in the wrong areas. The following advocacy groups weren't helpful: ASL for deaf children; equal access for adults whose native language is ASL; & HAs & oralism techniques for late-deafened. I tried finding a mentor, but the Northern Virginia Resource Center (the regional office here that offers services and support to deaf/hh) does NOT have a mentoring program. They only have a workshop for seniors on accepting that you are "hearing impaired" & need HAs, some technology for oral deaf, & a VERY basic ASL class. I found a couple small ASL meetups that meet for maybe an hour every month or so 20 miles away, but I've only met inexperienced ASL users. Do any of you know where I can "find" the Deaf Community here and possibly a mentor. 
Well, I have accepted my deafhood
(after months of consideration, which had followed decades of trying to be hearing). I know being immersed in ASL/Deaf Community will help me quickly acquire ASL, which is my best shot of keeping my job. In the meantime, I have been taking an ASL "class" online until I figure out what my level is (took ASL in college, but not use in awhile). I have tried finding support groups/Deaf groups to join in my area (Tysons Corner, VA near DC/MD) as I know there is supposed to be a huge Deaf Community in my region, but maybe I am just looking in the wrong areas. The following advocacy groups weren't helpful: ASL for deaf children; equal access for adults whose native language is ASL; & HAs & oralism techniques for late-deafened. I tried finding a mentor, but the Northern Virginia Resource Center (the regional office here that offers services and support to deaf/hh) does NOT have a mentoring program. They only have a workshop for seniors on accepting that you are "hearing impaired" & need HAs, some technology for oral deaf, & a VERY basic ASL class. I found a couple small ASL meetups that meet for maybe an hour every month or so 20 miles away, but I've only met inexperienced ASL users. Do any of you know where I can "find" the Deaf Community here and possibly a mentor.