Until this evening, I was unaware of the trauma of not ALLOWING a non-hearing child the right to communicate and the frustration and emotional trauma that goes along with this denied right. I have a daughter who has chosen a worthy and wonderful vocation. She is to be a Nurse. Her choice to take ASL has made me proud. I have always tried to encourage my children to follow their heart and to make the Best of their lives...I am so proud of my daughter I could never explain. As she drove home from school this evening, she called and asked me an unusual question. "Mom, if I had been born deaf, would you have put me in a school that would use only speach, or would you have put me in a class using Sign as well as learning to speak? My immediate answer was "I would have made the choice of the class using Sign!"
She then told me of an hour long documentary of a Deaf Child never allowed to learn sign. For A Deaf Son. I wept to think of the Neglect due to a Selfish Mothers action, the denial of him ever learning I Love You, never to be allowed to be what he could have been. She told me the Boy had committed suicide. My heart quite literally broke at those words.
My daughter also has a daughter aged 2 1/2 who learns sign and continues to do so, why, you may ask, she is hearing, it's to help others in the future. My children grew up with a friend who started them on the road to ASL. she was deaf but through her courage, her determination, she made a difference in our lives. She is and will always remain a Hero. My daughter was with me at a Wal-Mart several years ago and witnessed a man trying so hard to make himself understood. Not one of the Associates knew what to do, Jamie asked if she should offer to help, My response was "Of Course", after a few moments everything was resolved. When she came back, she said "Mom. I want to make a difference, I want to take ASL, she was 13 or 14 at the time. From this small act to show she could make a difference, her resolve has followed her, she is now 26.
I do however, wonder at the Law regarding the child in the documentary, I'm sorry, I don't know his name...in my eyes, this was deliberate Neglect, his Father tried , his Mother Never Allowed Him to Use His Hands to Speak, never allowed him to be what he could have been, personally, I think the Mother should serve life in prison in a soundproof room until she draws her last breath. Then and only then would Justice Be Served.
She then told me of an hour long documentary of a Deaf Child never allowed to learn sign. For A Deaf Son. I wept to think of the Neglect due to a Selfish Mothers action, the denial of him ever learning I Love You, never to be allowed to be what he could have been. She told me the Boy had committed suicide. My heart quite literally broke at those words.
My daughter also has a daughter aged 2 1/2 who learns sign and continues to do so, why, you may ask, she is hearing, it's to help others in the future. My children grew up with a friend who started them on the road to ASL. she was deaf but through her courage, her determination, she made a difference in our lives. She is and will always remain a Hero. My daughter was with me at a Wal-Mart several years ago and witnessed a man trying so hard to make himself understood. Not one of the Associates knew what to do, Jamie asked if she should offer to help, My response was "Of Course", after a few moments everything was resolved. When she came back, she said "Mom. I want to make a difference, I want to take ASL, she was 13 or 14 at the time. From this small act to show she could make a difference, her resolve has followed her, she is now 26.
I do however, wonder at the Law regarding the child in the documentary, I'm sorry, I don't know his name...in my eyes, this was deliberate Neglect, his Father tried , his Mother Never Allowed Him to Use His Hands to Speak, never allowed him to be what he could have been, personally, I think the Mother should serve life in prison in a soundproof room until she draws her last breath. Then and only then would Justice Be Served.
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