Have you been encouraged to choose a different career path because of deafness? Why?
Yes, and I proved every single one of them wrong. I came up with solutions that made it work, and those solutions revolutionized how my companies did business.
What have I done or seen done by a Deaf person? Waitressing, telemarketing (I'm not kidding), aviation, to begin with.
What do you think are the limitations?
None. The only limitations you have are the ones you impose on yourself. You think Nyle DiMarco has any limitations? You really ARE the person giving yourself limitations.
Any time you think, "My hearing coworker did XYZ to me," consider how you're actually limiting yourself and enabling your hearing coworker to do that to you. [Although, discrimination IS an issue and I do not want to take away from the importance of that issue with this comment]
What do you think make a deaf person successful in any career?
Confidence in yourself. I think that, aside from being an overdeliverer, is critical. I never go in a meeting saying, "I'm Deaf, can you accommodate me?" No, sireee Bob.
I walk in there, "We topped our competitors by 45% and have grown 280% in this quarter alone. Questions?" And when they start talking, "Please write down your thoughts, so that you may be able to communicate your questions more effectively." If you use an interpreter, then "Please look at me and pace your voicing so that you are able to communicate your questions more effectively."
The difference is this:
1. You come in asking for help with your job with the implication:
"I have a problem with me, please change yourself to come down to my level."
Yes, but being a badass at what you do is even more important. People love someone who overdelivers and will look past any flaw (and your Deafness is an asset in many more ways than one, I am talking about character flaws).
