1. How did you become deaf/were you born deaf?
Born deaf.
2. How was it discovered that you're deaf?
Since my family came down with Rubella, including my mother so they are aware that it could cause deafness along with other problems. They found out for sure when I was 5 months. Before that, my mother was confused because I turned my head to look at her when she plodded into the room. She didn't realized until much later that I felt the viberations from her footsteps. I also didn't wake up when my siblings popped a balloon when they were fighting over it.
3. How did your family react?
I don't know the answer.
4. Does anyone in your family know sign language and if so, what kind of sign system was used? If not, how do you communicate with family members?
No. My sisters know some spelling. Mostly it is oral method. They do talk more clearly and abit slow for me. My mother would use homemade sign language when I was little.
5. What is your educational background and the communication method used there ( (oral, SEE, ASL, etc)?
Preschool to elementary school use oral method. High school uses ASL.
6. What is your current communication method?
ASL and oral method depending on who I am talking to.
7. What is your role in the Deaf Culture and how do you feel about it? Do you feel comfortable or conflicted? Why?
Very comfortable in Deaf Culture now. I am upset that there are hearing people who don't listen to the deaf people's concerns about Deaf Education, Cochlear Implant, jobs for the deaf (and equality), communication methods, etc.
8. What kind of frustrating experiences have you had?
Mostly relating to job experiences. Oh, I forgot.... the oral method at school really stunk and because of that, the education for the deaf stunk, too. I want a better education because I knew I can do more difficult schooling (aside from math - my weak suit) and this is how I convinced my parents to send me to a private school for the deaf.
9. How do you feel about Cochlear implants?
Don't like it as it increases the chance of meningitis and thus the chance of dying. I strongly feel that it should be the child's choice not the parents (not before they are 18 years old). Why the deaf child have to be 'dying' to learn to speak when it won't 'kill' the hearing parents to learn ASL. I won't go for CI. I was discriminated because I am Deaf eventhough I wear hearing aids and can speak.....why go for very expenisve and dangerous CI and still get discriminated??? Doesn't make sense to me.
10. What kind of changes would you want to see or make in the hearing world?
That the hearing people would heed our concerns regarding communication methods, Deaf education, Job equality for the Deaf, CI issues and that the deaf children need to be with other deaf children for their self-esteem.
That they would know the difference between born-Deaf and late-deafened. Most of those who were born deaf don't really care about hearing because they never had it in the first place. Most of those who became deaf after they learned to speak, would do anything to get their hearing back because they know what it was like before. Those in between could go either way.
That they would be more willing to learn sign language.... either ASL or PSE to improve their communication with us and helping themselves if they go deaf themselves or found themselves in situations where they really need sign language - for example, being intubed prevents them to speak.