As the only Deaf child in a family of nine, my parents held the same expectations for me as they did for my hearing siblings, never viewing my deafness as a 'disability.' Interestingly, people with disabilities are often labeled as individuals with 'special needs,' which perpetuates a stigma rooted in ableism. Yet, consider how non-disabled individuals rely on light to see or chairs to sit—accommodations that are seen as standard, not special.
Moreover, when I’m invited to serve as a speaker or join a meeting, I’m often asked, 'Do you need a sign language interpreter?' My response is always, 'WE need a sign language interpreter.' The interpreter is not present solely for my benefit, but for everyone’s benefit—to ensure full participation and clear communication for all involved.
I proudly identify as a Deaf woman and do not see my deafness as a disability, but rather as an integral part of my identity and culture. My success today as CEO and President of TDIforAccess is a testament to this perspective. I never allowed my deafness to be a barrier; instead, it has made me resilient and determined, proving that anything is possible. Excellent article!
Sports has a way of challenging us in ways that will make us question everything and battle our deepest fears. As a track fan, seeing Lyles succeed despite the hate is awesome. He is the definition of working hard, and not caring about what other people think.
“It’s quite something that this dyslexic kid who had trouble early on in school got to high school and really exceeded everyone’s expectation, including, I dare say his own”
I had a different take on this than what you pointed out in the article. My view was that the weakness was acknowledged and overcome much like Noah Lyles. The child did not let being dyslexic define their existence but used that to motivate themselves to excel.
As the only Deaf child in a family of nine, my parents held the same expectations for me as they did for my hearing siblings, never viewing my deafness as a 'disability.' Interestingly, people with disabilities are often labeled as individuals with 'special needs,' which perpetuates a stigma rooted in ableism. Yet, consider how non-disabled individuals rely on light to see or chairs to sit—accommodations that are seen as standard, not special.
Moreover, when I’m invited to serve as a speaker or join a meeting, I’m often asked, 'Do you need a sign language interpreter?' My response is always, 'WE need a sign language interpreter.' The interpreter is not present solely for my benefit, but for everyone’s benefit—to ensure full participation and clear communication for all involved.
I proudly identify as a Deaf woman and do not see my deafness as a disability, but rather as an integral part of my identity and culture. My success today as CEO and President of TDIforAccess is a testament to this perspective. I never allowed my deafness to be a barrier; instead, it has made me resilient and determined, proving that anything is possible. Excellent article!
Love this, thank you so much for sharing.
Sports has a way of challenging us in ways that will make us question everything and battle our deepest fears. As a track fan, seeing Lyles succeed despite the hate is awesome. He is the definition of working hard, and not caring about what other people think.
I'm a huge track and field fan. It was fun watching Noah Lyles dominate.
And thanks for the shoutout! Appreciate the love for Mostly Metrics
“It’s quite something that this dyslexic kid who had trouble early on in school got to high school and really exceeded everyone’s expectation, including, I dare say his own”
I had a different take on this than what you pointed out in the article. My view was that the weakness was acknowledged and overcome much like Noah Lyles. The child did not let being dyslexic define their existence but used that to motivate themselves to excel.
I think the difference is that is up to the child to share if they wanted to. Why not just "Charlie got into Acme College, we are so proud of him!"
Our lives can be truly defined only by the Unlimitedness of our Lord God who designed us.