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Birth Day
Born 2 weeks early, healthy.
Pinckneyville, Illinois -
Hospitalization
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Home from Hospital
My grandmother was the glue that kept my family together. We always had birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or just because. My father was one of 10 children so having a big family was our thing. My mother's side of the family are small so my mother was not quite used to this sort of tradition my father's family tend to have. -
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Hospitalization
At age 4 months, my parents noticed that something was not right with me. I was sick with high fever of 106*. My parents took me to the local hospital where I couldn't get the care I needed (that was in the 80's), my aunt was a nurse there suggested that my parents take me to the hospital about 45 minutes away. I spent about 3 weeks in the hospital after discovering that I had meningitis. I was lucky that I only lost my hearing (could be worse). -
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Sign Language
After the hospital, I learned from my father that his family found sign language classes at the Church about half hour drive away, took classes to learn how to communicate with me. (I learned about this few years back in 2012) -
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Audiology/Deaf School
I had a hearing test at age 3 to get my new hearing aids. After the testing, my parents and the audiologist met to discuss the result. The doctor mentioned there's a Deaf School up in Jacksonville, Illinois. My parents discussed about the school, actually went to visit the deaf school. After the visitation, they decided not to send me there because of the distance (2.5 hours). Meaning that I would be living on campus during the week and go home on the weekend.
[ https://bit.ly/2I1EMPv ] -
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Enrollment
My parents found another school which is called, "School for the Hearing Impaired" mainstreamed with the public school which was an hour away where I spent 6 years commuting daily round-trip.
They had teachers who fluent in sign language, speech therapist and audiologist.That is when I met others who was like me and how we all can related. That is when I learned of a Deaf Culture. I grew up with 2 cultures - Deaf and Hearing.
[ https://bit.ly/2WrsHHe ] -
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Divorce
My parents divorced when I was 3 years old. I remained with my dad and visited my mom on the weekends. We lived with my grandparents (dad's side) for support. Bathon family is huge, we always get together every holidays, birthdays, anniversary, and just because. My mom's family are small (she doesn't have close relationship with her family as much as my dad does with his family).
The divorce did not affect me because my family were very neutral. -
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Move to Texas
My dad remarried, decided to make a big move to New Braunfels, Tx from Illinois. He asked if I wanted to come, I said yes. I attended a school around the block that didn't have the services (such as: deaf education teacher nor interpreters). I remained at the mainstreamed school for about 3 months, I failed, I struggled. The admins decided to call for an ARD with my parents and that's when they made a decision by placing me into deaf program 30 minutes away. -
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Region 13 program
I attended Region 13 Deaf Program in San Marcos where I spent next 9 years commuting from 3rd grade to high school. I had the same Deaf Education teacher - Mrs. Burroughs for 9 years (like a second mom). She pushed me to the limits. She taught me how to be independent, turns "can'ts" to "cans". I learned MORE about the deaf culture as I gotten older. Grew up with same deaf peers. My dad was very supportive. Just because I'm deaf, disability does not matter to him because I am his daughter. -
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Culture
Since I attended Region 13 Program for 9 years, my dad was very supportive of my education. He does not allow me to have that kind of attitude that if things are hard, give up. He pushes me. He supports me. He helps me. Education is a big deal to my dad. If I struggle with homework, no matter hours he worked that day, he found the time for me. I grew up in a loving family, experience several culture (dad's family are Germans, mom's family are Polish) including my own - deaf culture. -
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School Years
Grew up attending the deaf program, meeting other deaf students who was either living locally or a commuter like I was. Growing up relating to each other, we stuck up for each other when times was hard. We had our own culture that others aren't familiar with how we "bing" to do. Our signing style, inability to hear but how to use the interpreter properly, etc. I was on a dance team from 7th grade to 10th grade. It was a different experience witnessing from opposite side and thinking "how?!" -
Region 13 Day Program for the Deaf
Group of deaf students on field trips -
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After High School
I attended Austin Community College because of their excellent program servicing deaf students. I attend there for a year for Computer Science before getting married and moved to Georgia and resided at an Air Force Base.
That was a whole new experience for a deaf person like me because of the military lifestyle. They have their own "culture" which how they dressed, their rules, respect is required no matter what, etc. I have had more respect from military personnel and families than before. -
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Life in Georgia
First 16 months of living in Georgia, I was unable to find a job. I was being discriminated against from several job-sites because I'm deaf. I was devastated and was very angry with people "off base". When I went in an employment service on base - I got hired on the spot because of military spouse preference, not only that, they don't discriminate against anyone with disabilities because that's a violation. After that, I have had so much more respect working on base than I do off base. -
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Macon State College - GA
I decided since we were living in Georgia for 6 years - I wanted to get my degree in Special Education. They weren't used to having students with disabilities attending their school and it was not a friendly experiences. I've asked and begged (for what is right and what was wrong) - I got written up twice. If I wanted to use tutor lab, I have to give them a week notice to get an interpreter. It was a terrible experience. I dropped out. -
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Life after Military
My (ex) husband decided 6 years to leave the military and move back to his hometown in Pennsylvania. That is when I felt like I don't belong because of my deafness. Its a small town with limited job opportunities for me. I happened to found a job working at a deaf school in Pittsburgh where I felt like I belong because people there speak my language. I commuted every weekend (stay in Pittsburgh during the week and go home on weekends). I stayed for a year because I was homesick. -
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Living in small town
I found a job as a Direct Support Specialist for this individual who was deaf also, but has another type of disabilities as well. It was a very challenging job because of communication with staff. After a while, I was unhappy because I did not have many friends that I could relate to. My ex decided it was time to go back to school which I was thrilled, we moved from Meadville, PA to Monaca, PA. I attended for Education for several months we got divorced. The school was fabulous with interpreter. -
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Life after a Divorce
After my divorce, I moved back to San Antonio, TX to re-evaluate my life. What can I do with my life and what career? I went back to school to complete my associates then bachelor. After those 10 years of marriage and living in 2 states, I was not pleased of how I was treated and those discrimination. While I was pondering of how life sucked for me, I was lucky enough to get a job at Randolph AFB youth center (due to my past experience) and had wonderful support on base. -
Arizona Bound
I had just moved to Arizona and started working at Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind. I knew no one, I have decided to pack up my things and made a big move myself, drove 17 hours from San Antonio, TX to Tucson, AZ. Met new people and within a week, I was invited to Girls night out and we got to know each other, played Bunco and get familiar with Tucson. They were my first Deaf group ever to make me even more welcomed. -
Mexico Vacation
Interpreting between hearing & deaf - can be exhausting but I had fun being able to help my significant other understand and be involved with the rest of us "deafies" (as we call ourselves).
(We had just started dating shy of 4 months, he had no knowledge of being around deaf people and he was learning about my culture) -
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Mexico Trip
I made new friends from working at Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind. They invited me and my significant other to go on a week long trip to San Carlos, Mexico which was my first time outside the country. Went on a road trip, it was a whole new environment because I don't speak Spanish (luckily few of my friends are from Mexico) nor am Hispanic. I learned of their traditions, culture, food, pesos, etc. It was an amazing experience. -
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Arizona-Bound
After living my life in the "Hearing World" - it wasn't until I moved to Arizona when I had my first experience of working at the School for the deaf and blind in Tucson, AZ. Not only that culture, I met many students from different background and cultures. Everyone had their own language and slangs. -
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Texas-Bound
Got homesick after living in Arizona for 2 years. As much as I enjoyed meeting new people and had wonderful relationships, I missed home. Moved back to Texas, got a job as a DeafBlind Intervener at Texas School for the Deaf for 2 years. Then got a job as an ASL Teacher at the high school north of Austin where I taught/teach students about ASL language and the deaf culture.
