(Ch. 56 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)

While taking sign language classes and studying Deaf culture, I learned about Gallaudet College (now called Gallaudet University). I discovered that Gallaudet had a special visiting student program, which would allow students to attend for one semester as they studied the language and culture of Deaf people. As the idea presented itself, it began to feel right for me, so I decided to apply. In January, 1984, I was admitted to Gallaudet for the 5 month spring semester. It was my call to adventure!

By immersing myself in the environment, language, and culture of Deaf people, I hoped to come to a clearer knowing of who I was and who I was not. I hoped Gallaudet and its Deaf population might guide me on my quest to a deeper understanding of my hearing loss and what it meant to be Deaf…

Before I lost my hearing, my knowledge of deafness was very limited. My only exposure to the language of Deaf people was to see an occasional sign language interpreter in the little circle at the bottom of a Sunday sermon on TV as I flipped through the channels.

I’m embarrassed to admit that in my narrow view, I imagined that Deaf people led terribly lonesome lives in their world of silence. I was oblivious to who Deaf people really were, or how Deaf people actually lived.

While at Gallaudet, my experience and understanding of Deaf people began to evolve, and my naïve and limited views of being Deaf certainly changed. I discovered that in this universe, there lives a rich tapestry of animated and intelligent Deaf individuals who have their own language, norms and cultural rules. I learned that these individuals communed together at Gallaudet, not to avoid hearing people, but rather, because it was a place brimming with academic and social opportunities where Deaf people could do and be anything they wanted. I was certainly inspired and felt honored to be among them!

Immersing myself, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in an educational and residential environment where American Sign Language is used at all times, helped me become more fluent in both the language itself, and the culture of Deaf people. As a result, I began to feel more in sync with the cultural rhythm and routines of my Deaf peers.

One might think that living on campus with other Deaf people would be a silent, perhaps even peaceful, endeavor. Quite the contrary! Feet stomp on the floor, books quake and dishes clink on pounded tables, alarm clocks blare and fire alarms shriek! TV’s reverberate at full volume, and Stereo’s blast waves of noise through the walls and floors of the dorm rooms adjacent, above and below. Even if you couldn’t hear these sounds, your carcass would rumble from the vibrations!

Wearing hearing aids that amplified sound became an environmental hazard at Gallaudet! I eventually stopped wearing them. Ironically, when I stopped using my hearing aids, I noticed I was accepted more by my Deaf peers. It was part of the culture at Gallaudet only to wear hearing aids when in class. Outside of class though, hearing aids were put away and using ASL (with voices off) was the norm.

Life went on as normal at Gallaudet, more normal perhaps, than it had been for me as a deaf person back in my hearing world. At Gallaudet, I began to find new wings.

In fact, my studies were going so well and my social life and self-confidence was so much improved that I decided to audition for a play as an extra-curricular activity. Though I had been involved in drama in high school, I never thought I’d be able to participate in theatre again as a deaf person. After being at Gallaudet I knew that this was a myth. With great confidence, I auditioned for a part in the National Children’s Theatre for the Deaf and was thrilled to be cast in their production of “The Beauty And The Beast.” What a kick!

While attending Gallaudet, I learned about the plethora of assistive listening devices available to Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind individuals. I became well-versed in my rights for equal access to information and events through the use of sign language interpreters, closed-captioned media, or note-takers. As I became more familiar with the growing systemic support available to people with hearing loss, I began to have faith in my abilities to successfully get along in the world by myself.

I affectionately refer to my days at Gallaudet as “My Gally Days,” or more accurately, “My Gally Daze,” as it was a whirlwind of academic, extra-curricular and social activity filled with personal growth and enlightenment. It was there I affirmed that being unable to hear does not prevent one from fully participating in life!

(Footnote: You have been reading the final chapters in my summer storyblog entitled: My Journey Into Deafhood, which tells of the first recognition of my deafness and waking up to a world of silence, 26 years ago. It also tells of how I grieved, coped, adapted and then thrived as I learned to embrace my Deaf self. Thank you for reading! The final installment will show on August 8th, 2007. More coming soon…)

Posted by LaRonda on Sunday, August 5th, 2007 at 4:30 am.