This edited clip was originally made for a local Technology Day event. Join LaRonda as she briefly shares her personal story of becoming Deaf and invites viewers to think of ASL as another kind of technology - a “human technology” - that keeps you connected to your world. Closed Captioned. (6:50 Mins.)
Quicktime Version - Hosted by: Videoserver.us
Transcript:
Hello. I’m LaRonda Zupp.
I want to offer you another kind of technology. Actually, let’s call it a “human technology” - ASL (American Sign Language). ASL is not really a technology. It’s a language with it’s own word structure, syntax and so on. It’s very important to note that it’s a language. But today, I want you to think of it as a “human technology.” Why? because ASL is another way to keep in touch with your world.
I’d like to share with you a little bit of my background. My story. First, understand that I grew up “hearing.” Yes. I was hearing until the age of 17. At that time, I became seriously ill. My doctors gave me medications. Those medications helped me survive. Yes. (Hooray!) But, they were also the cause of how I became deaf. I understand that my doctors had 2 choices: deaf or death. Whew! I’m happy that my doctors chose “deaf.”
When I woke up from my hospital experience, I was now deaf. I was like, “Whoa!” How would life be for me from now on? I had no idea. The first thing I did was see about getting some hearing aids. Yep, I got 2 of them after I went to the audiologist and was tested. Sure enough, I was deaf and needed hearing aids. That was 28 years ago. So, I went in and was fitted for them.
I was a fresh graduate from high school, now ready for college. Now, I had hearing aids! How would I succeed with lip-reading and using my residual hearing? I didn’t know. When I entered college and went into those big forum halls, the professors were far away in front. They would turn and write on the board and talk while writing. I would struggle to see their mouths from the front row.
School was always easy for me. I didn’t struggle much. I did well in school and my grades were high. Now, my first semester in college, I was struggling to lip-read and hear. I realized the hearing aids were not enough to help me follow. I couldn’t see everything. Moustaches blocked lips. People had accents. Some people had funny teeth.
Soon, my Advisor called me in for a meeting with her. I was nervous when she said, “You know, college is serious. You can’t let your grades slip.” I explained, “I’ve lost my hearing. I can’t lip-read or follow along. I don’t know what to do. Help.”
My Advisor offered me 2 things: 1) A Notetaker - someone who would volunteer to take notes and give copies to me, which was cool, and 2) She kicked my behind into an ASL class.
“ASL?! ASL for what?”
“You need to realize that you are now deaf. You need to learn ASL.”
At first, I was resistant. “ASL? Not for me. I’m not Deaf. I’m Hard of Hearing.”
I was coming from a “hearing” culture and didn’t want to let go. I thought ASL was for DEAF people, which I knew nothing about. But once into the ASL classes, it was an awakening! Wow! That ASL class was a true miracle in my life!
Up till then, I was grieving, isolated, withdrawn, losing friends… Now that I was in an ASL class, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. It was an “ah-ha” moment when I realized I could stay connected to my world through ASL.
During my time in ASL classes, I heard about Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Understand that I grew up “hearing.” Would enrolling into Gallaudet, a college for the Deaf, be the right match? I had doubts. But I was curious. I wanted to know who I was and what being Deaf meant. My identity was starting to change.
I found that they had a Special Visiting Student program for one semester. So I applied and was successfully admitted into Gallaudet. When I arrived there, wow! It was life changing again! It was a culture shock! Yet, immersing myself into an environment that used ASL 24 hours, 7 days a week, wow! It really changes your life!
As a result, my confidence began to increase. Why? I started to receive and comprehend things through eyes and hands. My social life soared! I went out on dates and hung out with friends instead of being isolated, detached and withdrawn. Now here I was being social again! Whoo!
This was all because of ASL. I was now able to communicate through eyes and hands — the “human technology.” In addition, my grades went up again! Now I could plan goals and see possibilities in my future. I chose ASL as my path to understand the world. I still use lots of other technology. Pagers, e-mail. IM (Instant Messaging), VP’s (Video Phones) and much more.
Most importantly, I have recognized that it’s okay to be Deaf — to call myself DEAF. Not hard of hearing, not hearing impaired, and not late-deafened. That’s okay for you who identify with those labels. I don’t mean to make them sound negative, but for me, it’s been a journey and a transformation toward a healthy sense of DEAF being.
One of my hobbies today is making Vlogs. I’m a Vlogger. I have my own Vlog called “The Ear of My Heart.”
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
Bye. (ILY wave)
Well-said and well-delivered! Thank you very much! You’re an invaluable asset in the world of the Deaf. Carl
Left by Carl Schroeder on April 18th, 2009
Beautiful Journal Vlog!!!
Left by Dennis Bacon on April 18th, 2009
Cool Beans!
Left by Jeffrey on April 18th, 2009
This is a the best thing I ever heard. It’s a real touchy my heart that is what I want for giving the message “Love and Light” for ASL culture. and makes me tear of joy that makes my day. I love it. I have few friends who are just like you that they said Deaf, too.
It s the best thing to have positive outlook about being deaf itself that we are doing fine.
Thank you so much. Have a good day, too!
Hugz,
Deaf SweetMind
Left by DeafSweetMind on April 18th, 2009
Also I forgot to mention your ASL is so beautiful signer, too. That is your own motivation from the bottom of your heart. This is all it counts.
Left by DeafSweetMind on April 18th, 2009
it is pure nature deaf life that you had learning to begain deaf world at your age start with it . I can see your heart that you make wounderful in to you life anf to change . hear my eye real tearful for you and it make me cry . it is so wounderful story i ever see you share with deaf world . that you can stand in face in this world can do about our life to begain deaf or born deaf or half to be deaf . let hearing people learn about you . god will be very pround of you what you teach us about it .
mcc7897
Left by mcc7897 on April 18th, 2009
What a cool vlog! I enjoy watching and reading your vlog. I find your experience as part of your process that you are now very happy being in!
Deafchip
Left by Deafchip on April 19th, 2009
Thanks, LaRonda, this is a narrative that many need to see.
Learning ASL and entering the community of Deaf people is often a goal of many but some do not succeed in making the transition.
Can you blog about this, please? Some have asked me how they can do it, and it is hard for me to answer even though I made the transition in my teens. What attitude, what facility of learning is necessary? Does it depend on family and social support? Are there key people who make it easier? Food for thought.
Left by Dianrez on April 19th, 2009
Well, to each its own. My culturally deaf parents tend to say I’m hard of hearing, they didn’t have a problem with it. There is a reason behind it too. Deaf people tend to be sensitive when they find out a deaf person can speak or use the phone or whatever. It creates an atmosphere for some, not all…that someone is deceiving someone! I get that all the time. So, that ’s why labels are not a big thing to me. I’m deaf, but technically I am hard of hearing. Here’s the gist, if a deaf person I never met, met me, and saw me talking to other people, use phone and so on, and then If I signed, they would probably judged me already..I’m either a deaf wannabe or some interpreter or just simply someone who they can’t trust. I’m already judged big time. But, I never get that with my family friends or people I have known all my life. I see a big difference between the two. Likewise, if I met a deaf person who I never met before and he/she saw that I signed, then if at the next situation, for whatever reason, I might end up speaking for myself, perhaps ordering from a menu. The look on their face of distrust is priceless. Sometimes I even have people who know me vs people who don’t know me argue about me as if there’s some kind of criteria in order to be fully accepted in a Deaf culture. Ridiculous. I think we need to practice acceptance for everyone regardless of the terminology or labels. We should define ourselves in ways that we’re comfortable with and we should respect others in how they define themselves.
Left by Candy on April 19th, 2009
I’m so glad you shared that story LaRhonda. It was wonderful and heartfelt.
It is good you define yourself how YOU want to define youself, not how others see you. We shoud show respect to all people no matter how they choose to live their lives.
Thank you!!
Left by Kym on April 23rd, 2009
i want 2 use ur video 2 motivate my student.hope u don’t mind (^-^)v
SAS High School.
(m’sia)
Left by Junduo III on May 27th, 2009
I don’t mind at all.
Enjoy.
~ L
Left by LaRonda on May 28th, 2009
Hey guys, I am a student of the MSU Telecommunications Department and I am working with a website that does sign language. You type in words/phrases and it shows you a video…very simple. http://www.signingsavvy.com/aslvideos This would be very helpful to friends and families of the deaf and hearing impaired. This site is actually very fun!
Left by Kevin on June 20th, 2009
WOW Laronda I always love to hear your stories and with it you have shown that anything is possible that change can be made for both good and bad depending on what ever you way you choose. I remember when I had emailed you and you told me I had a choice of fleet or flight with it I have reflected back and I noticed my excuse was always life is not fair. Life is only not fair if we choose it to be. We are in control and ASL brings us together on a common ground of knowing that we all have voise we all have gesture and we all have knowledge. ILY Laronda and miss you
Left by Kayla on August 12th, 2009
WOW Laronda I always love to hear your stories and with it you have shown that anything is possible that change can be made for both good and bad depending on what ever you way you choose. I remember when I had emailed you and you told me I had a choice of fleet or flight with it I have reflected back and I noticed my excuse was always life is not fair. Life is only not fair if we choose it to be. We are in control and ASL brings us together on a common ground of knowing that we all have voise we all have gesture and we all have knowledge. ILY Laronda and miss you
Left by sam mckinstry on September 25th, 2009
I luv to be deaf!!!
Left by sam mckinstry on September 25th, 2009