My experience being deaf

If you were walking into your class, you would expect a usual environment, with friends and new lessons to learn. Everything goes how you would expect, but then you notice that there’s an additional woman in the front signing to a deaf student who is sitting next to you, paying attention to the signing. That student is me, and the woman signing is my American Sign Language Interpreter, Taryn Magloire.

I was born two months early, which caused the hair in my cochlea, a part of the inner ear that is filled with fluid that plays an important role in your hearing, to not be developed completely. This caused my loss of hearing. However, my family and I never noticed because I passed all of my hearing tests up until second grade, when I had not been able to hear my parents when my back was turned around and they knew something was wrong. 

Being the only person in my family who has hearing loss, I struggled to understand deaf culture from the start but started learning ASL around third grade. Although it was different to be the only deaf member in my family, they support me no matter what. They may not be fluent in ASL, but they still try their best to communicate with the signs they do know.

I wear hearing aids on both sides of my ear, which requires me to normalize charging the batteries they require to operate. I also mainstreamed, which is when a student with special needs spends all their time in a general-education class with the assistance of a Deaf and Hard of Hearing program in both elementary and middle school.

Switching schools has become  normal for me. So far I have attended 5 different schools in my life. I had to switch from Whit Davis Elementary School to Cleveland Road Elementary School due to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program there. On my first day at Cleveland Road, I went to class with different interpreters by my side and had to focus on both the teacher and interpreter. The experience was unfamiliar to me, but as time went on, it became a part of my lifestyle. 

I planned to attend Madison County High School because they also have the Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA’s) Deaf and Hard of Hearing program there. Shortly before I graduated middle school, Cedar Shoals High School became another one of my options. My teachers gave me the opportunity to choose between two schools, and the choice was really difficult. Should I commute 40 minutes away from home and be with the deaf community there, or should I stay at a local school, the only deaf student there, but with more familiar people? In the end I decided to become a Jaguar at Cedar Shoals because of the community I’ve interacted with since childhood. 

Transitioning was scary. I dealt with different classes and new lessons as well as trying to cope with disability rules such as an Individual with Disability Education Act and a 504 plan. Having an individualized education plan allows me to have certain accommodations such as seating arrangements and getting additional notes so I won’t get behind in my education. 

After enrolling at Cedar, I learned new ways to work with the fresh environment. I had to comprehend how to attempt to listen to someone in a crowded room, answer questions from someone who doesn’t know I am deaf, and being  the only student fluent in sign language. 

Taking ASL classes provides me with more access to the world.It’s been beneficial to me because I’m able to both communicate and understand a person clearly, especially when a teacher is discussing something that requires a lot of context. My interpreter, Mrs. Magloire, helps me with translation at school. 

Mrs. Magloire started learning American Sign Language (ASL) in high school and then attended Valdosta State University. In 2012 she earned her Bachelors of Science in Education in American Sign Language Interpretation. She then passed her certification test and has been working as a certified sign language interpreter in the school system for 11 years. For the past four years she has interpreted the Clark County School District Board of Education meetings. She has also interpreted in theater, legal and in medical settings. She interprets all my classes, extracurricular activities and everyday conversations. When I participated in color guard this year, she interpetered all my practices, games and competitions. We’ve really bonded this high school year and have a special connection. 

I started to develop anxiety and my mental health changed as my life in high school went on. I thought that I would stand out in front of everyone, and not in the good way. The fear of standing out is real, but as time goes on, my fear declines. 

I started to build new relationships, improved my communication and joined more clubs and activities. Students and staff around me have also supported the deaf culture I represent in classrooms. I realize now that there is nothing to be scared of.

I have also realized that it is okay to be me. I want to expose people to more of the deaf culture here at Cedar. I’ve noticed that parts of the deaf community are afraid or not thinking about achieving things such as college admission or trying out new pathways. 

I wanted to make sure that no matter what dream I have, I can achieve it. If my dream pathway has never been experienced by a deaf person before, I want to be the first. I’ve participated in classes or activities with new programs including marketing, theater, journalism, leadership, art and more. They might not seem special to everyone, but they help me find more opportunities in the future as a deaf student such as theater, leadership, jobs, and other activities that support who I am and who I want to be.