Let me tell you that people with a hearing loss is no different from being a person that is able to hear except that we can't hear without our hearing devices. I grew up with wearing hearing aids since I was 10 months old and I can still hear loud noises even without my hearing aids so I don't consider myself any different from a person that is able to hear. The only thing that I can't hear with my hearing aids is quiet voices or whispers. Since I've loss my hearing sense I was able to rely on my vision to not only to see but to be able to read peoples body language. For example while I was working my summer help job I was working with people that spoke Spanish while they were having a conversation I was reading their body language on what I think they are talking about and I've talked to one of the workers that speaks both English and Spanish on what I think they are talking about and most of the time I was right. They thought I spoke and understood Spanish and I told them no I don't know any Spanish but what I did was read their body language during the conversation. So, I can do more than just talking I can also read body language and as well as use sign language. So if you ever come across a deaf or a hearing loss person for a job interview always ask the person of what they need to be able to communicate and never ask another co-worker or college about what you should do because it may not be what they want. For example I had an experience at Lindenwood University where I had an disability guy put in a door bell flasher outside of my house bed room door instead of outside of the main door. They did this without even asking me which pissed me off because it wasn't necessary for me and not every deaf or hearing loss person has the same needs. Ever since I graduated undergrad at Lindenwood I've been asking for no interpreter because I would need to learn how to communicate without one and it wasn't easy but my professors and preceptors were amazing and understanding especially with the pandemic and mask wearing. I have been proving people wrong ever since I have graduated High School because I had people in undergrad think I couldn't do this program and boy it made me happy for those who believed in me from the start and I am thankful for those people because it wasn't easy. I had a classmate and a teammate both the same person go behind my back and saying that I wasn't fit for this and I was lazy which was never true. I have tried to be friends with her again but she made it even harder than it should be for example we were studying with our classmates and I was partnered up with her and she made her voice quiet on purpose to piss me off and my other classmate realized what had been going on she let me join her instead. To sum things up... Please don't assume that people with a hearing loss can't work because they will come back to bite you. Always ask what is their preferred way of communication wether its talking without a mask on, writing down on sheet, or learn sign language because everyone has different preferences. So I hope you learned a little about me and hope it helps the next time you run into a deaf or hearing loss person.
-Libbey Breaker getting hooded for her Masters Degree
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