Till Deaf Do Us Part - a memoir (Paperback)

Till Deaf Do Us Part chronicles the stages and experiences of over four decades of hearing loss and deafness in the author's life. The personal stories--the heartaches and the triumphs--are recorded of the child when learning of her hearing loss, of the high school and college student as her hearing declines each year, and of the adult woman as deafness arrives. We live through her feelings and frustrations with her and wonder how we would have solved similar situations in our own lives. The book details the will, not only to survive in a hearing world, but to thrive as a deaf woman who learns to live with openness and acceptance of others' differences too. It takes us through the conflicts which cause her to leave her family of origin and her strict religious surroundings in order to flourish in her oncoming world of silence. Till Deaf Do Us Part provides for the reader the incredible fortitude of what it takes to become a successful deaf individual who can function in a hearing world and why many never do. It argues the vital impact of having the right people surrounding a deaf child and informs us of the often tragic results of an isolating, guess-as-we-go public school and oral education. The author shares with us surprising insights as deafness envelops her life and the making of difficult decisions along the way. We are left to wonder if we could survive the isolation that silence bestows upon those who remain in a hearing society. The author refuses to be left behind, and instead, strives to remain in the professional world of education. She shares the tragic stories of deaf children who are continually being isolated in public schools, often unable to assimilate into their hearing surroundings. She offers hope that there can be solutions to the ongoing struggles of these children if the right people are consulted and if society is willing to make the changes necessary. Till Deaf Do Us Part is a book for those who want to learn about deafness and for those who appreciate a difficult, yet triumphant story.