Featuring: @jugneet_kaurr – I am 21, and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). My sister and I are hearing children of our deaf parents. I grew up in a multilingual, joint family where we spoke Hindi, Punjabi, English and Indian Sign language (ISL). My extended family taught me how to read and write and my parents taught me basic sign language. While growing up, my parents’ condition bothered me because while some people sympathised with us, others mocked us, and it disturbed me to do signs in public. However, as I grew older, I saw how my parents always stood confident and never felt ashamed of who they are. What inspired me most was how they owned their identities and survived in a world that often made them feel isolated. I decided to research more about ISL so I could get closer to them. My sister and I help our parents with whatever they require when it comes to communication with the outside world, especially in places which are not deaf-friendly. I do feel I grew up much earlier and also became independent and responsible from an early age. Whether it was studying, dealing with doctors, or banks, I learned to do everything myself. Of course, there are challenges communicating with parents especially when I am not at home or when there is less lighting or a bad network because signs are all we have to see what the other person feels or says. But we manage it together as a family. I am now working towards making ISL more popular by motivating hearing people to learn basic signs to make our community more inclusive as I don’t want hearing-impaired people to go through what my parents did. I am participating in workshops and giving seminars in this regard at various places that are looking to adopt more inclusivity when it comes to the hearing-impaired community. At times, I wish I was able to explain to the world how our family is as normal as everyone else’s. Yes, my parents are hearing impaired and so what if our medium of communication is signs? I take it in stride. I do not want to be termed as a bechari, I am lucky to be born to my parents and want to tell everyone how proud I am of the life I have as I feel it’s a bonus to connect with perspectives that can’t be heard.

#SheThePeople #parenting #deaf #family

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