Author(s): Julie Postance

Education

When parents first discover that their child is deaf, a question they ask themselves is: will my child ever lead a normal life? The answer is a resounding yes. This book is a collection of real-life stories shared by parents of deaf children, and successful deaf and hard-of-hearing adults from around Australia. Each story offers a candid insight into the world of deafness - the highs and lows, the joys and the tears. Parents describe their personal experiences in overcoming the initial shock and embracing the challenges of raising a deaf child in a hearing world. Deaf adults describe their own journey with hearing loss, and paint an honest picture of the struggles and barriers they have come up against. All provide specific strategies they have used to tackle barriers related to early intervention services, education, or issues within the family and community, employment and adulthood.