Give Me a Sign

by Anna Sortino

what if I struggle in the Deaf world as much as I do in the hearing one?

but as we walk past the lifeguard stand, he casually slings the other around my shoulders.

her. She’s trying to use it as a deterrent, when in reality a disability doesn’t save you from harassment. Rather, it often makes deaf people more of a target for harm or abuse.

Often, when people are inspired by disabilities, what they’re really thinking is Wow, I’m so glad that’s not my life.

My hands fly effortlessly, and I can tell that, even though it’s not summer and I’m back to reality, who I was at Gray Wolf is still at my fingertips. It’s not just the fluency, but the confidence. I know who I am. I don’t need to be more hearing or prove my deafness. I can bring both worlds together. Just being myself, I’m complete.