Navigating deafness in a hearing world | Rachel Kolb | TEDxStanford

Summary

In this powerful TEDx talk, the speaker, born profoundly deaf, shares her journey of overcoming societal limitations and personal challenges. Through 18 years of speech therapy, support from her family, and a determination to succeed, she proves that deaf individuals can accomplish anything hearing people can, except hear. She highlights how focusing on abilities rather than disabilities empowers people to surpass their own expectations, sharing personal experiences with horses, academics, and social interactions. The speaker encourages others to resist self-limiting beliefs and embrace the possibility of achieving their goals, regardless of challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 Deaf people are capable of doing anything hearing people can do, except hear.
• 😀 Society often focuses on disability rather than ability, but each person has unique strengths and potential.
• 😀 Learning to communicate as a deaf person can be challenging, but it’s possible with persistence and support.
• 😀 The speaker overcame challenges in speech development through physical speech therapy and practice, despite not having perfect speech.
• 😀 The speaker’s parents chose to see her abilities rather than her limitations, which had a profound impact on her confidence.
• 😀 As a child, the speaker was told she couldn’t ride horses due to her deafness, but she proved that assumption wrong by continuing her passion.
• 😀 Deaf children born to hearing parents often struggle with language development because of a lack of support and knowledge about deafness.
• 😀 The speaker pursued a major in English and aspired to become a writer, despite others questioning if deaf people could write.
• 😀 The speaker encountered people who made assumptions about what deaf people can and cannot do, but these judgments were often wrong.
• 😀 When facing challenges, it's important to embrace choices that work for you, even if they are different from what others might expect.
• 😀 The speaker encourages others to resist the negative internal and external voices that tell them they can't do something, and instead focus on what they can achieve.

Q & A

What was the speaker's main message in the TEDx talk?

The speaker's main message was that individuals with disabilities, particularly those who are deaf, should not be defined by their limitations. Instead, they should focus on their abilities and take the opportunity to overcome challenges through belief in themselves and making different choices.

How did the speaker learn to speak despite being born profoundly deaf?

The speaker learned to speak through 18 years of speech therapy, which included physical exercises like feeling the vibrations of their speech therapist’s throat to understand the sounds. This helped them improve their speech, despite knowing it would never be perfect.

What was the reaction of the speaker’s teacher in middle school after a presentation, and how did it affect them?

The speaker’s teacher told them that they should never speak without an interpreter in front of a group, implying that their communication was not fair to others. This feedback shattered the speaker, making them feel like a failure, even though their intent was to communicate clearly.

How does society typically perceive people with disabilities, according to the speaker?

Society often focuses on the disability rather than the abilities of individuals, leading to judgments about what disabled people can or cannot do. The speaker notes that this can be limiting, and challenges this view by highlighting their own abilities.

What impact did the speaker’s parents have on their development despite being born to hearing parents?

The speaker’s parents, despite not knowing sign language, treated them without limitations and prioritized communication. This support, including learning sign language and using speech therapy, allowed the speaker to thrive and perceive themselves as more able than disabled.

What was the significance of the speech therapist’s advice to the speaker’s mother when they were 18 months old?

The speech therapist advised the speaker’s mother to never put limitations on the speaker, suggesting that the speaker could achieve anything they wanted. This advice had a lasting impact and reinforced the idea that the speaker should not be confined by others' expectations.

How did the speaker's love of horses and horseback riding illustrate their ability to overcome challenges?

The speaker’s passion for horses was initially discouraged by a riding instructor who doubted their ability to learn due to their deafness. However, the speaker's family found another instructor, and the speaker went on to develop a deep connection with horses, showing that the limitation was in the instructor’s perspective, not the speaker's ability.

What did the speaker say about the reading and writing abilities of many deaf people?

The speaker highlighted that many deaf people face challenges in reading and writing due to the communication barrier that deafness creates. On average, deaf students leave secondary school with a reading level below what is considered necessary for literacy, but the speaker emphasizes that these challenges can be overcome.

What does the speaker say about the expectations that deaf people face regarding writing?

The speaker shared that when they tell others they are studying English and want to be a writer, many people are surprised, even doubting that deaf people can write. The speaker challenges this stereotype by showing their own pursuit of writing and emphasizing that deaf people are capable of writing just like hearing individuals.

What lesson does the speaker impart about group conversations and social situations in college?

The speaker reflects on the challenges of participating in group conversations, especially in social settings like college parties, where communication can be overwhelming. They have learned to embrace different social strategies, such as one-on-one conversations or meeting with people who know sign language, and they emphasize the importance of making choices that align with their abilities.