Deaf Transracial and Trans-country Adoption Edna shares her family’s experience with Deaf transracial and trans-country adoption. Deaf transracial and trans-country adoption: Hello everyone, I’m Edna Johnston. My topic is adoption. I have four children, all of whom I adopted, including one who was conceived and born with my wife of 16 ½ years. I think adoption is a beautiful concept …
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Deaf Indian Adoption: Maureen’s Story
Advice for Prospective Adoptive Deaf Parents Maureen shares her Deaf Indian adoption experience and offers two important pieces of advice for prospective adoptive parents. Communication Access and Medical-Related Issues Hi, I’m Maureen Behrens. I’d like to share my adoption story, focusing on communication access and medical-related issues. I adopted my daughter about 10 ½ years ago, through the Holt International …
Read MoreDeaf Adoption: Unwanted Medical Advice Story
Ron discusses dealing with a medical issue related to his son and some unwanted medical advice from the doctor. Experience Related to the Medical Field Ron: Hi and good afternoon, I’m Ron Symansky, a father of three adopted children through international adoptions. I’d like to share one of my experiences related to the medical field. My oldest son had a …
Read MoreAdoption: A Deaf Adoptive Parent, Kym’s Story
Adoption and the Medical Community Hi, I’m Kym Symansky. I’m the mother of three children through international adoption. I want to share my experience with adoption, particularly with the medical community. When our children came home, I felt like they were my children, 500% mine, even though they did not come from my womb. They are children who came from …
Read MoreKnitting as therapy Knitting offers many wonderful therapeutic benefits. Nettie has plenty to teach us. Celebrate Neurodiversity Nettie is sitting at a table, smiling and holding a sign that says “#CelebrateNeurodiversity”. Nettie signs: “I’m happy. I enjoy knitting. I’m good at this. It’s fun!” Scenes of Nettie knitting and holding up a completed piece of work. Resources: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/the-health-benefits-of-knitting/?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=A308352D26B05D72CD4A2DC230A1C91F&gwt=pay&assetType=REGIWALL https://deafcounseling.com/neurodiversity-ulualos-home-depot-job-story/
Read MoreRight support and Environment lead to success A Deaf woman, Ulualo, of Home Depot takes pride in her job and demonstrates that everyone with neurodiversity can make a contribution, with the right support and in the right environment. Celebrate Neurodiversity Ulualo is signing: #CelebrateNeurodiversity. I’m special and I have a gift. I work here at Home Depot. I’m an expert …
Read MoreImportant Autism Lesson Mother Learned Raising a son with autism: Tammy Jo, parent of a Deaf child with autism, shares a story about raising her son. Through this important lesson she learned, we can all benefit and increase our understanding of how to interact with children with autism. Son Identifying his Autism: Hi, my name is Tammy Ellis. I would …
Read MoreNeurodiversity: Toni’s ADHD Story
Neurodiversity: As part of DCC’s spotlight on neurodiversity, Toni shares her struggles with ADHD, which is prevalent in 4.4% of the US population. Dealing with ADHD: Hello! I’m Toni. I want to talk a little about ADHD/Neurodiversity, which I have. When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I remember everything clicking in my mind and thinking, “Ohhh, that explains all …
Read MoreDeaf Parent Raising Children with Autism
As part of our Neurodiversity video series, Bobba shares from her heart about raising two children with autism. Hello! I have two children with autism – one girl who is 29 and one boy who is almost 28, both of whom are complete opposites. My daughter is easily overstimulated and has seizures, while my son is very under stimulated. It …
Read MoreGrief After a Murder of Grant Whitaker
Complicated Grief after Murder of Deaf Young Man Deaf Counseling Center’s Dr. Candace McCullough and Sharon Duchesneau share some thoughts on the complicated nature of grief after murder of Grant Whitaker by Mavrick Martin Fisher and offer support to the national Deaf community in the form of pro bono counseling sessions to those who may be directly impacted by the …
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