A Story Shared by Deaf Birth Mother TamiJo shares the heartbreak and blessings of being a Deaf birth mother of a hearing daughter who was placed in an open adoption. Hi, my name is TamiJo – TJ. I want to share about my life as a Deaf birth mother. I’ve really enjoyed watching the different stories about adoption and adoptees, …
Read MoreKorean-American Deaf Adoptee Shares Her Story Kami tells her story as a Korean-American Deaf adoptee, recounting the touching moment her mother identified her out of a group of newly arrived babies. She also covers a few other adoption-related issues. Each Adoption Experience is Different Hi, my name is Kami and I’m a Korean-American Deaf adoptee. I was asked to share …
Read MoreExperience of a Deaf Adoptee Cynthia opens up about being a Deaf adoptee, sharing some experiences she had that are common among adoptees. Deaf Parents Started with Being Foster Parents Hi, I’m Cynthia. I’ve watched the recent video series on adoption, which has featured parents who have adopted children. Now I’d like to share my story as an adoptee. I’ll …
Read MoreDeaf Lesbians’ Systemic Barriers to Adoption Ella and Judy discuss the challenges they faced as first-generation lesbian mothers dealing with systemic barriers to adoption. Domestic Violence Led to Move Judy: I had five children who I brought with me to Kansas from Oklahoma due to domestic violence that caused a breakdown in spiritual growth, as well as physical, emotional and …
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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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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 MoreAdoption 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 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 MoreVideophone and Internet-based Counseling: Who Benefits? One more video from our archives, this one from 2007, featuring Sharon introducing the concept of online/virtual/videophone counseling. It’s hard to believe 16 years have flown by since we brought online counseling sessions to the Deaf community for the first time in 2003. Thanks to Sorenson for distributing the first videophones to the Deaf …
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