By Myra Cullum, California Hands & Voices “It’s okay to cry.” These were the words of the audiologist who had just performed the hearing test on my infant daughter. My baby presented as severely-profoundly deaf in both ears. But this…
The Nancy Sager Saga
A Tribute to a Lifetime of Service By Cora Shahid and Kasey Cain, California Hands & Voices How can one truly capture the depth of gratitude owed to someone who has devoted nearly 50 years to serving Deaf and Hard…
Ear Defenders
by Marie Morgan, CA H&V Member Living here in Southern California, we can go long stretches–even months at a time–without rain. My daughter, Kacey, is very active all year round and involved in many outdoor activities such as run club,…
A Family Celebrates Disability and Possibility
The family was determined to embark on a mission to ensure that all of her children felt loved, supported, and celebrated for who they are, hearing or not hearing. By Ashley Jones, California H&V with Sara Kennedy, Editor People in…
A Family Celebrates Disability and Possibility
By Ashley Jones, California H&V with Sara Kennedy, Editor People in this world often struggle to understand and accept differences. The Jones family is on a mission to change that in their circle of influence. “When one child is hard…
D/HH Infusion: Seeing Through Change
By Brittany Comegna, California H&V In 2019, I submitted an article to CA HV entitled “What I Wish I Knew When I was Sixteen Going Through the College Search Process.” And, now, I sit here attempting to amend this original…
Interview with Rachel Zemach, Author
In my determination to do something about what I saw in education, and my own experience as a Deaf teacher, I wrote a book about it called The Butterfly Cage. Rachel Zemach, Author Interview by Johanna Wonderly, California H&V Please…
Change is Inevitable
by Cora Shahid, California H&V Life is full of transitions (and that can be scary at times). Johanna Wonderly recently announced she is stepping aside as the ASTra Coordinator in California, serving from the start of the program until February…
Working Families Need Different Supports
By Kasey Cain, California H&V Nothing went according to plan with my oldest son’s birth. He was sunny-side up and his heart rate dropped seven times in labor. After many attempts to reposition, I finally had a C-section. He didn’t…
Living with TCS
Alysa was born with TCS, and bilateral Microtia-Atresia. Treacher Collins Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the way the face develops; it is estimated that it occurs in approximately 1 in 50,000 live births. Microtia is a birth defect that occurs 1 in 10,000 live births, and Atresia is absence or underdevelopment of the ear canal and middle ear structures. She has had over 9 surgeries, years of orthodontics, and speech therapy in school. She has moderate to severe hearing loss and wears bilateral bone-anchored hearing aids.