ASL Vlog - Almost born deaf - Wes Brown

A little about how I was almost born deaf, and how I was rasied.

Text of ASL:
Howdy my name is Wes Brown. I want to tell a little about how I grew up. I was almost born deaf. what happened, I was stuck, had surgery, so on. That surgery, my heart stopped three times. Once, twice, thrice. Whath happened, oxygen going up to the brain was cut off, and I lost my hearing and also got cerebral palsy. But anyways, my parents were concerned about me growing up. When they found out I was deaf, they were really releived. Because they thought i might be mentally retarded. But I wasn't mentally retarded, but deaf. My parents can deal with it. So. Anyways my parents saw Deaf having jobs, having family, having children. That's what every parent wants for their child. My mother went to a sign class, the teacher was deaf. Didn't speak at all, but he had a wife, he had a baby. So my mother knew and realized that Deaf are the same as hearing. And so I grew up with both speech and ASL. But my parents signed English, taught me Signed English, and I learned ASL from my friends since I was three years old. I went to to a school for the deaf until I was in the sixth grade. What happened, my father read to me every day, he taught me how to read, he taught me to enjoy reading. I fell into reading, and when I started reading for myself, my reading skill went up. And I learned English grammar, english words, and so I went to a hearing school through Middle and High School, mainstreamed with interpreter. I was first in the district to mainstream with an interpreter. That was an interesting experience, because my interpreter was lousy in my freshman year. You know how bad interpreters can be worse than no interpreter? Because hearing people think that you're understanding with the interpreter there, but what happens if the interpreter is not there, then the hearing person will try to speak slower, communicate more one on one. I'm happy I managed to graduate, my parents were happy that I passed. And that's my background.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• ASL
• vlog
• sign
• language
• deaf

[Emibakesthosecookies]

I a just learning ASL and my assignment was to look up deaf vlogs. I am very glad I stumbled upon yours because it is a story about a real person. I read alot of stories about hypothetical situations but not alot of real things. I am glad to hear your story. Thank you for sharing

[sdbinash]

This is one of the most amazing stories that I have ever heard! You are truly a survivor. You seemed to have had a great support system standing behind you. I am currently an asl student, and really love that you have taken up asl as a language. I have a sister that is deaf, and she is the one who had taught me most of the signs I had known before I got to college. Looking back on your life what would you decide for yourself now when it comes to your education preference?

[batman2rwr]

I am working towards becoming an interpreter and I am watching vlogs to help with my receptive skills. Thank you for putting your text down. I checked it after I watched your story and I got almost all of it from watching you! Loved learning about your experiences. Thank you for posting.

[76Krw]

I really enjoyed that. Thanks so much for posting!

[CuddlyBird]

God bless you to be alive today! Three times, that's a lot! Keep up with the great work on your videos! :D

[BrittaniCrawford]

That's amazing! Your heart stopped three times during surgery as an infant and you survived! The world must have big plans for you. =)

This was great. Your signing is very clear and easy to understand.

[cocobutter1983]

I wish i knew more sign language :-(

[P4XE]

I'm deaf and had mild CP like you do. I was born hearing frist then became deaf due much of medicne. I did graduated from high school with 3.5 or more GPA, I able to drive my own truck and have driver licinese Great for ya!

[renthead4ever23]

I am hearing, but I also have CP and am teaching myself as much ASL as I can until I can get into classes. I just wanted to say how great it is to see someone so much like me signing. I haven't seen many people with CP who sign so I was very excited to see this....Thanks for posting mate!

[Deathugee]

Good goal against Liverpool mate, well done.