Choosing my Identity

The rainbow of faith allows us to see the freedom of language with inclusivity and I have dealt with the influence upon others who view one world as superior. That makes my boundaries change due to learning from experiences. No world cannot be alone because we rely on multiple worlds of empathetic hands to build up our strength. Yes, we see our differences by looking upon the positive viewpoints of what we are able to do. I suffered His death by His grace with facing challenges upon His humble blessings within life. I am His child. He gave me the ability to connect my two worlds together as a unique and imperfect universe filled with interesting influences of what others think about speaking and signing. With my identity, I am a “deaf” person without the capital D because life is full of total access to all communication methods. It is more like His humble image is being made at heart with hope for all good things yet to come henceforth. The only superior one is meant to be His example whereas not mine or ours. When we think about faith, just grab unto the torch and share it with a person that needs to remain strong with a heartfelt smile by sharing our talents. I strive to enable His divine strength in spirit that makes life beautiful each day. At present time, we are in a healing period that tends to take time at each moment with peace. My profound hearing loss and mild cerebral palsy allows me to face every challenge with a positive attitude each day as a young adult. When facing negativity and put downs from closed-minded groups, I strive with the very best not to let it affect who He made to be. If major agencies reject sign language or think D/deaf people have bad communication skills because they rely on history, how does it make a person like us being left out from a world free of language choice? Left out—perhaps yes this can be the case. As a person, sign language is a human right according to the standards of faith and He wants the D/deaf world to be inclusive in the Hearing world with love. We need to be grateful to share empathy with others who have an open spirit. We are not here to “change the world” --just only here at His presence to set an example of what it is like to be inclusive upon others who seek it. Remember to speak your beautiful language with heartfelt hope and encouragement.

Nucleus 7 Upgrade

Cochlear Upgrade Process 

As a bilateral Cochlear Nucleus recipient, I am very excited to pursue the possibility of upgrading my predecessor sound processors to the new Nucleus 7 Upgrade system this summer. This is a process where things can be determined by certain factors.  Stay Tuned! 😀

TJ's Sign Language Cafe

Hi all, 

As you can tell from this logo, I have started a new YouTube Channel containing series of sign language lessons for the entire audience to learn. About once every week or two, I will be publishing a video teaching you American Sign Language. It is a place for every person to watch. When I was little, being deaf using total communication allows me the idea to spread the love of the language upon others that want to learn how to communicate with others in the Deaf community. Here is my YouTube Channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeEnR-JU3k_g9sE4EyvcCFw?view_as=subscriber

Let me know if you have any questions or comments! 

Happy learning! 

Best, 

T.J. 

Cleaning your Sound Processors

The Importance Of Keeping Your Sound Processors Clean

As a bilateral cochlear implant recipient, it is vital that we keep our sound processors in top shape reducing the need of costly repairs. Last week, my predecessor of the Dry and Store II failed and had to research for new options. I went to the manufacturer's website and found out they had a newer model called the Dry and Store UV Max. It is pertained to activate the UV light for ten minutes killing off any environmental bacteria. For the next seven hours the device cleans the processors by blowing gentle air absorbing any residual moisture. It makes the perfect fit on my table next to my bed with the clock and Bluetooth speaker. Every single morning, I take the processors out of the unit and it is treated as if it is cleaned up by the factory just as new. When reading the specifications on the website, I was a little skeptical that my processors would not fit into the box and with further detail, it can fit only two processors. With this in mind, I detached both of my battery modules from the processor(s) and the coils. Bingo! These two processors make a perfect fit by giving the Dry and Store unit use advanced cleaning just to preserve it's function of the devices itself. It cost $115 on the manufacturer website and on Amazon, it costs $105. Not bad for a price check to make sure we are getting better deals. With Dry and Store, I trust that my sound processors will last a lifetime with daily use of the sanitizing device each night. Each bar that is responsible for absorbing moisture lasts for a month. The six pack kit of the bars cost $12.50 every six months. That makes it $25 per year. Not bad for keeping the devices clean without facing costly replacements/repairs of sound processors. 

How my Cochlear Implant Journey Began

As a Group Leader for “To Be Like Me”, I’m so grateful to be a part of the team and talking about how my cochlear implants makes my life better. Several kids today asked me a question about how I came to the idea of why cochlear implants are working for me. It made my heart smile when they ask these curious questions because there was a prompting in my Spirit that it is okay to answer that question as part of my journey.

As a deaf young adult, I was asked to help a young kid who has similar differences as he had cochlear implants and myself being a bilateral hearing aid user. Faith led me on to help out with his reading and speech skills. When I first met him, he showed me an example of how cochlear implants can be a possibility for me. College years, I have faced some negative opinions from the Deaf community about how and why I am involved in working with this awesome kid. He showed me the attitude of a loving heart with a smile. His mother was grateful that I was able to teach basic sign language and being able to read books to her son.

Many years later until Winter of 2010, my audiologist gave me the option of getting cochlear implants because she knew of my social history of my challenges in the hearing world. My ability to talk with sign language using the total communication method prompted me to consider the idea of getting cochlear implants just because my spirit gave me a gift to believe that cochlear implants will work for me. To go through the process is a beautiful challenge that I’m working through my personal best. This technology I have now coaxes my brain to perceive clear sound. At my cochlear implant clinic, I was given two different manufacturers and my eyes lit up to choose Cochlear because of my prior volunteer experience helping out with the kid.

The following summer in July of 2010, insurance approved the procedure which I had surgery for one ear. It made me feel confident and brave to think for myself by prayer knowing it will work for me. Activation day was an easy process because I trust my heart to believe that there will be a miracle which I trust my mind to move forward from hearing aids. Eight months later, my first cochlear implant was winning over my hearing aid which is a sign that every bit of sound gets clearer with time. March of 2011 was the time I went bilateral and it is truly a gift for me through faith that I can hear using my personal best.

Thinking about faith and service means to me that if you are serving someone in need, then a person will be encouraging upon blessings soon. That is who I am in my cochlear implant journey. For the last twenty- four years, I went through four different hearing aids to treat my severe-profound loss. Presently at the age of thirty-three, I encourage others to know that both deaf and hearing worlds cannot be secluded from one another just because there is a certain ability for two worlds to combine by creating a bridge to infinite possibilities.

One thing about my cochlear implants that it really helps me to pursue my dream to become an information technology professional. I have saved my money by going back to school to take online classes. I didn’t need the assistance of the vocational work assistance just because I worked so hard to believe in my abilities by crushing out these negative opinions that led state officials taking advantage of my good spirit. Independence is key to working at my personal goals with a positive attitude. When others show grave concern about my disabilities, I just ignore these things knowing anyone like me can have abilities to reach their goals no matter they wish to do as long it is a good thing. Today, I continue to be a positive example upon all kinds of people to know that everyone is inclusive no matter if we have a disability or not. It is enabling us to see the faith of Light that we are loved and cared for to make us be part of society everywhere. We encourage to educate others on the importance of belonging to the world we live in today.