Deaf Can Dance

Owen is Deaf. 

Without his hearing aids he hears very little. With them, he hears enough to get by in ideal conditions.

Chances are, he will lose all of his hearing.  Chances are, hearing aids won't always be an option for him.

He may not be a candidate for a cochlear implant.  Surgeons not being fond of cutting into a kid's head when that kid has previously suffered brain bleeds.  Mommies not being fond of prospect either.

So.  Someday, he may be all the way Deaf.

I expect this. I am ready for this.  He is ready for this.

He is fluent in ASL.  He speaks English, though funkily.

He has Deaf friends.  And Hearing friends.

His Deafness will slam some doors in his face.  And open others.

But,

I don't peek too far into his future.  Too many variables.  I'm fine with the unknown staying unknown.

Right now?   He is happy with who he is.  He can read.  And write.  He pretends to be, no, he IS a superhero; Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man, The Hulk.

He loves TV and movies.  More so now that I've finally figured out how to get the captions to work.

He loves music.  LOUD.  And dancing.  Deaf kid has some moves.

I showed him this video on the computer.  I didn't turn the volume up loud enough for him to hear the music.  On purpose.



He was mesmerized.

I didn't need to point out the beauty, or grace, or precision of the dancers.

He noticed their hands.  Of course he would.  And he signed "pretty", perhaps he shares my opinion that the Far East produces the prettiest faces.

I did however,  tell him that all of the dancers in the video, every one of them;

 is Deaf.

Like him.