For Deaf kids that have questions like, Can I go to uni? Can I be an academic? Can I be a writer? Can I influence positive change in my community? We bring you the story of Breda Carty.
Breda inspired the HEARO blog with this wonderful quote: “The most important thing for deaf children is to see deaf people doing interesting things, leading interesting lives, and having interesting jobs”. Breda leads by example with an interesting life that speaks volumes about her natural intelligence and curiosity. She is the leading authority on Deaf history and culture in Australia, coordinating the Deaf History and Cultural Recognition Program for Deaf Connect.
Today, Breda is researching and writing on Deaf people’s history and gives workshops to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with others.
Breda, what is your current Deaf/ Hearing identity? Identity is always evolving! I identify as deaf now. When I was a child and teenager, my hearing loss was still developing, and I identified more as hard of hearing.
Please share your childhood story and diagnosis. I was most probably born hearing, as I learned to talk normally, at the right age. But by the time I was around three, I started to miss things. When I started school I was often in trouble for not obeying the teacher (when I hadn’t understood what she said).
My progressive deafness was diagnosed near the end of my first year of school when visiting nurses travelled around to do screening tests on all the children.
I didn’t get hearing aids as they weren’t available for my type of hearing loss at the time and there was no itinerant teacher support. However, my mum had been a teacher, and she was very supportive.
What was your school experience like? I had some great teachers who looked out for me (and some not-so-great teachers too!).
About the time I started university at 18, my hearing loss progressed rapidly, and I was soon profoundly deaf. Fortunately, I met other deaf people at that time too, and learned Auslan.
The HEARO Team often talks about the “Yes, I can” moment when we overcome an obstacle or achieve something that might have seemed impossible before. Do you have a moment like that to share with us? When I finally handed in my Ph.D. thesis! This was a mammoth task, and I didn’t really have other deaf mentors during the process.
The HEARO Team also says…there are many ways to be deaf and all are ok. What does this statement mean for you? Everyone has their own journey to becoming a deaf person, no two are exactly the same. It almost always helps to meet others who are deaf, so you can see the different ways people work out what being deaf means for them. No one way is “better” than another way – you need to work out what’s right for you.
How has being a deaf person enhanced your life? It has given me a very extensive social network and has allowed me to discover a particular way of seeing/ experiencing the world that I’m very grateful for.
What has been the highlight of your life so far? Having my beautiful son, and (with my husband) bringing him up to be the fantastic young man he is today!
Looking ahead, what are your dreams for the future? I dream of continuing to do the work that I enjoy – research, writing, and learning more about deaf people’s history. I dream of continuing to have great networks of family and friends, and a good social life. I also dream of travelling lots more!
If you’d like to attend one of Breda’s workshops, contact herhere.