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Communication Journey Early Intervention and Preschool The HEARO Human Library

The Human Library NERD

If you want to know who conceived The HEARO Human Library, then you’ve come to the right place. Genevieve Roberts is a Community Development and Theatre Practitioner who identifies as a Hearing NERD. If you don’t know what that is, read the unique story of how she entered the Deaf Community as a hearing person through a cultural door.

If you want to know who conceived The HEARO Human Library, then you’ve come to the right place. Genevieve Roberts is a Community Development and Theatre Practitioner who identifies as a Hearing NERD. If you don’t know what that is, read the unique story of how she entered the Deaf Community as a hearing person through a cultural door.

If you want to know who conceived The HEARO Human Library, then you’ve come to the right place. Genevieve Roberts is a Community Development and Theatre Practitioner who identifies as a Hearing NERD. If you don’t know what that is, read the unique story of how she entered the Deaf Community as a hearing person through a cultural door.

Connecting with other changemakers in the community, Genevieve has brought the concept of, “It takes a village…’ to life through HEARO. She reminds us all how connected we are as a diverse human family and that for young people who are deaf or hard of hearing, their differences can be magical places of self-discovery, strength, and leadership.

Firstly Genevieve, if you were to dress up in a HERO costume who would you be and why? I would be Rosie the Riveter. She was a cultural icon in World War II who represented the many women who worked in factories and shipyards for the first time. These women replaced traditional male roles and changed the course of women’s work in history.

It is an empowering image depicting a ‘roll your sleeves and get the work done’ attitude. I really like the slogan “We” can do it – not “I can do it”. Pioneering anything requires collaboration, cooperation, and community.

My What is your current Deaf/ Hearing identity? I am HEARING. I AM HEARING. I AM HEARING!

I am repeating this three times because it is vital that I make my identity clear. I am actually what is sometimes referred to as a “NERD” = Not Even Related to Deaf.

My entry into working in the Deaf Community was through a cultural door: Theatre! I am forever grateful for this. This theatrical portal to the Deaf Community means that I have always looked through the lens of cultural and linguistic beauty and strength! And I see the unique deaf perspectives that are offered which enrich our world as a whole – this is why I conceived The Human Library.

Please elaborate on this cultural journey into the Deaf Community. I had completed my undergraduate degree in Theatre & English, working in child care and looking for a thesis topic. I was in charge of programming for language and motor development at the time. Out of the blue, I started learning Auslan using it to teach babies simple signs.

One day a colleague in the nursery said, “I know why you’re learning Auslan. You are fascinated by language and how the body makes meaning through cultural interfaces.” It was a light-bulb moment for me! Until then, I hadn’t made the connection.

So that is how my thesis topic came about! I immediately enrolled to do post-graduate research in Theatre of the Deaf. It was a genuine act of cultural bridge-building because I could see a gap in our community.

You often say, “It takes a village…” How is this true for you? It is foundational to who I am, how I live and work. I grew up surrounded by villages of people who modelled community, protected me, enriched my life, and taught me to be a lifelong learner.

From the family village to the faith village and the global village, each one has made me see the concentric and overlapping circles that come from being part of a healthy and thriving community.

The relationship to the village is reciprocal: I am nurtured by the village and I give back to other villagers.

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? In 2002, I was in America for Deaf Way II, travelling and researching. One day I woke up in pain, and I had no idea who I was, where I was, or how I got there. As the fog cleared, I learned I had a serious head injury after being involved in a life-threatening cycling accident.

I was flown to a rehabilitation hospital in Melbourne and to the loving support of my family. I was told there would be things I may never do again.

It took months and years to fully regain my health. There were many times of uncertainty about getting through, but my underlying belief was, “Yes I can.” It was made easier by my village support of family, friends, medical and allied health practitioners.

There are many ways to be deaf…and all are ok. What does this statement mean for you? This statement means a lot to me – that is why I chose it as a foundational concept for the Human Library Blog Posts.

In the context of HEARO, it is vital that parents of deaf kids understand this concept particularly in relation to modes of communication. There is no one communication pathway that is the magical answer for kids who are deaf or hard of hearing. As educators, Breda Carty, Leonie Jones, and Lou De Beuzeville have all said in interviews, “throw out the word pathway”.

It is NOT a case of ‘either, or’ – Sign vs Speech, Oral vs Manual. It is about giving babies, children, and young people maximum choice and communication options to equip them to meet all their communication needs over the course of a lifetime.

What has been one highlight of your journey in the Deaf Community so far? The most heartwarming was having Tobian Jackson-Jones sign sing the entrance hymn at my wedding! Tobian is the son of my friends Leonie Jackson and Alex Jones, both Deaf.

I first met Alex when he was an actor for the Australian Theatre of the Deaf over 20 years ago. I was Tobian’s first Drama Teacher when he was 6 years old! Leonie was CEO of The Deaf Society, a friend, and colleague, with a shared passion for empowering young deaf and hard-of-hearing kids.

It was through Leonie Jackson (deaf mother of deaf child, and deaf teacher, and previous CEO) that the idea of ‘it takes a village’ came to life. Leonie said that exposing deaf kids to lots of different people by creating a village around them was best.

Tobian sign singing my favourite hymn at my wedding was a demonstration of just that, and it means the world to me to this day.

Looking ahead, what are your dreams for young people in the Deaf Community? I dream that we can change the narrative from diagnosis to discovery!

Imagine when a deaf baby is born, rather than being greeted with a heart-wrenching diagnosis, parents can be told, “We have discovered your child is deaf! You have given birth to a future community leader!”

Every individual has their own unique contribution to make to their community. Every individual needs the community to fully develop their potential.

“The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community” – William James.

Is there one more thing you’d like to share with a young person who is deaf or hard of hearing? I would say – Learn your rich history – it is your heritage. Learn about sign language.

If you, or someone close to you, is signing deaf – don’t be afraid to tell hearing people who are close that they should learn sign language. A hearing person can learn sign language at any age, and it is a wonderful language, which gives direct deep communication to signing deaf people. Sign language opens up whole new worlds!

To learn more about Genevieve Roberts and her work at HEARO, contact her here.

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