People sometimes ask how Deaf parents keep their children safe if they can't hear danger.
It's a question I've heard many times.
I don't hear everything happening around us. So I've learnt to pay attention in other ways.
I notice movement, facial expressions, routines and changes in our surroundings.
Preparation matters too. I think ahead, stay aware of what's happening and find ways to respond when something needs my attention.
Hearing can be useful for recognising danger. But it isn't the only way a parent notices risks or takes action.
Being Deaf has never stopped me from keeping my children safe.
It has simply shaped the way I do it.
REFLECTIVE QUESTION
What assumptions about parenting and safety arise when hearing is treated as the only way to notice danger?
