Growing Up Deaf Meant Facing Barriers Every Day
It started in the classroom.
I don't remember thinking about access or inclusion when I was young.
I just knew that some things felt harder than they should.
There were moments when I missed things, moments when I felt different, and moments when I wasn't quite sure where I fit.
At the time, I couldn't always explain why.
I was simply trying to learn, grow, and find my place like every other child.
Looking back now, I can see how those experiences shaped me.
Not just as a Deaf person, but as someone who learned to keep going even when things felt difficult.
When I think about my school years, I don't only remember the barriers.
I remember the determination.
I remember the friendships.
I remember the parts of myself that kept growing despite everything.
Those parts stayed with me.
