MY SUPPORTS
Each day in my life I feel supported by my children,
they are teenagers and young adults. So, keep in mind, most of their day is
spent thinking about themselves. But when coerced my kids lend me physical
support by completing their chores like; mowing the lawn, vacuuming, or folding
laundry. They can be emotionally supportive by surprising me with occasionally
displays of affection, or by offering to run errands for me (the use of my car
is their ulterior motive). My children and I talk about most things and I just so enjoy that. My friends lend me all kinds of emotional support we
laugh, go out to dinner, talk on the phone, and they are always there, if I
need to lean on them. My significant other, Greg is continually supportive. He
and I can talk about everything. So he listens and we laugh all the time. We love
to travel and enjoy exploring the world around us. One of the ways he supports
me, is we participate in Crossfit together. It can be physically challenging,
so he encourages me by giving me back rubs when I start complaining about my
occasional aches and pains. He too likes to cook so he will often grocery shop
and create delicious dinners. My friends and trainer at Crossfit have and are
very supportive. They cheer me on, and encourage me to work hard. My dog Lilly
is a great support and provides wonderful companionship. Often she will be
sitting next to me while I do my work on the computer. Actually she is snoring
pretty loudly as I write this. Lilly and I often go on jogs together, she
sleeps at the end of my bed. I just love her.
I would be lost with out the computer or cell phone.
Those items are examples of my practical support. I purchase items, search the
web, and of course study, talk on the phone I am dependent on these items as
they keep me partially in touch with the outside world.
Now if I did not have my family, friends, Lilly, and
Greg, I would be lost. I am a social being, and I believe living without them
would be incredibly sad and lonely. I know we all need people who within our
personal circle embrace us. Without them I think I would just shrivel up and
die.
I chose the challenge, of being hearing impaired. I
think this challenge would impact my ability to communicate with others. I know
there are communication systems, sign language that allow, those with hearing
impairments to connect but I still think it would be rather difficult, as most
people do not use sign language. I am sure I would be a proficient lip reader.
Yet lip reading is hard to accomplish if you are not looking directly at the
person.
I think it would be a tough thing to be hearing
impaired. Yet, I think my friends and family would know sign language so that
would be helpful. People with hearing impairments live fairly independent lives.
But, at the same time I think they miss out on a lot. Sometimes it’s hard to
understand social cues if you are hearing impaired. I too think it would be
difficult for me to be dependent on my family and friends. I most likely would
need and interpreter when engaging in conversations with others. Given my
personality, I think being dependent on others would in itself be a challenge
to me.
If I were a person with a hearing impairment, I
probably would not need to use my cell as often.
Talking on it would serve no purpose, so I would have
to be proficient at texting. Though I know their are other communication
I think the challenge of being hearing impaired would
be a tough one for me. As I love music, going to plays, concerts, and being
unable to hear would not be fun! I think too going to synagogue would be a
challenge. I think that there would need to be an interpreter there as well. I know that when individuals have
noticeable challenges, society struggles by always know how to act. Sometimes I
would probably be treated differently. I understand the reasoning, but I think
that would be hard. There are helpful support groups for individuals who are challenged with hearing impairments. I think belonging to a support group would be incredibly helpful, they would be a wonderful resource and through them I would discover answers to my questions, and be in contact with individuals who would encourage me while at the same time they would provide me with emotional support. According to the American Speech and Language Hearing association, support groups; You are not the only one with a hearing loss.
Joining a support group will give you the opportunity to learn from others’
experiences. How do they handle traveling, meetings, appointments, going to the
hospital, telephone conversations, hearing in theaters, and difficult family
members or work associates? Have they used assistive listening devices? What
has worked? Support groups are excellent forums for problem solving and mutual
support. They are also good for your sense of humor—an essential for coping with a hearing loss. (American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association 2012).
I chose this challenge, because one of my favorite
students of all time who was challenged with a hearing impairment. She was in my
class from the time she was three until she was six. Zoe taught me so much. I
held such strong admiration for her. She was a child who worked hard not to let
her challenge impact her negatively. She too did not want others to judge her or treat her any differently because of her hearing impairment. She was a great inspiration to her friends and family, and to her teacher.
Resources:
American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/support-services-for-Adults
