um hi hi yeah I go ahead no that’s fine yeah
yeah
yeah you guys are alive right we’re alive
you guys are alive right we’re alive
you guys are alive right we’re alive tonight let’s go anyways I wanted to
tonight let’s go anyways I wanted to
tonight let’s go anyways I wanted to pose a question for you guys how many of
pose a question for you guys how many of
pose a question for you guys how many of you guys have met a deaf person before
you guys have met a deaf person before
you guys have met a deaf person before in your lives not me I don’t count right
all right not two about about half how
all right not two about about half how many of you can imagine what it’s like
many of you can imagine what it’s like
many of you can imagine what it’s like to be deaf in this world I want to let
to be deaf in this world I want to let
to be deaf in this world I want to let you guys know I was born like you guys I
you guys know I was born like you guys I
you guys know I was born like you guys I was born a hearing person I remember
was born a hearing person I remember
was born a hearing person I remember being a little kid I remember enjoying
being a little kid I remember enjoying
being a little kid I remember enjoying hearing all these different sounds
hearing all these different sounds
hearing all these different sounds I remember hearing the bird singing in
I remember hearing the bird singing in
I remember hearing the bird singing in the morning I remember the sound of the
the morning I remember the sound of the
the morning I remember the sound of the river I remember the sound of rain and
river I remember the sound of rain and
river I remember the sound of rain and lightning
lightning
lightning I remember the chickens and the goats
I remember the chickens and the goats
I remember the chickens and the goats and the cows and all the different
and the cows and all the different
and the cows and all the different noises that I had experienced as a
noises that I had experienced as a
noises that I had experienced as a hearing child I remember music as well
so life was beautiful I went to school I
so life was beautiful I went to school I talked I danced until about the age of
talked I danced until about the age of
talked I danced until about the age of 10 I remember I was in class its fourth
10 I remember I was in class its fourth
10 I remember I was in class its fourth grade and my class suffered it was
grade and my class suffered it was
grade and my class suffered it was horrible for three months we didn’t have
horrible for three months we didn’t have
horrible for three months we didn’t have a teacher and I remember we were
a teacher and I remember we were
a teacher and I remember we were supposed to our new teacher was supposed
supposed to our new teacher was supposed
supposed to our new teacher was supposed to show up this this particular day and
to show up this this particular day and
to show up this this particular day and I’m so excited to go to school and learn
I’m so excited to go to school and learn
I’m so excited to go to school and learn but um my head my body my energy was
but um my head my body my energy was
but um my head my body my energy was really low I I had this horrible fever
really low I I had this horrible fever
really low I I had this horrible fever and I was dizzy and I couldn’t focus so
and I was dizzy and I couldn’t focus so
and I was dizzy and I couldn’t focus so the teacher ordered my cousin who
the teacher ordered my cousin who
the teacher ordered my cousin who happened to sit next to me to take me
happened to sit next to me to take me
happened to sit next to me to take me home my cousin helped me arrive back to
home my cousin helped me arrive back to
home my cousin helped me arrive back to my house and I was done for I was really
my house and I was done for I was really
my house and I was done for I was really really sick and my grandparents called
really sick and my grandparents called
really sick and my grandparents called my father to come see me and he rode
my father to come see me and he rode
my father to come see me and he rode over on his bicycle and he he took me
over on his bicycle and he he took me
over on his bicycle and he he took me home back to my parents home I remember
home back to my parents home I remember
home back to my parents home I remember it was a Thursday night
the next morning I woke up and gosh I
the next morning I woke up and gosh I just had a hard time hearing anything
just had a hard time hearing anything
just had a hard time hearing anything I called some my mom I was like mom I
I called some my mom I was like mom I
I called some my mom I was like mom I can’t hear anything
can’t hear anything
can’t hear anything and my mom said Oh calm down son we’ll
and my mom said Oh calm down son we’ll
and my mom said Oh calm down son we’ll go to the doctor tomorrow we’ll be fine
go to the doctor tomorrow we’ll be fine
go to the doctor tomorrow we’ll be fine so I went to bed Friday morning I
so I went to bed Friday morning I
so I went to bed Friday morning I couldn’t hear anything and it became
couldn’t hear anything and it became
couldn’t hear anything and it became worse and worse and worse and my dad
worse and worse and worse and my dad
worse and worse and worse and my dad decided to put me on the back of his
decided to put me on the back of his
decided to put me on the back of his favorite bicycle and walk me we walked
favorite bicycle and walk me we walked
favorite bicycle and walk me we walked to the nearby health clinic I wish we
to the nearby health clinic I wish we
to the nearby health clinic I wish we had hospitals in my crunch in my country
had hospitals in my crunch in my country
had hospitals in my crunch in my country but Burundi at that time is just tiny
but Burundi at that time is just tiny
but Burundi at that time is just tiny and there you know there was no 911 no
and there you know there was no 911 no
and there you know there was no 911 no ambulances to come pick me up we had to
ambulances to come pick me up we had to
ambulances to come pick me up we had to use whatever we had so my dad used to
use whatever we had so my dad used to
use whatever we had so my dad used to bicycle the nurse at the clinic looking
bicycle the nurse at the clinic looking
bicycle the nurse at the clinic looking me over and said you’re fine and she
me over and said you’re fine and she
me over and said you’re fine and she gave me fever medication she said she
gave me fever medication she said she
gave me fever medication she said she said I’d be perfectly fine so I went
said I’d be perfectly fine so I went
said I’d be perfectly fine so I went back home it was a Saturday and then it
back home it was a Saturday and then it
back home it was a Saturday and then it was a Sunday and I felt so horrible I
was a Sunday and I felt so horrible I
was a Sunday and I felt so horrible I remember waking up in in the morning and
remember waking up in in the morning and
remember waking up in in the morning and I was so cold in the bath I couldn’t
I was so cold in the bath I couldn’t
I was so cold in the bath I couldn’t even stand I couldn’t even really sit
even stand I couldn’t even really sit
even stand I couldn’t even really sit anymore so bicycling wasn’t an option
anymore so bicycling wasn’t an option
anymore so bicycling wasn’t an option for me so my family called our neighbors
for me so my family called our neighbors
for me so my family called our neighbors and they used our method by which we
and they used our method by which we
and they used our method by which we brought people to the hospital they put
brought people to the hospital they put
brought people to the hospital they put me on a stretcher with two wooden dowels
me on a stretcher with two wooden dowels
me on a stretcher with two wooden dowels and four men on each corner and laid me
and four men on each corner and laid me
and four men on each corner and laid me down and they walked me back to the same
down and they walked me back to the same
down and they walked me back to the same clinic again that day the nurse looked
clinic again that day the nurse looked
clinic again that day the nurse looked me over and was very direct with my
me over and was very direct with my
me over and was very direct with my parents my nurse said your son is going
parents my nurse said your son is going
parents my nurse said your son is going to die I have no time for dead people
to die I have no time for dead people
to die I have no time for dead people take him away and bury him
my parents you know respected the
my parents you know respected the doctor’s prescription they they didn’t
doctor’s prescription they they didn’t
doctor’s prescription they they didn’t know what to do but my parents wouldn’t
know what to do but my parents wouldn’t
know what to do but my parents wouldn’t just take me home and discard me so they
just take me home and discard me so they
just take me home and discard me so they brought me home five or six years later
brought me home five or six years later
brought me home five or six years later I asked my mom I’m like look mom I still
I asked my mom I’m like look mom I still
I asked my mom I’m like look mom I still don’t understand how I became deaf and
don’t understand how I became deaf and
don’t understand how I became deaf and my mom said it’s the door you were dead
my mom said it’s the door you were dead
my mom said it’s the door you were dead you weren’t deaf you were dead you were
you weren’t deaf you were dead you were
you weren’t deaf you were dead you were diagnosed and I was like well fine mom
diagnosed and I was like well fine mom
diagnosed and I was like well fine mom but why didn’t you go ahead and have a
but why didn’t you go ahead and have a
but why didn’t you go ahead and have a funeral why didn’t you bury me if I was
funeral why didn’t you bury me if I was
funeral why didn’t you bury me if I was dead why don’t you forget about me and
dead why don’t you forget about me and
dead why don’t you forget about me and my mom said no is it or you you couldn’t
my mom said no is it or you you couldn’t
my mom said no is it or you you couldn’t eat you couldn’t breathe but your heart
eat you couldn’t breathe but your heart
eat you couldn’t breathe but your heart continued to be
became deaf I know the dictionary
became deaf I know the dictionary definition of deaf is someone who is
definition of deaf is someone who is
definition of deaf is someone who is unable to hear or can’t hear and I
unable to hear or can’t hear and I
unable to hear or can’t hear and I understand and I respect the concept but
understand and I respect the concept but
understand and I respect the concept but I’m here to tell you that definition
I’m here to tell you that definition
I’m here to tell you that definition does not apply to me and it does not
does not apply to me and it does not
does not apply to me and it does not apply to any person who is deaf someone
apply to any person who is deaf someone
apply to any person who is deaf someone invented that idea and applied it to me
invented that idea and applied it to me
invented that idea and applied it to me I became deaf but I created a new life I
I became deaf but I created a new life I
I became deaf but I created a new life I transitioned a new journey I created new
transitioned a new journey I created new
transitioned a new journey I created new goals I had a new purpose in life at
goals I had a new purpose in life at
goals I had a new purpose in life at that time I didn’t know what they were I
that time I didn’t know what they were I
that time I didn’t know what they were I lost my hearing but I believe that I
lost my hearing but I believe that I
lost my hearing but I believe that I gained so much more than I had before I
gained so much more than I had before I
gained so much more than I had before I didn’t only I didn’t just survive spinal
didn’t only I didn’t just survive spinal
didn’t only I didn’t just survive spinal meningitis but I also survived more
meningitis but I also survived more
meningitis but I also survived more challenging things more challenging
challenging things more challenging
challenging things more challenging things that I wouldn’t have been able to
things that I wouldn’t have been able to
things that I wouldn’t have been able to overcome where I a hearing person so
overcome where I a hearing person so
overcome where I a hearing person so back to my story so much of my family
back to my story so much of my family
back to my story so much of my family came around they didn’t know what to do
came around they didn’t know what to do
came around they didn’t know what to do you know they were audiologists they
you know they were audiologists they
you know they were audiologists they were speech pathologists who who gave
were speech pathologists who who gave
were speech pathologists who who gave their opinions of what they should do to
their opinions of what they should do to
their opinions of what they should do to me at you know my time there was no
me at you know my time there was no
me at you know my time there was no really real advocacy for me I mean my
really real advocacy for me I mean my
really real advocacy for me I mean my parents didn’t know what to do they had
parents didn’t know what to do they had
parents didn’t know what to do they had a deaf son they figured life was over
a deaf son they figured life was over
a deaf son they figured life was over they went to the doctor and you know
they went to the doctor and you know
they went to the doctor and you know they didn’t know how to educate me and
they didn’t know how to educate me and
they didn’t know how to educate me and they had a ton of questions it just so
they had a ton of questions it just so
they had a ton of questions it just so happens that my dad had a wonderful
happens that my dad had a wonderful
happens that my dad had a wonderful sister my his sister-in-law actually who
sister my his sister-in-law actually who
sister my his sister-in-law actually who sent a letter to my dad my dad took the
sent a letter to my dad my dad took the
sent a letter to my dad my dad took the letter and he handed the letter to me
letter and he handed the letter to me
letter and he handed the letter to me and I read the letter in the letter said
and I read the letter in the letter said
and I read the letter in the letter said we found a school for deaf it’s really
we found a school for deaf it’s really
we found a school for deaf it’s really really far away but I think you should
really far away but I think you should
really far away but I think you should take your son to it I don’t know if you
take your son to it I don’t know if you
take your son to it I don’t know if you guys I don’t know how many of you guys
guys I don’t know how many of you guys
guys I don’t know how many of you guys as parents would empower your
as parents would empower your
as parents would empower your twelve-year-old son to make a decision
twelve-year-old son to make a decision
twelve-year-old son to make a decision for their entire life to make that kind
for their entire life to make that kind
for their entire life to make that kind of educational decision I don’t think
of educational decision I don’t think
of educational decision I don’t think many people
many people
many people yeah I don’t know if CPS would come take
yeah I don’t know if CPS would come take
yeah I don’t know if CPS would come take you away if you let your kids make those
you away if you let your kids make those
you away if you let your kids make those kind of decisions for themselves but my
kind of decisions for themselves but my
kind of decisions for themselves but my parents asked me if I wanted to go to
parents asked me if I wanted to go to
parents asked me if I wanted to go to school and I said yes instantly they
school and I said yes instantly they
school and I said yes instantly they started preparing for me to move to the
started preparing for me to move to the
started preparing for me to move to the school I remember my dad and I we we got
school I remember my dad and I we we got
school I remember my dad and I we we got on his bicycle I don’t know if you guys
on his bicycle I don’t know if you guys
on his bicycle I don’t know if you guys know to much about Burundi but Burundi
know to much about Burundi but Burundi
know to much about Burundi but Burundi is like a tiny little Switzerland it’s
is like a tiny little Switzerland it’s
is like a tiny little Switzerland it’s completely mountainous the entire
completely mountainous the entire
completely mountainous the entire country so I remember getting on the
country so I remember getting on the
country so I remember getting on the bike with my dad and when it was the
bike with my dad and when it was the
bike with my dad and when it was the uphills we’d walk together when it was
uphills we’d walk together when it was
uphills we’d walk together when it was flat we’d both jump on his bike and we’d
flat we’d both jump on his bike and we’d
flat we’d both jump on his bike and we’d ride together gosh we left home at 6
ride together gosh we left home at 6
ride together gosh we left home at 6 o’clock in the morning and we arrived at
o’clock in the morning and we arrived at
o’clock in the morning and we arrived at the school round about 8 o’clock at
the school round about 8 o’clock at
the school round about 8 o’clock at night took us maybe 13 hours and I
night took us maybe 13 hours and I
night took us maybe 13 hours and I remember that time it was the greatest
remember that time it was the greatest
remember that time it was the greatest trip I’d ever had of in my life with my
trip I’d ever had of in my life with my
trip I’d ever had of in my life with my father and it was the last one I ever
father and it was the last one I ever
father and it was the last one I ever had it was them we arrived and I was so
had it was them we arrived and I was so
had it was them we arrived and I was so excited to go to school my dad
excited to go to school my dad
excited to go to school my dad registered me and put my name in and I
registered me and put my name in and I
registered me and put my name in and I remember it was a Monday a Monday
remember it was a Monday a Monday
remember it was a Monday a Monday morning we sat together and he wrote out
morning we sat together and he wrote out
morning we sat together and he wrote out a note to me on a piece of paper he
a note to me on a piece of paper he
a note to me on a piece of paper he couldn’t communicate with me so he wrote
couldn’t communicate with me so he wrote
couldn’t communicate with me so he wrote on a piece of paper it said it’s the
on a piece of paper it said it’s the
on a piece of paper it said it’s the door you start school tomorrow
door you start school tomorrow
door you start school tomorrow I believe you can achieve anything you
I believe you can achieve anything you
I believe you can achieve anything you want in your life I won’t see you again
want in your life I won’t see you again
want in your life I won’t see you again until Christmas time when I come to pick
until Christmas time when I come to pick
until Christmas time when I come to pick you up that Christmas never happened
month later he was killed not only my
month later he was killed not only my father but also my grandfather and my
father but also my grandfather and my
father but also my grandfather and my grandmother several of my cousin’s my
grandmother several of my cousin’s my
grandmother several of my cousin’s my friends my classmates many of them were
friends my classmates many of them were
friends my classmates many of them were killed during the Burundi genocide that
killed during the Burundi genocide that
killed during the Burundi genocide that occurred in 1993 I remember it was
occurred in 1993 I remember it was
occurred in 1993 I remember it was October 21st October 21st 1993 my family
October 21st October 21st 1993 my family
October 21st October 21st 1993 my family was gone that month but I’m here to tell
was gone that month but I’m here to tell
was gone that month but I’m here to tell you that he did everything he possibly
you that he did everything he possibly
you that he did everything he possibly could for me to be successful next slide
today I’m standing in front of you guys
today I’m standing in front of you guys and it reminded me again of this moment
and it reminded me again of this moment
and it reminded me again of this moment in 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium
in 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium
in 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium I received the greatest honor of being
I received the greatest honor of being
I received the greatest honor of being homecoming king of this university not
homecoming king of this university not
homecoming king of this university not only was I honored with that but I stood
only was I honored with that but I stood
only was I honored with that but I stood there and I thought you know my dad
there and I thought you know my dad
there and I thought you know my dad couldn’t be there to witness it but he
couldn’t be there to witness it but he
couldn’t be there to witness it but he sacrificed so much for me to be able to
sacrificed so much for me to be able to
sacrificed so much for me to be able to be there I wish you could have saw saw
be there I wish you could have saw saw
be there I wish you could have saw saw me standing here in front of all of
me standing here in front of all of
me standing here in front of all of these most honorable students you know
these most honorable students you know
these most honorable students you know some of them were former Marines that
some of them were former Marines that
some of them were former Marines that that served in the military for six
that served in the military for six
that served in the military for six seven eight years some of them had 4.0
seven eight years some of them had 4.0
seven eight years some of them had 4.0 grade point averages some of them were
grade point averages some of them were
grade point averages some of them were presidents of some of the most
presidents of some of the most
presidents of some of the most prestigious fraternities on campus and I
prestigious fraternities on campus and I
prestigious fraternities on campus and I was just that little deaf black kid from
was just that little deaf black kid from
was just that little deaf black kid from Burundi so what I did is I stood started
Burundi so what I did is I stood started
Burundi so what I did is I stood started ASL club here at San Diego State
ASL club here at San Diego State
ASL club here at San Diego State University I wanted everybody to have
University I wanted everybody to have
University I wanted everybody to have access to my language in this community
access to my language in this community
access to my language in this community and I’m here to tell you I’m excited to
and I’m here to tell you I’m excited to
and I’m here to tell you I’m excited to announce that this fall they’re going to
announce that this fall they’re going to
announce that this fall they’re going to be opening up the program for all
be opening up the program for all
be opening up the program for all students to take American Sign Language
students to take American Sign Language
students to take American Sign Language here but I wish my dad could have seen
here but I wish my dad could have seen
here but I wish my dad could have seen me I wish he could have seen me sign so
me I wish he could have seen me sign so
me I wish he could have seen me sign so for his sacrifice for me so that I could
for his sacrifice for me so that I could
for his sacrifice for me so that I could achieve my goals and be successful I
felt like I have the same responsibility
felt like I have the same responsibility to do the same thing for other people
that it’s my turn to start writing for
that it’s my turn to start writing for other deaf people riding a bicycle for
other deaf people riding a bicycle for
other deaf people riding a bicycle for other deaf people so that I can provide
other deaf people so that I can provide
other deaf people so that I can provide that experience to them again as I told
that experience to them again as I told
that experience to them again as I told you I’m deaf and I’m proud of it I can’t
you I’m deaf and I’m proud of it I can’t
you I’m deaf and I’m proud of it I can’t hear anything but I can feel everything
hear anything but I can feel everything
hear anything but I can feel everything in my day everyday life I function as a
in my day everyday life I function as a
in my day everyday life I function as a normal person not only for me but I want
normal person not only for me but I want
normal person not only for me but I want to be able to teach dance I enjoy
to be able to teach dance I enjoy
to be able to teach dance I enjoy dancing but at the same time that’s not
dancing but at the same time that’s not
dancing but at the same time that’s not where our abilities are limited you can
where our abilities are limited you can
where our abilities are limited you can do so much more if you can really focus
do so much more if you can really focus
do so much more if you can really focus on your inner voice all of you guys have
on your inner voice all of you guys have
on your inner voice all of you guys have this idea of inner voice and I want to
this idea of inner voice and I want to
this idea of inner voice and I want to talk with you guys my focus in my life
talk with you guys my focus in my life
talk with you guys my focus in my life has been to pedal to ride a bike the
has been to pedal to ride a bike the
has been to pedal to ride a bike the metaphorical bike for deaf children and
metaphorical bike for deaf children and
metaphorical bike for deaf children and deaf youth all over the world you know
deaf youth all over the world you know
deaf youth all over the world you know not all deaf kids have a father like
not all deaf kids have a father like
not all deaf kids have a father like mine or a mother like mine who is
mine or a mother like mine who is
mine or a mother like mine who is supportive of their access to education
supportive of their access to education
supportive of their access to education and I want to do that but I can’t do it
and I want to do that but I can’t do it
and I want to do that but I can’t do it alone
alone
alone so I started a company called ideal
so I started a company called ideal
so I started a company called ideal international deaf education advocacy
international deaf education advocacy
international deaf education advocacy and leadership because I believe that we
and leadership because I believe that we
and leadership because I believe that we should invest more in the abilities of
should invest more in the abilities of
should invest more in the abilities of people our our world and our systems are
people our our world and our systems are
people our our world and our systems are designed to invest in this idea that
designed to invest in this idea that
designed to invest in this idea that people need to be fixed that we need to
people need to be fixed that we need to
people need to be fixed that we need to fix the things that make us different I
don’t understand why we spend fifty
don’t understand why we spend fifty thousand dollars to fix my tiny little
thousand dollars to fix my tiny little
thousand dollars to fix my tiny little ears but we can invest even five
ears but we can invest even five
ears but we can invest even five thousand dollars for one child to have
thousand dollars for one child to have
thousand dollars for one child to have access to solid education the world is
access to solid education the world is
access to solid education the world is willing to spend over fifty thousand
willing to spend over fifty thousand
willing to spend over fifty thousand dollars for cochlear implant surgery to
dollars for cochlear implant surgery to
dollars for cochlear implant surgery to make a deaf child become hearing
but some people like us you know if we
but some people like us you know if we only invest $500 for one deaf youth in
only invest $500 for one deaf youth in
only invest $500 for one deaf youth in Africa to go to school for one full year
Africa to go to school for one full year
Africa to go to school for one full year it’s $500 that’s all it takes
imagine if we spent all that money that
imagine if we spent all that money that we’re spending on fixing people’s ears
we’re spending on fixing people’s ears
we’re spending on fixing people’s ears and we spent it on education instead the
and we spent it on education instead the
and we spent it on education instead the World Health Organization statistics are
World Health Organization statistics are
World Health Organization statistics are very clear there are 360 million or more
very clear there are 360 million or more
very clear there are 360 million or more people with hearing loss in the world
those are people who essentially
those are people who essentially struggle with hearing so they have
struggle with hearing so they have
struggle with hearing so they have hearing loss the World Federation of the
hearing loss the World Federation of the
hearing loss the World Federation of the Deaf did an ad vestigation that said
Deaf did an ad vestigation that said
Deaf did an ad vestigation that said about 70 million people in the world
about 70 million people in the world
about 70 million people in the world communicate using sign language now from
communicate using sign language now from
communicate using sign language now from all of those 70 million people 80
all of those 70 million people 80
all of those 70 million people 80 percent live important developing
percent live important developing
percent live important developing countries and what’s worse is that 83
countries and what’s worse is that 83
countries and what’s worse is that 83 percent or if you flip the statistic 17
percent or if you flip the statistic 17
percent or if you flip the statistic 17 percent but 83 percent have no access to
percent but 83 percent have no access to
percent but 83 percent have no access to education at all zero access to
education at all zero access to
education at all zero access to education only 17 percent of deaf people
education only 17 percent of deaf people
education only 17 percent of deaf people around the world have access to
around the world have access to
around the world have access to education now from those seventeen
education now from those seventeen
education now from those seventeen percent with access to education only
percent with access to education only
percent with access to education only three percent have access to bilingual
three percent have access to bilingual
three percent have access to bilingual education three percent can you imagine
education three percent can you imagine
education three percent can you imagine where are the ninety seven percent of
where are the ninety seven percent of
where are the ninety seven percent of those people in the world those ninety
those people in the world those ninety
those people in the world those ninety seven percent have no access to
seven percent have no access to
seven percent have no access to bilingual education bilingual education
bilingual education bilingual education
bilingual education bilingual education meaning that they can learn to read and
meaning that they can learn to read and
meaning that they can learn to read and write in English and express themselves
write in English and express themselves
write in English and express themselves in sign language they don’t have access
in sign language they don’t have access
in sign language they don’t have access to that so who’s gonna change that I
believe that you guys want to change it
believe that you guys want to change it I want to change it and I believe that
I want to change it and I believe that
I want to change it and I believe that we can change
something I want to share with you
something I want to share with you that’s important as well it’s you know
that’s important as well it’s you know
that’s important as well it’s you know from my experience my journey from a
from my experience my journey from a
from my experience my journey from a hearing person to a deaf person I I
hearing person to a deaf person I I
hearing person to a deaf person I I believe that all of us on the inside
believe that all of us on the inside
believe that all of us on the inside have this notion of inner voice there’s
have this notion of inner voice there’s
have this notion of inner voice there’s a voice within us that calls us to focus
a voice within us that calls us to focus
a voice within us that calls us to focus on what’s best for us and for other
on what’s best for us and for other
on what’s best for us and for other people many of you understand that
people many of you understand that
people many of you understand that message but again if you can just focus
message but again if you can just focus
message but again if you can just focus I know that we enjoy watching seeing I
I know that we enjoy watching seeing I
I know that we enjoy watching seeing I know we enjoy hearing and I’m here to
know we enjoy hearing and I’m here to
know we enjoy hearing and I’m here to tell you that uh you could become deaf
tell you that uh you could become deaf
tell you that uh you could become deaf at any time any of you could any of us
at any time any of you could any of us
at any time any of you could any of us could become blind at any time or lose
could become blind at any time or lose
could become blind at any time or lose our sight but we’ll continue living if
our sight but we’ll continue living if
our sight but we’ll continue living if we lose our inner voice that’s what I
we lose our inner voice that’s what I
we lose our inner voice that’s what I believe we lose our sense of life
today it’s my strong conviction that if
today it’s my strong conviction that if you all can focus on your inner voice
you all can focus on your inner voice
you all can focus on your inner voice like me I lost my hearing but I gained
like me I lost my hearing but I gained
like me I lost my hearing but I gained the ability to really focus on my inner
the ability to really focus on my inner
the ability to really focus on my inner voice which called me to advocate for my
voice which called me to advocate for my
voice which called me to advocate for my brothers and for my sisters across the
brothers and for my sisters across the
brothers and for my sisters across the world and to share with you guys my
world and to share with you guys my
world and to share with you guys my message that deafness is not a
message that deafness is not a
message that deafness is not a deficiency deafness is not a disability
deficiency deafness is not a disability
deficiency deafness is not a disability we’re all different that’s all
we’re all different that’s all
we’re all different that’s all we’re just all different I communicate
we’re just all different I communicate
we’re just all different I communicate with sign language I communicate with my
with sign language I communicate with my
with sign language I communicate with my facial expressions I don’t hear music
facial expressions I don’t hear music
facial expressions I don’t hear music perhaps through my ears but I feel it
perhaps through my ears but I feel it
perhaps through my ears but I feel it through my body it’s my conviction that
through my body it’s my conviction that
through my body it’s my conviction that tonight today you all can focus on your
tonight today you all can focus on your
tonight today you all can focus on your inner voices and with that you can shot
inner voices and with that you can shot
inner voices and with that you can shot your competencies your skills will shine
your competencies your skills will shine
your competencies your skills will shine and I want you to invest those skills
and I want you to invest those skills
and I want you to invest those skills into what connects us not what makes us
into what connects us not what makes us
into what connects us not what makes us different we’re all different for a
different we’re all different for a
different we’re all different for a reason and if we bring all of our skills
reason and if we bring all of our skills
reason and if we bring all of our skills and all of our talents together I
and all of our talents together I
and all of our talents together I believe you can help even me join me in
believe you can help even me join me in
believe you can help even me join me in bridging the world one community at a
bridging the world one community at a
bridging the world one community at a time thank you
time thank you
time thank you [Applause]
”
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