How long have you been fluent in American Sign Language (ASL)?

It was the first language I knew. I learned it before English.

How do you and your parents communicate?

Through Sign Language but they can talk.

How is life more difficult for you and your family?

It’s not really all that different. The main difference in everyday life is when we are cooking, we have to tell our parents when the timer goes off.

What is your biggest fear for your parents?

Tornado sirens, seeing as they don’t have flashing tornado sirens yet.

What kind of questions do people ask you about your parents and lifestyle?

Quite honestly I don’t remember many. One of the most frequently asked questions is “Why are you not deaf?”

How often do people talk to you and your siblings instead of your parents, when they realize your parents are deaf?

Just about all the time. It happens more often with my dad, he refuses to wear his hearing aid.

What kind of technology do you have in your house for your parents?

Video phones, they are kind of like Skype. My parent’s alarm clock.  When the alarm goes off, it has sound, lights and this little thing that connects to the alarm clock, it goes underneath the mattress and it vibrates to wake them up.