Breaking the Sound Barriers: 9 Deaf Success Stories [Paperback]

Julie Postance (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009

This inspiring collection of real life stories captures the struggles and successes of nine remarkable deaf adults and parents of deaf children. Each story offers a candid insight into the world of deafness - the highs and lows. Five parents describe their experiences in dealing with the diagnosis and embracing the challenges of raising a deaf child in a hearing world. Five deaf adults describe their own journey with hearing loss and paint an honest picture of the struggles and barriers they have encountered being deaf in a hearing world. Each story illustrates that deaf people can BE, DO and HAVE anything they want in this world and that nothing is impossible. All provide specific strategies they have used to tackle barriers related to early intervention services, education, or issues within the family and community, employment and adulthood. An invaluable resource for families of deaf and hard of hearing children and professionals working in the deafness field.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julie Postance is an author, ghostwriter, journalist and marketing and communications professional. She has worked for Deaf Children Australia in Media and Public Relations since 2005 writing stories about deaf children and their families for press releases, newsletters, brochures, direct mail and feature stories for publication in national and local media. She has also ghostwritten five books on health and fitness, baby sign language, cosmology and dating. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Julie Postance (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0980595304
• ISBN-13: 978-0980595307
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Postance is the author of Breaking the Sound Barriers: 9 deaf success stories. A journalist and ghostwriter of non-fiction books, she has spent the last four years working for the not for profit organisation Deaf Children Australia where she discovered the desperate need for a hands on guide that would help hearing parents raise their deaf and hard of hearing children. Julie now travels the world, writing words that inspire and change lives. She also teaches others how to write and publish their books. She is based in Melbourne, Australia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational guide, March 29, 2010

By 

Mr. N. Daws (Staffordshire, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking the Sound Barriers: 9 Deaf Success Stories (Paperback)

A must-read for families of deaf and hard of hearing children. Many books on deafness these days try to push an oral or signing agenda, but I like it that this one represents a range of perspectives, from oral, signing and bilingual backgrounds. It is a truly honest account of what is like to go through life with a hearing loss, with a fundamental message that anything can be achieved with a bit of persistence.

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for Parents of Deaf Children, June 15, 2010

By 

Monique (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Breaking the Sound Barriers: 9 Deaf Success Stories (Paperback)

There are 9 different success stories and each one describes success differently. The stories are frank and funny, describe educational and cultural barriers, and full of possibilities and opportunities. They show families making difficult decisions and taking much thought and care to make the right one for their child.

You see, more than 90% of deaf or hard of hearing children are born to hearing parents who have LITTLE or NO experience with hearing loss. For some parents, their deaf child may be the first deaf person they have ever met.

Parents must make life-altering decisions when faced with the reality that their child has some type of hearing loss. Embrace the deaf community. Hearing aids. Cochlear implants. Sign Language. Oral language. Speech therapy. Mainstream school. Specialist school. Identity. How to parent a deaf child. How not to parent a deaf child.

There will always be people who disagree with parents' decisions about their child. But these are all personal decisions. The parents will not be able to please everyone, and they might make a bad decision. But - these 9 stories explain what worked and didn't work for each family. The stories explain how the parents and the deaf child must work extra hard to keep up with others in school. How they must work longer hours and spend more time job hunting and trying to find their niche.

There are also so many emotions and fears associated with the diagnosis. Disabled. Obstacles. Setback. Support. Blame. Grief. Challenge. Limitations. What if? Differently abled. Champion. Choices. Success.

One theme that resonated throughout each of the stories was how they, as deaf children, were treated by their schoolmates. As a parent, and a former school-aged child ;), I cannot imagine mistreating any one of my classmates, but I know, deep in my heart, that kids get bullied for all kinds of reasons. It hurts to read those parts of the stories - but they are absolutely honest in describing how it happens, and how devastating it feels, when the only thing they want to do is fit in, and there's always one person who will try so hard to point out your differences.

What this book does very well is show that there are many different ways for a child to become deaf, many different paths to take to overcome obstacles, and many different outcomes - all of which can be successful for the child. The diagnoses of deafness or hard of hearing is just the beginning. The ending is up to the individual.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and practical, March 29, 2010

By 

smink works "smink works" (melbourne, victoria, australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking the Sound Barriers: 9 Deaf Success Stories (Paperback)

I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about children and adults who have hearing disabilities, the obstacles they encounter and how they have each chosen to deal with them. The stories are very inspirational and full of practical tips and strategies. They give real insight into a variety of experiences of deafness and deaf culture. Not only is this book an invaluable resource for parents who have children with hearing impairment and people who live with hearing impairment, but it's an inspirational read for anyone who has a 'barrier' to break down in life -- the stories prove it's possible to break down the barrier and live wonderful full successful lives!