Our Story
Our story is one that reaches across two continents,
strengthens the ties of a large extended family and
allowed us entry to the Deaf World. Without warning,
what happened irrevocably changed the course of our
lives.
For me it began in 1989 while I was running after my
two year old son and preparing for the birth of my second
child. But when I look back I know it started long before
and that all the pieces fit together to bring a two
and a half year old little girl into our lives.
Karima was the third daughter of my husband’s
elder sister and her husband. Karima was born Deaf.
As with most babies born with a hearing loss, Karima’s
deafness was not discovered until well after birth.
Also, as with most hearing families of Deaf children,
the news of her deafness was grieved as a tremendous
loss. The ultimate loss came when it was decided that
Karima would have a better life in America.
Karima arrived at our home a few days before Christmas
in 1990. We immediately began learning American Sign
Language, educating ourselves about raising a Deaf child
and connecting with the Deaf community.
Fast forward twelve years and back to Ethiopia. We arrived
in Addis Ababa weary but excited after a 22 hour flight.
I vividly remember how grey and dirty the city appeared.
One of the places we visited was Alpha Special School
for the Deaf. As my husband and I walked through the
halls of the school, we were struck with an undeniable
sense of connection and commitment to the children,
staff, and school.
Our desire to support the children at Alpha Special
School for the Deaf was the impetus to the creation
of Deaf Africa Association. The classroom walls were
so blank and barren compared to the abundance of visual
teaching aids often seen in most classrooms for Deaf
children in the United States. Their clever ability
to recycle all materials was encouraging, however, it
hurt to see such a scarcity of teaching supplies.
At the end of our journey, I was overcome by all the
images I had witnessed during our month long visit.
And even though the city was still grey and dirty, it
was the warmth of the smiles and the generous hospitality
of those we met on our travels that impacted me the
most.
Ethiopia is still with me. Ethiopia is in me. I invite
you to join us in facing the challenge of supporting
Deaf individuals in Africa.
My faith demands that I do whatever I can,
wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can
with whatever I have to try to make a difference.
