(happy music) I was born deaf.

Yes.

But why?

We don't know.

(happy music) I'm not Deaf.

I'm hearing.

(happy music) Other family down my family line are not Deaf.

I heard my great great grandmother was Deaf, but I don't know.

I never met her.

(happy music) My family has no Deaf people, all hearing.

(happy music) My family, yes.

My three boys, they all sign.

And my mom and dad can sign too.

(happy music) From the time when I was growing up, I always wanted to work with the Deaf.

When I went to the university, I met Jeremy for the first time.

He was the first Deaf person I ever met.

When I met Whitney, she really didn't know much sign.

She knew how to spell her name and over time, I taught her more and more sign.

And now she can sign well.

(light music) When I was growing up, I was about one, two years old, my parents didn't know that I was deaf.

And later, when they found out I was deaf, they were like, What should we do?

So they put me in a school.

The doctor said that I need to learn how to talk, but my speech was not developing well.

I was really struggling.

It was really hard.

So my mom saw other kids learning sign and decided to put me with those kids to learn sign and talking at the same time.

I took off and did well.

(light music) From the time our children were born, The three boys that I had were born hearing.

Then, as they were growing up, we noticed their hearing was getting worse.

Now, all three of them are hard of hearing and will become deaf.

(light music) We're not worried about them becoming deaf.

We know Deaf people.

They have jobs.

They're able to drive.

They have families.

They have a wonderful life, full of life.

We're not worried.

(light music) When I communicate with hearing people, there are many, many different ways.

You can text on your phone.

You can write.

You can point.

You can gesture.

There are many different ways.

I fly around the world and most of the time I communicate on my phone, texting back and forth with people.

I really enjoy it.

It's so fun.

(happy music) Sign language is a rich language and in that language, there is so much to it.

Around the world, they have many different sign languages.

Around 400 sign languages.

Wow.

For example, in Africa, in the country of Kenya, we used to live there before and they signed different than here in America, and other countries, for example, in India and Nepal, they all have different sign languages.

(happy music) You know that the Deaf actually love music.

Why?

Because they can feel the vibrations.

Most international Deaf people love drums.

They can feel the drums.

They can follow the beat through the feeling.

(happy music) For my job, I love my job.

I get to travel to many different countries to help set up technology.

Lights, cameras, computers, wifi.

Everything related to technology and involves Bible translation for the Deaf.

So I meet Deaf people from all over the world.

It's so cool.

(happy music) Don't be afraid.

Don't give up.

Keep pursuing your goals.

I can do anything.

I travel the world.

Even you, you can do anything.

There are no barriers for you.

You break down those barriers and press through.

You can do it.

(happy music) If you see a Deaf person, don't be afraid.

The Deaf can do anything you can do, except hear.

So feel free to go up to them and communicate with them.

Of course, when you talk, they can't hear you.

But they're not ignoring you.

But the Deaf would truly like to interact and talk with you.

For example, Deaf children love to play games, but maybe not Marco Polo because the Deaf can't hear.

But other games that the Deaf love, like hide and seek, they can.

I really enjoyed having you here with us to learn about the Deaf.

Have a great school year.