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A Profile in Perseverance

Kari Hamrick Can't Hear, but Boy Can She Talk!

By Teri Brown

Socially, Kari began to suffer, as well. Many of her friends from elementary school left to attend other schools, and the lack of social time in the high school made it difficult for her to connect with other kids.

"It was difficult," says Kari. "I missed all my old friends. In high school, the only free time you get is lunch, and I didn't like lunch time because no one would talk to me."

Her most difficult challenge is how other people treat her. "Other people's attitude toward me is the hardest thing I have to deal with," says Kari. "Some people would notice I'm deaf and start to act like I'm mentally handicapped. They would treat me like a kid, and it bothers me."

Kari's life is currently in a holding period as she regains her confidence and catches back up in her school work. She loves animals and spends a lot of time with her countless cats, dogs and rabbits. The Internet has given her an outlet for her outgoing personality and wild sense of humor, as she chats with people around the country. Though she is taking this time to heal, she has no doubts that being a completely oral/deaf person is worth it and advises other deaf children to continue to work hard at speaking.

"You will be able to do great things in the future if you work hard," she says.

Kari's story is fairly typical of oral/deaf kids. Given the proper support in and out of school, they thrive. Without it, many are doomed to the edges of our society, not a part of the deaf community and not fully a part of our hearing society. Sensitivity is needed to ensure that oral/deaf children are integrated fully into the hearing world. But Kari isn't concerned with that right now. She is filled with excitement at the ordinary milestones of being a teenager.

"Right now, I just look forward to getting my driver's license and a part-time job!"