Dear Dimity

I don't normally post anything other than poetry or freewriting on my blog but this is something that I feel strongly about. Sign language has enriched my life from the day I went deaf as a toddler and for someone to imply that one can only live a full life by learning how to speak causes my hackles to rise. So, of course imagine my reaction to Dimity Dornan receiving an award - someone who has made it her life's mission to mould deaf children into society's image of normalcy and regards sign language as 'primitive'. It is also well known that if a deaf child enters her program and they don't show any signs of progression in learning how to hear/speak, the child and their family are asked to leave the program. This helps her to maintain a high success rate and this is probably true in any of the First Voice organisations. Deaf children in these programs are also discouraged from signing.
So, with all this in mind, I decided to write a little letter addressed to her.

Dear Dimity,
Today I read this in the Brisbane Times - "Brisbane's Hear and Say Centre has been giving children the gift of communication since 1992." I would like to let you know that I was given the gift of communication long before '92 came around. I am and was lucky because my gift gave me, not only a means of communicating but access to a rich expanse of language alive with meaning and with it came a community and a culture. My gift of communication lets me use what I have - hands that I can see and shape into signs. Not my voice, a voice I cannot hear to give life to spoken words. Your gift does not come with a guarantee, but mine does. My life is a “rainbow”* of hands and I would not want it any other way.
I know this won’t happen but I would rather see your honour bestowed on all parents who have given their deaf children a gift far richer than just communication, like mine did.

-R

Brisbane Times Article
Cora Barclay Ad citing sign language as 'primitive'
ABC Article
*"I say to parents, it's when the child's life has turned from black and white, into rainbow," Dr Dornan told the ABC.

Home amongst words

An unnamed fear, unbeknown to me, paused my writing

But within the pause I refused to wait, ignored the stillness,

Blamed inspiration’s desertion, all the while

Swept along life’s hurried currents I floundered as words waited…

Without pity, they watched as I gasped to breathe...

Having long forgotten their calm, thrumming rhythm.

And yet amidst my struggles for inspiration’s lifeline

Came a moment of stillness, a moment of quiet, then realisation.

Pray, forgive me, for I have forsaken you too long...

Cast you aside as I filled inspiration’s heaven with darkness and neglected it light,

Wondrous light from your words lovingly thread together

to form an intricate dance, so complex one can only watch.

And now you welcome me as I retreat to your safe haven.