2018 was a year of mixed success for the Maya Deaf Foundation. It was our second year as a non-profit organization, and admittedly, we were still trying to find our feet. We spent quite some time reviewing 2017, our first year, to identify all the areas in which we can improve. We were determined to…
Some time late last year during Laz’ final exams I got a rude awakening. One that had me out in the dark, barefoot and bra-less with a vacuum machine’s steel pipe in my hand. While studying, he loved staying at my parents’ house during prep and exam times. Jazzy and I would then vacate the…
Hearing loss is one of those “disabilities” that is the most difficult to recognise. You wouldn’t always easily be able to spot a deaf person in a crowd. The obvious downside of that is that we don’t always get shown the consideration and sensitivity BEFORE we are approached and recognised, as shown to those with…
Just in case you don’t know, today is World Hearing Day. A day where we celebrate one of our senses, and spread awareness about the loss of the same sense. We celebrate our hearing sense simply because it can be lost. Let’s be honest, would we have celebrated it otherwise? Naturally, normal hearing persons don’t…
How do you hear?” is a question I’ve heard countless times. “How does it feel to be deaf?” is a close second. Everyone can “imagine” being deaf and are able to recreate a “deaf environment”, much the same way as one can recreate a “blind environment”- by simply closing your eyes. I have covered this…
One more day until deaf awareness month is over! Whilst reflecting on the campaign with my brother, he made me question what made the transition from hearing to deaf, and then back to hearing again, easier. Family and the friends I surrounded myself with played a big role, but there was one specific friend that…
We all like the latest gadgets don’t we? Peripheral devices, add-ons, accessories, extras… it kinda also have a duel purpose of which making our lives easier is the first, then the second is to make us look cool… coz then explain to me all the funky colors and bedazzles? Laz and I spent our Sunday afternoon…
Yesterday the nation of South Africa celebrated Heritage Day. It is a day which reminds us to celebrate our diversity, and to bear in mind how far such a diverse nation has come. So of course I celebrated this day with my fellow South Africans. I am very appreciative of all the different cultures that…
The #NotDEAFeted Deaf Awareness campaign opened up a whole new wold to Laz and I. We were planning on making others aware and sharing information, little did we know we’ll be the ones being schooled. We’ve learnt so much from the people reaching out to us. Thanks to hash tagging and this awesome woman commenting “Hi Ruth” on…
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to know another deaf person’s story. I was curious as to how they are coping, and what deafness is like for them. Not to compare myself with them, but to see if there is a tendency to do and experience things only we can…