Uncommon Stories: A Belief in Equal Rights

Mary V. Rivers and Dvora Shurman, the two authors of this book, had similar experiences: a struggle to accept their loved one’s deafness, dealing with a deaf person’s silent world and being the ear and the voice for a deaf son and parents. Both came from a family that immigrated to the United States from Europe. Mary was the ear and voice for her mother who did not know English and Dvora was the ear and voice for her deaf parents. Both learned that the only way to accept deafness was to understand the deaf world through learning their language, culture, and their way of life. Another similarity between Mary and Dvora was their thirst for learning. Mary wanted to see that her deaf son Clay received the best possible education. Her hard work and commitment was similar to what Dvora had done for her deaf parents. Reading about the total devastation and frequent denial when learning of her son’s deafness and coming to terms with it over the next several years was touching and powerful. This is something that all parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children will deal with. It is important parents understand that it is they who have the ability, commitment, and love to do what is right for their child and that it will not be an easy journey but definitely possible.