Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In 1985 Ashlee Hollandas parents began the arduous task of educating their recently diagnosed hearing-impaired infant in rural Vermont. Self-educating themselves in the world of hearing aids and controversial educational approaches for the deaf, her parents chose an oral approach and mainstreamed her in the public-school system. While being blessed with the additional help of her teachers of the deaf, Ashlee was active in many extracurricular activities. After a summer job in California with a white-water river rafting company, she found a new hearing-impaired friend as well as guides that used sign language as a form of communication on the river. She has now opened her world to both sign and oral language. Ashleeas lifelong dream has been to encourage and inspire parents and students in overcoming the continuous challenges of deaf life. Ashlee is now recognizing there will always be new life experiences. She has learned to accept herself.