OYELEKE, Bernice Adebimpe (Mrs) was born and bred in Lagos to the family of Pastor Luke and Mrs Ruth Adekeye. She is the incumbent National Treasurer of Deaf Teachers Association of Nigeria (DTAN) and the Chairperson, Planning Committee of National Quiz Competition for Deaf Students of the same association. She’s happily married with two lovely kids. She’s a civil servant, a research student, and an advocate of Deaf child education. She is the initiator of “Deaf Nigerians Profile”.
In this episode, She shared with Inclusive News Network (INN) how her life changed after she became Deaf and how learning sign language has significantly improved her life. Read her inspiring story below:
My Journey into deafness:
On the 23rd of June 2002, a few weeks to 3rd terminal examination in my Jss3, I became ill. The illness was managed at home as malaria initially, but when I was not responding to treatment, I was taken to hospital and finally admitted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja on the fourth day of the illness. I lost my hearing the morning following my admission into the hospital. Case note revealed that I suffered from meningitis (cerebral fever) and was treated with quinine among other drugs. It was later explained that meningitis and the quinine were the cause of the hearing loss. Subsequent audiology assessments showed that I have bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss which means that I’m deaf in both ears.
With lots of fears, uncertainties and questions in mind, I chose to continue with the opportunity I had in hand, I resumed back to my regular school to write 3rd term examination and junior Waec. I resumed into ss1 in my same regular school, Science department. I refused to think about what my peers were thinking and saying about my new condition. I had enough fears of future in my mind than to allow peers opinion compound it. Meanwhile, we were still going to hospitals for follow-ups. Eventually, a year after, my file was closed down and referral was made to private audiologist with note ‘advise on school’. As at this time, I had completed ss1 and my results was good. So having proven my ability to cope in a regular school, I told my mum that I don’t want to go to a special school since I’ve already completed an academic year with the deafness and I still maintained my academic record. With my decision, my parent let me be. And I completed my secondary school in the same regular school without hearing.
Meanwhile, my parent still kept making enquiry (medical) for any solution, but I didn’t allow the expectation of a possible solution or the search for it to stop me from school. We had another hospital visit and eventually hearing aid was recommended and we struggled and raised the money with people’s donation. Alas, the hearing aid ended up being an empty hope for me. I was only perceiving speech as sound, I still could not hear speech meaningfully. I made another decision to return the device and continue my life without it. It’s either I hear speech meaningfully or not at all, I can’t deceive myself. My parents agreed with my decision seeing that I have made up my mind.
However, my contact with the audiologist, Mr Barnabas, exposed me to information about special education which I was oblivious of. With that information and steps taken, I got admitted to the department of special education, university of ibadan, two years after I completed my secondary education with Chemistry as teaching subject.
With chemistry as a minor course I had increased motivation to work at achieving excellence
Acquisition of Sign Language:
At 100l, the head of department, Prof Nwazuoke, said I should learn sign language. The department sign language interpreters began holding sign language learning class every Friday and I began learning sign language. Initially, the reality of the deafness became more pronounced on me and I had depression which I nursed quietly. However, a hearing friend, Jumoke, decided to accompany me to the classes and we learned together, her presence was a lot of encouragement. The need to achieve success in my academics too was very much in mind so I didn’t brood for long.
I gradually learnt the art of signing but I wasn’t fully relying on it for class purpose as I was not yet proficient at it. I eventually graduated with a cgpa of 6.7/7 (first class). I obtained my masters degree in special education too . I have been a teacher for deaf students and currently a civil servant. I’ve mastered the art of signing very well, and I associate with members of Deaf community who I regard as brothers and sisters.
Though from my story, I am one of the few deaf students who can succeed in academics without using sign language, however, I must say that acquisition of sign language helped me a great deal in personality and psychological development, especially beyond the classroom.
Proficiency in sign Language usage has helped me in my subsequent programs after the first degree. For an effective postgraduate program, student should be able to access the entire classroom dynamics/ environment beyond the knowledge content, for this type of learning, sign language has helped me greatly. Sign language gives me a new language to access my environment. I’m happily married to a hearing man who is proficient in sign language, so we have a language to communicate.
Lipreading is way too inferior for communication when compared with communication access that sign language offers.
Sign language and acceptance of deafness has built in me the confidence that I need for advocacy anywhere I find myself. I see my deafness as just being unique from someone who can hear and not a problem.
1 comment
there is productivity in disability.