CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction for Parents

PART ONE: MAKING SENSE OF A SILENT WORLD

1  A New Plan

2  The Language of Life

3  Doing What Works

4  Band of Brothers

5  Keeping the Faith

6  Practical Matters

PART TWO: SCHOOL DAYS IN ST. LOUIS

1  Leaving Home

2  Turning the Page

3  The Year of Terror

4  Humor and Hurts

5  Expecting the Best

PART THREE: THE TIMES THEY WERE A-CHANGIN’

1  The Ugly Side

2  Communication Choices

3  Lessons on Life and Death

4  The University of Life

PART FOUR: PREPARING FOR A HEARING WORLD

1  The Struggle for Independence

2  Language, Language, Language

3  Role Models

4  Adventures in Scouting

5  New Skills and Old Blocks

PART FIVE: A NEW LIFE AT LINCOLN

1  Into the Mainstream

2  My Teachers

3  Surviving Schoolwork

4  Dance Moves

5  Communication Challenges

6  Teaching the Hearing

PART SIX: ON MY WAY

1  A New Start

2  Making Sense of the Social Life

3  Educating the Ignorant

4  More Communication Challenges

5  Accepting Yourself

6  A Matter of Perspective

7  The Future Beckons

PART SEVEN: ANTIOCH

1  Human Connection

2  Letting Go

3  Taking the Initiative

4  Motivated to Succeed

5  A New Path

PART EIGHT: LASTING IMPACT

1  Joining the Ranks

2  Answers

3  Pushing Through

4  The Naive Professor

5  Becoming Savvy

6  Home

EPILOGUE