Jessi's profound grief and joy were activated by losing two close family members while also being a new, first-time mom to a beautiful, healthy son, born with hearing impairment.
Jessi's story is one of resilience, the importance of community, and the transformative power of love and connection. From learning American Sign Language (ASL), to immersing herself in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community, to discovering the complexities of parenting in a world that often overlooks the needs of differently abled children, Jessi is a powerful example of the limitlessness of a mother's love and a rally cry for us all to be kind, curious, and aware.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Uniquely Qualified Podcast
00:59 Jessi's Family Dynamics and Loss
03:54 Navigating Joy and Grief
08:07 The Birth Experience and Initial Concerns
12:07 Hearing Tests and Diagnosis
20:10 Coping with the Diagnosis and Learning ASL
36:43 Navigating Parental Fears and Emotional Struggles
39:02 The Importance of Community and Communication
42:41 The Weight of Expectations and Self-Compassion
45:13 Understanding Hurtful Comments and Their Impact
51:21 The Reality of Hearing Loss and Parental Awareness
55:20 Language Acquisition and the Importance of ASL
01:00:26 Empowering Choices and Identity in Deaf Culture
01:10:15 Navigating Resources and Advocacy for Deaf Children
01:12:28 Building Community for Children with Hearing
Differences
01:15:00 Navigating Educational Choices for Hearing Impaired Children
01:22:31 The Importance of Communication and Awareness
01:30:09 Embracing Technology for Better Communication
01:35:23 Understanding Deafness and the Brain
01:37:23 Encouragement for Parents of Hearing Impaired
Children
