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>> GABRIEL: I hope you all enjoyed that video clip. And after all these years, I still get
a kick out of watching it!
My name is Gabriel Brainson, I am 15 years old, and just finished my Sophomore year in
High School in Mamaroneck, NY. I have always attended a regular school with regular kids.
And yes, believe it or not, that was me cockle-doodle-doo-ing in that video – I’ve grown a bit since
then. I remember when Laurie Hanin used to be able to look down at me to say hello.
These days, when I’m not busy with school work, I am busy playing baseball, hockey,
and golf for my school teams. Unfortunately, golfing didn’t fit in to my “study schedule”
today, at least according to my Parents; otherwise I’m sure I would have been able to be out
there with all of you.
Thankfully, when I was eight months old, my parents brought me to the Center for Hearing
and Communication (back then, known as “The League”), where I began an intensive program
of Speech Therapy. Laurie Hanin was my audiologist back then. For over five years, I participated
in the Children’s Program at the CHC – coming to the city for Speech Therapy as often as
twice a week for a few hours each day. You can tell me later whether you think it was
worthwhile. For many years afterward, I continued going to the CHC for Audiology services.
I have only the warmest memories of the CHC, and I feel a tremendous debt of gratitude
for everything they have done for me and my family for the last 15 years.
Today, thanks to the CHC and the more recent addition of bilateral Cochlear Implants, I
enjoy a pretty normal life as a teenager – although my Parents would argue there is nothing ‘Normal’
about life as a Teenager. I enjoy listening to music, hanging out with friends, and procrastinating
as best I can when I have work to do.
There are always surprises in life – and sometimes, being hearing impaired throws me
some funny ones.
Over the years, my teachers have always used an FM microphone so that I could hear better
in class. An FM system works with hearing aids and cochlear implants to help reduce
background noise and make the teacher sound as if they are right next to you.
I remember one day in kindergarten, my teacher was wearing the FM microphone when she left
the room for a minute.
All of a sudden, I heard water running. I looked around the room but didn’t see any
running water.
I asked the assistant teacher if she also heard the water running, but she said she
didn’t hear anything. I heard the water running, I knew I did.
And then it all made sense…..I heard the toilet flush!
[laughter] Susan King asked me to speak about plans I
have for the future. In the near term, I have started to think about where I may end up
for College. Beyond that, I’m only 15 and haven’t given it much thought.
But I do know that thanks to the CHC and the technological marvel of Cochlear Implants,
there is absolutely NOTHING I can’t do.
While my hearing loss may present some challenges over time, as it has in the past, being deaf
will not limit my future in any way. I can do anything I want to do, and be anything
I want to be – the whole world is open. And I can only be limited by my own ambition.
Thank you all for coming out to support the Center for Hearing and Communication. Your
support helps so many other kids like me gain the tools they so critically need to achieve
their own goals in life. Please enjoy the rest of your evening – we hope to see you
back again next year.