Lipreading Mom with Author Tara Chevrestt-Hightower at the DCC
I love visiting museums. Don’t you?
Lipreading Mom is fortunate to live in the same state as the United States’ only Deaf cultural museum. The Deaf Cultural Center and William J. Marra Museum (DCC) in Olathe, Kansas, houses artifacts from the Kansas School for the Deaf (located across the street) and much more… State and national Deaf history displays… A prototype apartment wired with Deaf-accessible technology… A captioned movie about the Deaf culture… Hands-on sign language classes for all ages… Artwork by Deaf artists.
Photo Credit: Deaf Cultural Center
Did I mention the museum’s tour guides are some of the friendliest on the planet?
What I Learned at the Deaf Cultural Center
A few weeks ago, I held a book signing for Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom at the DCC. Director Sandra Kelly (who is hearing) sign-interpreted while I did a book reading, allowing the event to be accessible to all. She did the same thing for my 2009 book signing event for Lip Reader. Regardless of hearing ability, we all felt welcomed by Sandra and her volunteers.
A week later, I returned with a friend who had traveled from Utah. Tara Chevrestt-Hightower is an accomplished author who, because of her own profound hearing loss, was eager to tour the DCC. We were greeted by Chuck, a bubbly tour guide who happens to be Deaf. Chuck spoke and signed while leading the tour. He made sure to face me and Tara so we could lip read him. Tara, who doesn’t use sign language, chatted with us about her experiences growing up as a lip reader. It was interesting to learn how much Tara, Chuck, and I had in common as people who rely on lipreading.
Afterward, Sandra explained that the DCC is inclusive of all communication methods—sign language, lipreading, cued speech, speaking, assistive listening devices, pen and paper. No one at the museum is frowned upon if they don’t use sign language. Sandra made such an impression on Tara that she flew home the next week and blogged about how the museum helped her better grasp her identity as a person with hearing loss.
I met some kindred spirits in Tara, Sandra, and Chuck.
Deaf Cultural Center Director Sandra Kelly poses for Lipreading Mom’s Show Me Your Ears!
Lipreading Mom with Chuck, the DCC’s very friendly tour guide
If you are planning 2013 travel, I highly recommend a visit to Kansas and the DCC. Maybe you’ll learn something cool that you can share with Lipreading Mom.
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Have You Ever Visited the Deaf Cultural Center…or Another Deaf-Friendly Museum?
I’d love to read your comments! Take a moment to share your experience with me and fellow readers by commenting below.
Lipreading Mom 
Someday, I would love to visit the museum thanks for sharing.
David – The Deaf Cultural Center will welcome you with open arms. I hope you can make that trip some day!
Thanks for sharing! It was such a great pleasure to meet you all!
Tara – It was awesome meeting you and having our chat!
There is no museum like this here in the UK that I know of. If there is and someone reading this than do tell me where. Looks good and certainly cool.
Liz – I thought someone mentioned a deaf cultural museum in the UK to me once, but I could be mistaken. You might research this and let me know. Thanks for commenting on the post, too.
I have just done a search and came across this. So maybe its this that has been mentioned. http://www.deafculturalcentre.com/ So I have learnt something new today. But I am wondering how active it is as there are no events or updated pages for some time when looking at events and galleries.
Reblogged this on The Daily Advocate By Painspeaks.
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i havea
female friend who is a teacher at marsabit deaf school,wish she would have a chance to visit the museum.
Adan – It is a wonderful facility. I hope your friend will one day have the chance to visit the Deaf Cultural Center.