Read Clarke’s newest publication, Clarke Speaks Up, at clarkeschools.org/up today.
In honor of Better Hearing and Speech Month and Teacher Appreciation Week, our first blog post highlights the impressive work of a Clarke alum, advocate and college student whose documentary filmmaking showcases the “infinitely individual” journeys of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Carys, who is profoundly deaf in both ears and uses bilateral cochlear implants, attended Clarke’s Preschool Program and received support from Clarke’s Mainstream Services throughout elementary school, middle school and then high school. While Carys primarily uses Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) to communicate, she is also proficient in American Sign Language (ASL). Exploring the varied experiences and communication styles of people who are deaf or hard of hearing was a central theme of her film, The Sky’s the Limit.
“As educators at Clarke, we provide our students with the LSL education and self-advocacy tools they’ll need to thrive in mainstream settings throughout their lives,” says Marian Hartblay, Clarke’s national director of early intervention and preschool and director of early childhood services at Clarke Northampton. “Watching Carys’s film — my former preschool student! — and seeing her thoughtful approach to honoring the many aspects of identity in the deaf and hard of hearing community was a thrill. With The Sky’s the Limit, we’re able to witness a Clarke alum on her journey, telling her story, advocating for herself and others, and affirming what a delight it is to see our students succeed.”
In addition to producing a film about the experiences of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, Carys, a student at Emerson College, was recently honored by her home state as “Young Advocate of the Year.”
Read more about Carys on Clarke Speaks Up.
