Rachel Zemach

Rachel Zemach was hearing for half her childhood and Deaf the other half, after an accident left her Deaf at age ten. But it wasn't until much later, over a ten year period when she taught a Deaf class in a hearing, public school, that she began to identify as Deaf-with-a-capital-D. Incidents occurring in her classroom and in her interactions with the hearing administration and staff were often absurd, comedic and at times, shocking. The students were language-hungry, wonderful and smart. They...See more

Rachel Zemach was hearing for half her childhood and Deaf the other half, after an accident left her Deaf at age ten. But it wasn't until much later, over a ten year period when she taught a Deaf class in a hearing, public school, that she began to identify as Deaf-with-a-capital-D. Incidents occurring in her classroom and in her interactions with the hearing administration and staff were often absurd, comedic and at times, shocking. The students were language-hungry, wonderful and smart. They-and their sometimes surprising journeys, particularly one boy whose story turned tragic-provided the fire and impetus for this book. See less