In this Book
- Alandra's Lilacs: The Story of a Mother and Her Deaf Daughter
- Book
- 1999
- Published by: Gallaudet University Press
summary
When, in 1968, 19-year-old Tressa Bowers took her baby daughter to an expert on deaf children, he pronounced that Alandra was “stone deaf,” she most likely would never be able to talk, and she probably would not get much of an education because of her communication limitations. Tressa refused to accept this stark assessment of Alandra’s prospects. Instead, she began the arduous process of starting her daughter’s education.
Economic need forced Tressa to move several times, and as a result, she and Alandra experienced a variety of learning environments: a pure oralist approach, which discouraged signing; Total Communication, in which the teachers spoke and signed simultaneously; a residential school for deaf children, where Signed English was employed; and a mainstream public school that relied upon interpreters. Changes at home added more demands, from Tressa’s divorce to her remarriage, her long work hours, and the ongoing challenge of complete communication within their family. Through it all, Tressa and Alandra never lost sight of their love for each other, and their affection rippled through the entire family. Today, Tressa can triumphantly point to her confident, educated daughter and also speak with pride of her wonderful relationship with her deaf grandchildren. Alandra’s Lilacs is a marvelous story about the resiliency and achievements of determined, loving people no matter what their circumstances might be.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page, Copyright page
- pp. iv-v
- 1. Reconciliation
- pp. 1-4
- 2. Homecoming
- pp. 5-19
- 3. The Race Begins
- pp. 20-26
- 4. The Sounds of Silence
- pp. 27-37
- 5. Total Communication
- pp. 38-46
- 6. Stuttering with My Hands
- pp. 47-52
- 7. Home Signs
- pp. 53-60
- 8. A Difficult Undertaking
- pp. 61-67
- 9. Our "Normal" Life
- pp. 68-76
- 10. Half Hearing and Half Deaf?
- pp. 77-92
- 11. Her Rightful Place
- pp. 93-103
- 12. Our Too Cool Daughter
- pp. 104-115
- 13. My Own Place in the Deaf World
- pp. 116-122
- 14. Enter Chad . . . and Tyler
- pp. 123-132
- 15. I Finally Get to Hear Baby Talk
- pp. 133-138
- 16. A Normal Pair of Boys
- pp. 139-147
- 17. Smelling the Lilacs
- pp. 148-150
Additional Information
ISBN
9781563681554
Related ISBN(s)
9781563680823
MARC Record
OCLC
43475847
Pages
158
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-11
Language
English
Open Access
No