My Story, Growing up Deaf - Kenneth 'KP'

Hi my name is Kenneth my sign name is “Kenny Kangaroo” or KR.

What do you recall about your diagnosis?

I was born hearing until I was diagnosed with hearing loss when I was 8 years old. I didn’t find out until I was 8 when I asked my parents why I was being moved from a hearing school to a deaf school. I was born in the Philippines almost 33 years ago, during the eruption of the famous volcano Mount Pinatubo. I was a healthy baby until the hospital I was in didn’t take care of my belly button when cleaning, which led to health complications, I became sick. This was common in the 90’s. I was fortunate to be alive because, at the time, many babies didn’t survive. My doctor told my parents that there could be a possibility of losing my vision, my hearing or other problems due to complicated ill health. I couldn’t speak any English at the time until I moved to Australia, where I started learning, where I entered a completely different world. It wasn’t until I was 7years old that I couldn’t hear loud noises or what people, including teachers, were saying. I was very quiet and didn’t talk to anyone. I often stayed still and played with my toys or didn’t react compared to the children around me at the time. So my parents decided to take me for a hearing test and as a result, the doctor diagnosed me with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) where it making it difficult to process information verbally along with severe profound hearing loss in my left ear. I am considered to be Half Deaf and Hearing.

If and what age were you fitted with a hearing aid or cochlear implant and what was that like?

I was fitted with a hearing aid in one ear due to my personal choice. It was very comfortable to begin with, and I remember hearing sounds that I had never heard before. It was so different; it was loud, so they had to adjust my hearing level. I can recall hearing the whistle as they put it on. My parents noticed the smile on my face for the first time as they witnessed me wearing my blue mould and a red handle. I remember going to school the next day with a coloured hearing aid. I got teased a lot about the colour. I wore it at the mainstream school. For the next few days. I often chose not to wear them until I decided to embrace my identity. and I have never looked back since. However, later on in my teens, my hearing started to deteriorate more than when I was 8. I have the option to have a cochlear or provided me with a better and more powerful hearing aid. It was a personal choice for me.

Are you oral and if so, what was your experience learning spoken language?

I’ve been predominantly oral my whole life. Many people I’ve met or spoken to didn’t know that I am half deaf. When I was 8 years old and fitted with a hearing aid, I began going to therapy at a mainstream school before transferring to a deaf facility. People tell me that I don’t pronounce some of the words correctly, which often leads to teasing. At school, I am teased a lot and been called names. I was constantly bullied even in high school not just for my hearing but also for the way I pronounce words. It has nothing to do with my accent; it’s more about how some deaf people speak.

I think nowadays, more people have access to organisations than they did years ago, thanks to social media and word of mouth.

Do you use Auslan, why did you decide to learn and at what age?

I started learning Auslan when I was in primary school, mostly focusing on the alphabet and numbers. However, my fascination with Auslan grew when I began participating in the deaf community group in 2001, transitioning from mainstream to both deaf and mainstream school. I didn’t truly start learning until I joined the Australian Deaf Basketball team, "The Goannas," at the age of 19, where several players were hard of hearing. Learning from them, I learn the basics of Auslan in sentences. It can be frustrating at times when you forget, but I've used Auslan a lot in the past few years, which has helped me communicate with the deaf community. Even though I speak clearly, I use Auslan when I am around Deaf people.

I took a break from everyone especially on social media for 8 years to focus on my personal growth until last year, 2023, when I decided to return to the deaf community and online relearn Auslan. Even though I remember some of it, it’s never too late to continue learning it again.

How do people who can hear usually communicate with you after they learn of your deafness? Are there times when people do things that frustrate you when it comes to communicating?

They usually communicate with me in spoken English, but I find it difficult to lip-read people when they talk too fast or cover their mouths. Often, they use hand gestures like "where to" or "there it is," which is opposite to Auslan. I prefer it when people who understand a bit of Auslan can help me communicate better. It's also frustrating when people need words repeated twice. I have both hearing and a few Deaf/Hard of Hearing friends, and sometimes I sign and talk at the same time. I sign slowly but not too fast. I speak clearly, alot of people often say I don’t sound deaf when I speak.

Tell us about going to school - what was that like? What were the worries you had that you remember?

Like everyone else, I went from kindergarten to primary and high school. Initially, when I arrived in Australia, I attended a mainstream school until 2001.

When I was transferred to a combined mainstream and deaf school in both primary and high school. I often had an assistant from the deaf school who sat with us in class, taking notes. in the morning and end of the day, we would take our FM to charge it for re-use the next day.My classmates and I would frequently leave class to study at the deaf facility or review what we had been taught during sessions where we usually had only one teacher per class. In high school, there weren't many hard-of-hearing students who had interpreters, but it was beneficial to have one, especially since I was still learning Auslan. Some deaf schools had interpreters, while others didn't. I remember missing a few subjects at one point, but during a one-on-one session, I had a helpful assistant teacher who guided me in simple English, and I managed to complete my assignment on time. Most students didn’t understand why we needed to leave early. I feel like it helps us with our learning.

Did you play a sport growing up? Do you think the community is doing a good job at making activities more accessible and inclusive to deaf and hard-of-hearing children?

I played sports while growing up. I started playing basketball at the age of 7 in the Philippines, where I was taught different skills even without shoes. Coming to Australia, I played both basketball and footy. In basketball, I was the only deaf player in the hearing team until I joined Deaf Basketball Victoria, where I met athletes like me. I engaged in the Deaf Sports program to connect with the deaf community.

In footy, I didn't play within the deaf community but rather on rep teams with hearing people. I played for Rowville Hawks, Waverley Panthers, and Hawks, and for TAB Eastern Ranges in footy. I was fortunate to have played with Hawthorn player Liam Shiels at Aquinas College Ringwood and Hayden Crozier from the Western Bulldogs for Waverley Park Hawks. I even taught them some Auslan growing up. I remember having a Deaf guy in my footy team, so I was quite involved in that area.

Basketball was the sport where I was heavily involved in both the deaf community and outside of it. I represented Australia for Goannas in Deaf Basketball for several years, starting when I was 16 in the development program to improve my skills to the highest level. Outside of deaf basketball, I played with hearing people, including some hard-of-hearing individuals. Shane Heal, a basketball legend for the Boomers, was my mentor outside of Deaf Basketball Australia, and I spent a lot of time working with him on my game, which helped me tremendously.

I think nowadays, more people have access to organisations than they did years ago, thanks to social media and word of mouth. It's a small community, and I'm grateful to be a part of it.

Deafness is sometimes referred to as an invisible disability- you can’t see it. Can you think of a time when you felt people acted or treated your differently because they found out you were deaf? How did that make you feel?

I remember being part of a group of friends or receiving invitations to birthday parties where I was often the last person to be invited. This was because I didn’t talk to a lot of people and was very shy. Additionally, I couldn’t hear very well. When I was younger, if I told new people that I’m hearing impaired, they immediately talked slowly and often tried to make it seem like I didn’t understand. However, I could clearly understand, and they didn’t need to talk so slowly. I felt a bit humiliated by my peers for mocking me.

Even in sports, during team selections, I was often the last kid to be picked because they didn’t want to lose a game. When being invited to events, most hearing people didn’t take into consideration having me along.

As I got into adulthood, I faced difficulties when looking for a job. When I told employers that I’m deaf, they immediately asked, 'Well, I’m concerned that you may not hear well if you’re surrounded by noisy people. How do you think you can cope with that?' It is frustrating not to get a job that you wanted, especially in retail, where they don’t allow you to try.

Despite my skills, I believe that I can do things regardless of my disability. I hate being told that they are concerned about my safety and how I can manage the noise. Most of my hearing friends don’t care if I’m deaf or not. They were surprised to discover, but they are very interested in learning more about the deaf community. You see, not everyone is judgmental. Only those who don’t allow you to learn and be part of everyday life.

....It's (Deaf Community) a small community, and I'm grateful to be a part of it.

Tell us about a lifechanging experience or moment and has stuck with you (positive or negative we want to know!)

Well, it was when I was going through a tough time with my mental health for several years and was a rebellious guy. I couldn’t speak to anyone about it because men are meant to be tough. I’ve always been a tough and confident guy. Then, in 2017, I reached the lowest point in my life where I couldn’t cope. I ended up seeking help and started seeing a psychologist, which eventually led me to a fitness journey. I fell in love with bodybuilding, I started going to the gym and noticed a big improvement in my mental health. I began living a healthy lifestyle and building healthy relationships. I became very involved in the fitness industry. After going through a tough time, I decided to inspire a lot of people with my love for fitness and well-being.

I don’t go online as often as I used to, but I started sharing my story with the world about my struggles and how fitness impacted my life, keeping me out of trouble. I started joining gym groups such as J-Series, F45, and CrossFit. I hope to compete in Natural Bodybuilding in the near future. The gym has helped me build friendships not just within the gym but also outside of it, allowing me to interact and engage with both the hearing and deaf communities. Without the gym, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I stay motivated and consistent with my training, diet, and daily routine. I aim to become a motivational speaker and help the deaf community get into fitness.

And tell us about going to Uni or TAFE - what was that like?

I started studying my Multimedia course, then pursued an Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media, at Box hill TAFE and eventually earned a Bachelor's Degree in 3D Animation. at SAE and did study at CalArts (Walt Disney)Currently, I am studying 2D Animation at AIT Melbourne. It was different because you didn’t have an assistant like you did in primary and high school who took you outside classes. Now, you’re on your own, making your own choices. I struggled to get help, but luckily for me, I had the best lecturer who understood me and was happy to assist. They didn’t look at me differently; they were eager to learn Auslan and about the deaf world. I have a few friends from class who are also eager to learn more, which surprised me because I've always been bullied for being deaf. But now, they are interested.

I worked on the new Box Hill hospital as a 3D model designer with a group of teams in 2012, which stands today. In recent years, I've had the opportunity to collaborate with the animation industry, especially for shows like Bluey, where I had the opportunity to do some work and learn the animators who worked on the shows.

Some of my friends from my past courses are now in the industry doing good things for the deaf community by making short films, inspiring others by sharing their experiences with me and spreading awareness about the deaf world. By the end of 2025, I should finish my final Degree in Animation. I've been studying since 2010. The reason I continue to pursue my degree certificate is that I want to build more skills and inspire others. No matter how old you are, it's never too late to learn new skills. You never know when they might come in handy. I know this will be my last time studying for my Bachelor's Degree in Animation.

What influenced your career choices?

I’ve always wanted to become either an actor or an animator. Growing up, I idolized Walt Disney. When I was little and didn’t know that I couldn’t hear, I used to draw every day. I wasn’t paying attention when people were talking to me; all I ever did was draw and draw. I became so good that it eventually led to doing some serious work later on in life. I have a passion for filmmaking, which also helps me bring my creative ideas to the next level. I have made various short films in the past. The best thing about working in the creative field is that I get to collaborate with people outside the industry. My main goal right now is to bring deaf talent animators to work together effectively in Australia. Because everyone has a story to tell; we're not just telling a story, we're also changing lives.

What are your main challenges? And how have you learned to manage those challenges?

The hardest thing I've faced would have to be the fact that whenever I go, it's so hard to find someone who can interpret when needed. Even having some understanding of Auslan would definitely help. Sometimes, what helps me is typing on my phone or using a pen and paper when communicating with those who are not hearing impaired. Even though I can speak in a noisy environment is difficult to hear which also makes it hard to communicate, as not everyone can sign. However, I think it would help in the future to have an interpreter in every workforce, not just in politics, concerts, or places where people have access to interpreters. I'm talking about the job force such as fast food, groceries, etc. We still have a long way to go to achieve that.

What key message would you give parents who are starting out their journey with a deaf/hard of hearing child?

My message and advice is to love your child just the way they are because the worst thing you can do is not accept who they are. My parents didn’t give up on me; they accepted the challenges while being courageous. Eventually, I grew up to be successful in life. I have succeeded in various things: I have represented Australia in deaf basketball, despite people saying I’d never play for the Aussie team. I improved my fitness and transformed my body into a better shape. I also pursued filmmaking and animation, collaborating with people outside the deaf community. Whatever goals your child aims to achieve in their life, know that the only way they can do that is if you accept who they are.

If you’re considering sending them to mainstream school, I wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, I suggest enrolling them in both a deaf facility and a mainstream school, where they can interact with both deaf and hearing people like me. I also suggest providing weekly updates on how they are coping, having open conversations, and learning any sign language you think is necessary to discuss. It's okay to let them know they can come to you when they need to.

Don't listen to other parents' opinions, because they don't matter. I encourage you to learn Auslan early. I wish I had learned it earlier in life; it would have benefited me in communicating with my parents. Remember, you're not alone. I know some parents have given up, but I know for a fact that your child will grow up to be a good example to others if you support them without overprotecting them. Overprotection is good for one thing only: to kill the potential of a human being. An overprotective child will not feel empathy towards others and may become an adult incapable of carrying their weight. I am sure that is not what you want for your child.