A compelling exploration of a life shaped by hearing loss, faith, and inclusivity, and how technology can level the playing field by TED speaker and deaf advocate Rebecca Knill.
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Summary
A compelling exploration of a life shaped by hearing loss, faith, and inclusivity, and how technology can level the playing field by TED speaker and deaf advocate Rebecca Knill.
Description
Radio Head Gal tells the compelling story of acclaimed TED speaker Rebecca Knill as she guides us through a life shaped by hearing loss. A provocative memoir, Radio Head Gal challenges the notion that life with a disability is inferior, instead advocating for it to be viewed as just another aspect of human diversity, like race or gender. Through unexpected twists encompassing faith, love, betrayal, adaptation, and discrimination, Knill navigates the quest for belonging in a world often inaccessible to the d/Deaf and hard of hearing.
The issue is timely with one in five young people today experiencing hearing loss due to noise exposure, a significant increase since the '90s. By 2050, hearing loss is expected to impact one in four across all age groups worldwide. Technological advancements, especially in mobile accessibility, offer hope for leveling the playing field.
Knill's story covers the time period before and after her cochlear implants - a surgical procedure in which computer chips replace her sense of hearing, cyborg-style - and gives rise to her alter ego, Radio Head Gal. She explores her close friendship with her sign language interpreter and her contrary relationship with her hearing mother, highlighting the challenges of communication and self-advocacy.
Key themes of self-worth, honesty in communication, the transformative power of community, and technology's role in inclusivity resonate throughout. Knill advocates for embracing one's identity, speaking up for needs, influencing accessibility, and finding peace in silence, all infused with the distinctive humor that earned her recognition as TED Editor's Choice Top 25 Talks of 2020.
Radio Head Gal is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with hearing loss or supporting someone who is. It offers insights that break down barriers, promote understanding, and advocate for an inclusive, technology-driven future for all, regardless of ability.
Critic Reviews
"A COMPASSIONATE AND INSPIRATIONAL REMEMBRANCE ... a unique blend of self-reflection and astute societal commentary that challenges readers to reexamine the ways that they interact with the world around them." - Kirkus Reviews
"INFORMATIVE AND INSIGHTFUL LOOK INTO LIFE AS A DEAF PERSON AND DISABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. A MUST-READ! ... I enjoyed reading Rebecca's personal experiences. Her writing is excellent, smart, and funny, and the informative pieces will not be overwhelming for readers new to this community. I was nodding along, saying "yes!" aloud, and highlighting a myriad of quotes (99, to be exact). Rebecca discusses audism and inspiration porn, highlights the need for more accessible options without resistance, understanding biases and assumptions and challenging them, and explores the importance of self-advocacy. Radio Head Gal is an essential read for deaf and non-deaf, disabled and non-disabled alike." - Reedsy Discovery
"EYE-OPENING MEMOIR AND CALL-TO-ACTION ON ACCESSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES" ... she also delves into an array of other life circumstances: her childhood and parental dynamics, friendship, faith, community, romance, and work, all with her hearing loss-or "deaf gain" as an alternative term-expertly woven throughout." - Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Rebecca Knill was a Vice President and business systems consultant manager at a Fortune 500 company for over thirty years. In 2020, Rebecca gave a TED talk, How Technology Has Changed What It's Like to Be Deaf (go.ted.com/rebeccaknill), which has several million views, has been translated into multiple languages, and was selected by the TED Editors for their favorite Top 25 TED Talks of 2020. She was subsequently featured on NPR's TED Radio Hour program Sound and Silence.
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