Hi my name is Crystal "MsMotif6" and am a deafblind identical twin (thesynthfreq). I am a musician of 20 years composing and performing original compositions.
I have been hearing impaired since age 4 and have lost more hearing over time. I am deaf without my hearing aids (Phonak Naida V ultra power hearing aids w/iCom) which I love. I started teaching myself sign language at age 14 as my hearing started to get worse. I now use sign language as my main communication medium along with Braille and am able to speak.
I attended college and received my Bachelor's of Arts degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Human Resources. I plan on working at a state agency teaching Braille and sign language to newly blinded individuals who are hearing impaired or deaf.
I think that its extremely important to advocate for those who are deafblind, low vision-hearing impaired or have Usher's Syndrome.
I went to Washington D.C. participating in DBYAA/Deafblind Young Adults in Action conference in which I advocated for those with deafblindness. I was really lucky to meet President Obama in the Oval Office and share my feelings with him about deafblind issues and how we may improve policies that would improve lives of those with deafness, blindness, or deafblindness. I spoke in the House of Representatives, Senate and Congress about advocacy what those of us with deafblindness would like to see in our future.
I attended Guiding Eyes for the Blind where I was trained with my first guide dog Umbro. He is "my little boy" and has been working with me as a team for the last 5 years. He is wonderful and I call him my guardian as he protects and guides me. He is a white/yellow lab male and will turn 7 this month.
I am excited to be here and to meet others in my situation with similar disabilities. I feel that meeting others can make us all stronger knowing that we aren't alone.
Everyone, take care
Crystal and her guide Umbro
I have been hearing impaired since age 4 and have lost more hearing over time. I am deaf without my hearing aids (Phonak Naida V ultra power hearing aids w/iCom) which I love. I started teaching myself sign language at age 14 as my hearing started to get worse. I now use sign language as my main communication medium along with Braille and am able to speak.
I attended college and received my Bachelor's of Arts degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Human Resources. I plan on working at a state agency teaching Braille and sign language to newly blinded individuals who are hearing impaired or deaf.
I think that its extremely important to advocate for those who are deafblind, low vision-hearing impaired or have Usher's Syndrome.
I went to Washington D.C. participating in DBYAA/Deafblind Young Adults in Action conference in which I advocated for those with deafblindness. I was really lucky to meet President Obama in the Oval Office and share my feelings with him about deafblind issues and how we may improve policies that would improve lives of those with deafness, blindness, or deafblindness. I spoke in the House of Representatives, Senate and Congress about advocacy what those of us with deafblindness would like to see in our future.
I attended Guiding Eyes for the Blind where I was trained with my first guide dog Umbro. He is "my little boy" and has been working with me as a team for the last 5 years. He is wonderful and I call him my guardian as he protects and guides me. He is a white/yellow lab male and will turn 7 this month.
I am excited to be here and to meet others in my situation with similar disabilities. I feel that meeting others can make us all stronger knowing that we aren't alone.
Everyone, take care
Crystal and her guide Umbro