I have had 3 careers in my life: the first was out of neccessity of becoming independent, the second was raising my deaf son, and the third was the direct result of raising my deaf son. Having been actively involved in his education and having done extensive research into the educational and psychological and social aspects of deafness, it only made sense that, once he was an adult, I would continue with other deaf adoloscents and young adults. I saw, when myson was a younger child, too many childrengoing without services that were needed simply because a school system failed to provide, and parents did not have the where-with-all to demand what was needed. I also saw the psycho-social implications of mainstreaming and inclusion, and decided that the only way to back up my strong beliefs was with action. Hence, my third carreer.