I may not have had deaf role models, but my mom did exposure good role models to me. She use to tell me that where others say can't. she said I can. That positive role model is important weather deaf or hearing.
Let me take your comment and expand it - exposure to a positive community shows that a child can live up to those expectations as an individual.
While I am deaf, I have always put myself first and my deafness second. I see me, not deaf Vallee. My mom believed that placing my deafness first allows others to focus on it not me. That is my opinion.
