wow, interesting story... It's good to learn the truth from your Dad personally. It's good to know that your Dad is open mind about ASL.
It's similar to my Dad as well few hours later after my sister's funeral in May 2006.
I posted my story to one of Cloggy's many CI threads, too. I cannot find which one because Cloggy created too many CI threads.
I thought about hearing parents' views on many CI debated threads and asked my Dad for his opinion over CI issues and my deafness because he is a hearing person and want to compare his view to some hearing ADers here in CI debate threads.
My Dad told me the story what and how he found my deafness at age 1. He thought in first line is go to sign class to learn sign but my mother told him to not do that because the doctor recommend her to develop me with speech. Therefore, my Dad listen and agree with her without arguement because they thought Expert knows better.
They worried about my future and questioned doctors... The doctors positive them about my deafness and told them to no worry because deaf people are normal like hearing people who can do everything except phone... They can speak only if they train to develop with their speech. HA helps...
Until my Dad heard about CI in 80s time and thought about this and check with doctor about this. Doctor positive him about CI techology... better development... can hear anything with phone, etc. The doctor told my Dad to bring me to him but my Dad told him that I married and live in Germany. Doctor realized that I am an adult and explain my Dad that it's best to implant babies/toddlers with CI than adult. My Dad said that he would of implant me with CI when I born at 80s...
I asked him why? He said that he like to speak to my ear... I was like 
and said nothing for a while then told him that I am toooooo glad that I was not born at 80s time and got CI. I would feel that he and my mother do not accept my what I am and my deafness IF they implant me with CI as baby. My Dad was like and 
- I told him that I thank him and mother for positive my deafness that's how I am happy and satisfy what I am and what I have. Look at me? Of course my Dad look at me... mmmhhhh
I told my Dad that it make no sense when doctor in 60s time positive him and my mother over my deafness and future which is total different as 80s when CI techonology comes...
My Dad said nothing and have to give me right...
