I was hearing for most of my 44 years, (almost 45 now)....40 of them at any rate. I hardly ever felt a part of society, even then, period. I wasn't born to a rich family...and unless you got buckets and bags of money a person can NEVER have "...full, unfettered access to the mainstream...". That is a bullshit statement if I ever, hah, heard one.
No, this is all about a group of people who, just because they are uber-rich, think they have the right to decide who is more fit to live, or if they so deem it, die. That is what that whole Eugenics Movement is all about. That is the stipulation stated on the Georgia Guide Stones. It's ****ing evil.
Sounds to me it's time for the Deaf community to really push back hard and DEMAND that ASL be taught...and even offered as a second language in 'hearing' schools.