The parents (up to 100 at times) would sign to one another as their children played. Another chapter paints a vivid picture of the weekly gathering of Deaf families from all over New York City on the beach in Coney Island during the summer. One memorable chapter describes Ulhberg's visit to the printing press floor of the Daily News where his father had a union job (a job where being Deaf was considered an advantage because the thunderous noise of the presses was not a distraction). He offers a window into what life was like for the Deaf community. Hands of My Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love by Myron Uhlberg DB 68756, BR 18281, Available as BARD Download Children’s book author Uhlberg describes his childhood in 1930s and 1940s Brooklyn with two Deaf parents and a hearing but epileptic younger brother. Uhlberg's tale of growing up is interesting and accessible. Not only did Uhlberg have to act as an interpreter during medical appointments, but he was required to look out for his brother and be alert when he had nightly seizures. When Uhlberg was nine, his younger brother developed epilepsy. At this time, Deaf people were often considered unintelligent, and Uhlberg witnessed many instances of cruelty directed towards his parents. From a very early age, he was expected to interpret for his parents as they navigated life in Brooklyn. Sign language was his first language, but he quickly learned spoken English. Gr 3–6-Uhlberg was the eldest child born to two Deaf parents in 1933.
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