Mubarak, 24

I will be interviewing my friend Mubarak. He is Indian and 24 years old. He was born with a disability problem that is he is deaf. He is going to be attending Harper College in the summer. Currently he is working at Old Orchard selling belts at a booth. He has an older sister that is married. I will be asking him questions about how he deals with his disability problem in society. I am meeting him up at a cafe, and so far he is 2o minutes late. He has his lab top with him and so do I.

Hey, sorry I'm late; I didn't know exactly where this cafe is. It's fine don't worry. So we ordered our drinks and I started to interview him.

We start to remember when we first met. I met him through a friend of mine. At first I didn't know that he was deaf and I was talking to him and then I felt stupid and realized that he was deaf. Then my friend told me afterwords that he is deaf. After that our friendship became really close, He started to teach me some sign language and we communicated through technology such as texting and aim. We are so close now that I consider him my brother.

At what age did you find out that you had a hearing problem?

I was born with a hearing problem. I was born in India on September 26, 1984. I moved to the United States with my sister and my mother when I was 5 years old. My dad was to come to the United States in a couple years. I attended pre-school at special school with people with the same disability as me.

How did you learn to communicate with others at such young age?

It was very hard for me but I had a lot a support from teachers and family. I learned a lot more sign language here in America then in India because there was better help and resources with my needs. Sign language came to me just the same like a kid learns how to talk. As I was growing up communicating become harder for me because there's more communication involved then I was younger. At time I had to be the kid carrying a note pad and a pen with me at all times. I didn't attend regular schools I went to special schools with kids with special needs.

If you had the possibility to wear the hearing aid would you?

No, I wouldn't because it bothers me and I am not comfortable wearing it. Also, I got used to communicating without the hearing aid, I am 24 years old, and yes I still have hard time communicating with others but technology has become very useful to help me communicate with others.

How is work going for you?

Work is good, but very tiring. Some times it hard and sometimes some people are hard to deal with. I sell belts at a booth sometimes I am alone sometimes with another worker. I wear a tag letting people know I am deaf.

What do you plan to become in the future?

I am studying to become an accountant. College is harder for me because I have to take some extra classes just dealing with sign language and still learning it. I feel that my disability doesn't change who I am in fact it makes me who I am. I want to help people not be ashamed of who they are, and make them comfortable to live in a society that is very diverse like Chicago.

Was there ever a time you got picked on because of your condition?

Yes, many times but it what made me stronger, I remember just recently some people at work were messing around and of course I didn't understand what they were saying but a notebook that I keep by me, they wrote Get YOUR EARS FIXED. It hurt but then again they are just ignorant people that love to put people down. This is what makes me want to get involved more with people like me to help them through hard times like this.

Is it hard for you to find relationships?

Yes, but that's something that everybody has a problem with. I did date a deaf girl too, and we went out for a year and then we broke up, because it didn't work out. Now I am single and just focusing on work and school, and of course party's.

How is your social life?

It great lot of fun, I go party a lot with my friends. I love dancing. People ask me how do I hear the songs, I don't I just hear beats and that's all right with me. I have a bunch of cool friends that don't have the same problem like me.

It was getting pretty late and the café was closing so we were heading home. I thank my "brother" for sharing some of his personal life experiences and letting it be posted on the bog for everybody to see.

He has a message for everybody and that is "Life can be difficult but there is always ways to get through life, and it hardship. Don't forget that you are you and that what make you unique."