Deaf Like Me
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| Author | Thomas Spradley, James Spradley, Lynn Spradley |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Random House, Gallaudet University Press |
Publication date | 1979 |
Deaf Like Me is a biographical book about a family who discovers their daughter, Lynn, is deaf, and deals with a language barrier. It was written by Thomas and James Spradley, Lynn's father and uncle, and originally published in 1979. It begins in November 1964, before Lynn was born, and ends in August 1975, when she was ten. A short epilogue by Lynn, 19-years-old, is included in the 1985 edition.[1][2]
This biography focuses on Tom and Louise Spradley, their children Bruce and Lynn, and the friends and family they interact with on their journey. The book begins in 1964 when the Spradley's are moving from Illinois to Minnesota and Bruce is an only child. Tom is a teacher and is willing to take a job in any city offered, so he and his family move from Illinois, to Minnesota, to Oklahoma, and finally to California, where most of Lynn's schooling takes place. Louise is a stay at home parent, so she is flexible to move around the country without many issues.
Deaf Like Me was originally published as a hardcover edition by Random House in 1979. The paperback edition was published in 1985 by Gallaudet University Press, with the addition of Lynn Spradley's epilogue.[3]
Main characters
- Tom Spradley is the husband of Louise and the father of Bruce and Lynn and also the narrator of this story. He is a mathematics teacher at the college level and for a short time, the high school level. When the book begins, Tom is working at Wheaton College in Illinois and works there for four years. However, over the course of the book, he also works at Carleton College in Minnesota, University of Oklahoma, Northview High School and American River College, both in California. Tom is the sole provider for the Spradley family, since he is the only one with a paying job.
- Louise Spradley is the wife of Tom and mother of Bruce and Lynn. She is a stay at home mom who takes care of her children and occasionally paints. Louise's role as a stay at home mom is crucial because she is able to devote so much of her time to working with Lynn and teaching her how to lip-read. Her role as a stay at home mom enables their family to move around the country without many limitations.
- Bruce Spradley is the son of Tom and Louise and the brother of Lynn. His role in this book is fairly minimal but he experienced a similar life to the rest of his family. Bruce is about four years older than Lynn and seems to have had a relatively normal childhood. He is adaptable and is able to make new friends regardless of the state he lives in. Also, Bruce helps teach his sister to lip-read and learn sign language.
- Lynn Spradley is the daughter of Tom and Louise, the sister of Bruce, and is also the main character and reason behind the creation of this biography. Lynn was born profoundly deaf due to her mother's exposure to rubella early in her pregnancy. There is nothing mentally or physically wrong with Lynn besides the fact that she cannot hear.
