During the monthly general membership meetings, I tend to sit up front so I can see the secretary's laptop as she types on the PC as well as lipread people from the audience and from the speakers podium.
At the designated time, they asked me to leave the room while they discussed the proposal to drop my probie status. I quipped "I can just stand and face the corner if that works..." and left the room amid laughter.
While standing outside, I'm thinking to myself, "hmm, they're taking longer than they usually do. What'd I do wrong now?"
After about 5 minutes and me chewing my fingernails down to the stubs, someone came and got me. I walked back into the room amid a standing ovation. I motioned for everyone to stop and sit down and said words to the effect of:
"Thank you for this honor. As a result of my experiences, press coverage and my website, I've been in touch with many other deaf people who are either firefighters or want to be firefighters. I've heard horror stories of people being treated as less-than-human by other fire departments, people enjoying full rights as a firefighter then finding them revoked because of firehouse politics and people being told they can take a class only to find they will not receive their certifications.
"After hearing these stories, I'm greatly appreciative of the opportunities that FDMT has given me. I'm extremely fortuanate to have joined such a wonderful department. You have all treated me with the respect due to any other firefighter and that's all I've ever asked for. Thank you."
I can only hope that everyone who reads this has the opportunity to find a department that is as progressive as mine.
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