Choosing RIT for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students: A Parent’s Perspective. Leah and Rachel Coleman

Image Description:
Two people sit on black chairs in front of a white background. One orange horizontal light cuts across the background. Rachel Coleman sits on the left side of the screen. She has long, straight dark brown hair. She is wearing a dark maroon sweater over a white top and blue pants. Leah Coleman sits on the left side of the screen. She has short blonde and brown hair. She's wearing glasses and has a nose ring. She wears a lavender button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black pants.
Leah and her mother Rachel Coleman talk about why they chose RIT/NTID and why, four years later, they feel it is the perfect fit for their family.

[@pamkincheloe6823]

I'm one of Leah's professors (and, I confess, a fan -- my son and I "grew up" with Signing Time!! Thanks Rachel!!! You both had a big influence on our lives) -- and fandom aside, I can honestly say she's one of the best students I've ever had -- so ....it's a two way street. She is amazing. We are so lucky that she chose us!!!!

[@MsLindaMom]

Leah is my granddaughter and I think she is so intelligent and a wonderful fit for RIT. Her mother Rachel is my daughter! Thank you RIT NTID for this opportunity.

[@ayanabenjamin376]

I googled "Leah Coleman" to see what became of the little girl in the signing time videos. I didn't recognise her!

[@tashatomic4893]

@@ayanabenjamin376 so? what's it to you? if the person is happy, why would you be outraged/disappointed (if i'm understanding this correctly).. i don't believe you are really trying to say you are feeling ill for someone you liked being happier and knowing themselves better?

[@ayanabenjamin376]

@@tashatomic4893 I just didn't recognise her, despite watching videos from her younger days regularly with my toddler. Edit: Ha! I just read your reply to another person in the comments section. I was unaware of any gender identity difficulty Leah faced. It's news to me.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

This isn't just any Deaf parent and child; these guys were educated Deaf educators!

[@HauntinMatthew1969]

OMG I LOVE YOU LEAH! YOU WERE IN THE BEST SHOW EVER! SIGNING TIME WAS THE BEST!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@beckyrussell9276]

I followed all at the beginning. Although my daughter is not hard of hearing the information that you gave helped so much and us communicating versus every day or in a concert function at the school when she was so little because I’m not in the same situation I struggle understanding everything but I’m not close minded, so please understand my situation of just raising a child and giving you credit for helping me going through those baby and teenage years that was a blessing for me and I thank you for that so much and I hope to follow more information and I look at you guys as a blessing not only just to continue to build your relationshipbecause teenagers are so different than toddlers. Thank you for what you have done it help me get in contact with other deaf people and I love that community love it thank you.

[@denisehennen4387]

Leah was the tour guide when my Leah N and I visited on January 18. I knew Leah was special and not because she’s deaf but because she helped my daughter and I feel very comfortable and gave us a comprehensive tour of a college Leah N hopes to attend. Seeing this video just solidifies the feeling we got just stepping foot on this campus. Thank you!

[@TyrekeCorrea]

You didn't know Leah Coleman was capable of that?

[@hannahduggan3599]

I have gone temporarily deaf due to impacted earwax, an ear infection, and a cold.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Of course, it's important to have as many communication options as possible, because people may want to communicate in different ways and at different times, and the most important thing is to be able to communicate completely and consistently be able to do so.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

I wonder how much Leah felt like getting a cochlear implant separated her from the Deaf community, made it seem like she had broken away from it or left it behind. I think Linda was one of those deaf people who couldn't hear it all, regardless of the availability of technological intervention

[@TyrekeCorrea]

It's worth some thought. It's not that Leah wouldn't have been able to make it in a hearing environment, but at a school with such extensive support as RTID, she could have the most complete education experience and be supported to have the greatest possible degree of collegiate success. ..But I still wish she went to Galludet. I think it's partly because Linda bove went there and partly because my brain does not geared for interest or success in a technical education setting. Truthfully, Galludet only seems to offer so much anyway.

[@maycho4743]

How does she speak like this without hearing ? Wow!

[@sdsbabygirl]

She has a cochlear implant

[@TyrekeCorrea]

And she became a skilled lip-reader.

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

she got a cochlear implant at 8 but she still uses ASL as an aid

[@garrettmckinney]

@@TyrekeCorrea She did get cochlear implants at age 7. Here's a speech about Rachel's journey with Leah and her other daughter, Lucy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5yVYWqlpaqobNE

[@mariareilly4588]

She has a cochlear implant so she has been hearing since she was little.

[@stanmorris4843]

On dancing.with the stars on season 22 Nyle was a first deaf contestant wins s22. And leah can be in dancing with the stars

[@TyrekeCorrea]

💭 Maybe accommodation doesn't count as such if the support in question is already part of the design and the system.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

LEAH?!?

[@sillyfunforeveryoneandfrie3767]

Cody has black hair

[@TyrekeCorrea]

What happened to Leah's hair? I didn't recognize her. I thought she was some guy.

[@tashatomic4893]

That's a fair observation -- they are now called Liam, and using pronouns they/them (not sure when they went public with it, I just read that they did) :)

[@TyrekeCorrea]

@@tashatomic4893 Oh, my God! Well, they should have gone public with it here. That's like a whole history bertrayed.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

I bet loads of people have been checking their hearing since this came about...

[@TyrekeCorrea]

@@tashatomic4893 "They". Who's "they"? How are we supposed to know who the word refers to consistently? This sounds like Venom or the Legion or something. The word "they" is not supposed to be used in this way. Just doing that to her mucked many facets of communications all up. After all, we learned to communicate not only with her, but amongst ourselves locally and each other globally through her, not to mention that she's got a biblical namesake. Some parties of more liberal Jews must have been throwing a fit since this happened.

[@tashatomic4893]

@@TyrekeCorrea lol a bunch of ignorance here, and the most i'll bother to reply is that already singular "they" has existed for a really long time - how embarrasing for you to claim otherwise

[@dianadriggs7006]

Go Leah!