On Being Deaf and Having a Sound Heart
I was raised in a hearing world and in a deaf world at the same time. I can’t say that I like one better than the other; I like them both. If I don’t understand something, you know, I have pen and paper, texting; I use it all. Alhamdulillah I can lip-read others, and though I can speak a little, my voice is projected primarily through my hands via sign language.
Neelma Saleem is a Deaf mother of one and has a long history of advocating for her community, particularly related to deaf employment, health, and deaf empowerment. She is a Deaf Community Champion at Amin & Yasmin Ltd, who have launched the first Islamic Sign Language Book and Mobile App.