On Thursday, November 4th the HLAA-TC Virtual Book Club met to discuss “Invisible: My Journey Through Vision and Hearing Loss” by Ruth Silver. We were joined by two special guests, Joan Schneider and Dani Kaslow from the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons (a non-profit organization in the Milwaukee, WI area founded by Ruth Silver). Both women knew and worked with Ruth and were excited to be able to talk about her. It was a small group of mostly local members with a few from out-of-state (including the two guests from Wisconsin). We had a nice discussion that covered various aspects of the book. Since Ruth Silver was Deaf-Blind and founded the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, two of the book club members also shared their experiences being deaf-blind. The book club ended with members sharing information and advice with one another. This was a good example of what our book clubs are: a sharing of information, ideas and general comradery. Joan Schneider and Dani Kaslow were engaging and informed guests and I recommend checking out their organization the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, Inc. The book we were discussing, “ Invisible” by Ruth Silver, is definitely an enjoyable and informative book that encompassed not just Silver’s experiences as someone living with disability, it also described Ruth Silver’s plight as a human being. The book is an autobiography that really only covers the first part of Ruth Silver’s life. If you are like me you will finish the book wondering more about the incredible Ruth Silver. Our book club shared a few Silver-related resources, including:

“A Unique Disability”– an article by Ruth Silver (published on a Deaf-Blind Community Website, DB FishBowl)

“Conquering Obstacles: There Are Reasons To Go On”- an article by Ruth Silver (originally published in The Deaf-Blind American, a publication of the American Association of the Deaf-Blind; volume 24, number 2,  December 1985 and published on the DB FishBowl website).

The Center for Deaf-Blind Persons Inc.– The organization Ruth Silver founded in 1985 and today Joan Schneider is Executive Director and Dani Kaslow is a specialist in Deaf-Blind Services.

As we have done in the past, we are switching to a fiction book for next month’s selection (we alternate between fiction and nonfiction with each selection having some connection to hearing loss or deafness). The book club is open to everyone (HLAA member or not) and each meeting offers live captions. The books and schedule are truly determined by those who participate in the book club. If you would like to participate in future book club meetings, please email HLAA-TC Social Media Specialist and book club coordinator Laura Hagemann at social@hlaatc.org 

The next selection for book club hasn’t been made yet but we will be sure to announce the book selection, date and time on our social media (Facebook, Facebook Group, LinkedIn), and our blog.

Edited to add the book club selection: