Guest Author - Kelli Deister

In a world where the emphasis is on the ability to hear and speak, Jason Sobel is breaking all the rules. He is a deaf doctor and does not know American Sign Language. Still, he is successful in his employment. Dr. Sobel reads lips very well and is able to care for his patients in a unique manner. This is because he has acquired understanding when it comes to the care of his patients. Dr. Sobel knows what it is like to have constant challenges and obstacles.

He has two siblings that are hearing and his parents raised him in the traditional hearing world concept. He learned to read people’s lips and still uses that method routinely while at work. His patients seem to be satisfied and content with the level of care that he provides to them. Since he doesn’t know sign language, the interpreters that he has listen carefully to the speaker and then take what they have said and interprets for him by mouthing everything to him, again.

Currently, there are four short of two dozen doctors that are deaf or hard of hearing. Dr. Sobel and the other deaf doctors are to be commended in a huge way. They have taken what very easily could have turned out to be a negative force in each of their lives and are able to live and work with a positive attitude. Each of them is breaking all the rules in our predominantly hearing world. They deserve accolades for their courage and obvious determination.