Mr. D Attends International CODA Convention

 A CODA is a hearing person raised with at least one deaf parent. The International event is held to celebrate the diverse and unique culture of hearing people growing up in the deaf community. 

The CODA community came together to talk about their upbringing and experience of having deaf parents. Mr. Distelrath says that as a CODA, they carry a lot of responsibility for their parents. “Our parents are super dependent on us. Telling us how great we were as kids because we could sign but at the same time blame us every time something didn’t go their way. If things went bad, they would get upset with us for not explaining or interpreting clearly. They would even blame me for medical tests being bad”.

Many people within the CODA community have found a career where their experiences with deaf parents have positively impacted their work environment. Some have become interpreters, ASL teachers, and even deaf mental health specialists. 

Mr. D says, “though I tried everything I could not to be an interpreter and being involved in the deaf community when I left home, I think learning the struggles that my parents had and knowing what I had as a CODA had led me to become an interpreter. Being an interpreter is great and all. I was still carrying the burden. Teaching makes it so much more rewarding. I feel like I’m giving a younger group or generation of kids an opportunity to sign and communicate with not just my parents but also to converse with anyone who is deaf.”

The convention in Vegas inspired 105 of the 125 to get the same tattoo to represent their parents and culture. The TTY is a typewriter-like device used for deaf people to communicate. The tattoo shows only the letters C-O-D-A. Distelrath explained, “it’s a reminder of our parents and how we are still facilitating their form of, a reminder we are CODAs.

Mr. D has left a positive impact on many of his students further than just ASL. He has become an essential part of student lives across campus. Junior Mariah Gibson feels as though Mr. D, ”has always been understanding and there when I need to talk to someone. He doesn’t make me feel judged.” Many students feel fortunate to have such a unique, kind, and understanding teacher who has positively impacted campus. It is a privilege to learn ASL from the perspective of someone who grew up within the deaf community.