Also, he didn’t learn ASL/English besides Spanish until he had bouts with mengingitis at age 8 or so that resulted in him becoming deaf. Because of that, he enrolled at CSDB and it is where he acquired ASL and English.

I thought I read somewhere that he lost his hearing at age 8?

That would “label” him as postlingually deaf?

Not that it matters to me because I don’t like labels myself – it feels weird when it is documented on a paper labeling me as prelingually or profoundly deaf – in my opinion it means I was not developed “normal” like those of hearing children because of their language, not mine (sign language).

But that’s another topic.

Was I misinformed that he lost hearing at age 8? Or he was born deaf?

Just curious!

Thanks,
Iam

Raphael J. St. Johns

Thank you for your response.
I have read somewhere that Dr. Davila is postlingual. He
was struck with spinal meningitis which resulted in his hearing loss at the age of eight (8). He picked up Spanish from hearing his Spanish-speaking parents. He learned ASL as his second language when he entered California school at Berkeley where he subsequently learned
a third language, English. I think it is very remarkable not only because he is fluently trilingual but also because he can use BiModal
Communication effortlessly:
both English and ASL. Jordan cannot equal with Dr. Davila
in this aspect.

re-reading my response, I realized I’d failed to address all of your question.

No, the man was prelingually deaf. He acquired his linguistic skills (english, spanish, sign language)the HARD way.

I couldn’t swear to his exact birthplace, but I’m sure its’ on the Web somewhere.

I’ve always assumed Mexico, because a) he arrived @ CSDB speaking no english (sugned or otherwise) b) his family were migrant workers, and c) his family were spanish-speakers with not too much english.

This I had from the man himself.I’m not claiming any special personalk relationship; last time I saw him was in the early 90′s. It wasn’t in a one-on-one situation,; I was part of an audience. It was probably at my NSO in 1980.

But everything I’ve said is true, and, whats’ more, easily verified from other sources. Just Google him.

Regardless, the man is a real rags-to-riches, Horatio Alger-type success story.

He is also very warm, personally, as Patty mentioned, and has a large stock of good stories like the one I’m relating. Everything I’ve written is prety common knowledge among people who have met him or know him.