Author Candance Taylor Supports the Deaf Community by Sharing Their Story at the Guadalajara International Book Fair 2023

There is always a place for books about children and individuals with disabilities at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, held annually in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is the largest book fair in the Americas and the most important cultural annual event in the Spanish-speaking world. One of the most compelling books displayed at this year’s fair was “It’s DEAF-initely My Life” (ReadersMagnet; 2023) by Candance Taylor.

“It’s DEAF-initely My Life” could not have been released at a better time. According to the WHO, 34 million children worldwide have deafness or hearing loss. Also, according to the emergency technology company Rescu, over 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, and 70% of these parents do not learn sign language to communicate with their kids.

The book could also not have been exhibited at a better place. Though deaf education is emerging in countries of South America or Latin America, the region still lacks mainstream education for individuals who are deaf, and deaf people are still seen as an “other.”

Candance, whose sister is deaf, was inspired to write children’s books on deafness such as “It’s DEAF-initely My Life” because she has experienced firsthand the struggles that deaf people go through. She has seen how they have been treated unfairly and told they are not normal for not speaking the English language. She said, “This book contains untold true events that I’ve seen other deaf people experience in their lives growing up in a hearing world. Many hearing parents are not always given a multitude of resources when they have a child who’s deaf or hard of hearing.

“Hearing society tends to make the child “fit” within the world like other hearing people by pushing “speech” and learning how to talk the English language. That can be one helpful solution but it’s not the ONLY solution.”

So, Candance takes it as her mission to enlighten and educate society in hopes to change their perceptions on Deaf culture one book at a time.

Told in the first-person, “It’s DEAF-initely My Life” tells the story of Jody, who is born deaf. His parents are unaware of how they can raise a child who is deaf. Thankfully, they have caring doctors who support them along the way. Jody grows up to be a beautiful, loving child who always wears a smile on his face and embraces his uniqueness.

Through Jody’s story, Candance aims to illustrate to readers the importance of loving oneself just the way God has created them. She encourages her readers to embrace their uniqueness. It does not matter whether one does sign language, speaks, uses hearing aids, or wears a cochlea. Everyone is uniquely made by God and is created with a purpose to fulfill on earth. “It’s DEAF-initely My Life” calls on readers to help raise the self-esteem of people who are deaf as well as celebrate their potential and achievements.

Get a copy of “It’s DEAF-initely My Life” by Candance Taylor on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet Bookstore. Learn more about the author and her works at https://www.taylormadeauthor.com/.

“It’s DEAF-initely My Life”
Author: Candance Taylor
Genre: Children’s Books
Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
Published date: August 24, 2023

Author
Candance “TaylorMade” Taylor is a Saint Louis-based author. She was inspired to write children’s picture books on deafness because she has experienced firsthand the struggles that deaf people go through.

Due to having a sister who is deaf and growing up around deaf culture all of her life, she has seen the Deaf community be treated unfairly, looked over, and told that they’re not normal if they do not speak the English language.

She wants people to know that deafness is beautiful, that ASL is a “real” language, and that no matter if you sign, speak, wear a cochlea, use hearing aids, or do nothing at all, you are still uniquely made by God and were created with a purpose to fulfill on this earth.

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