It would be really nice if the hearing people could understand the deaf people more, for communication, I think that’s what needs to change. A lot has changed. We have interpreters now. We have a lot of deaf services such as the Mass Rehab Commission. We have the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. We have the Center of Living and Working, the Senior Center -- there’s so many services now, not like it was a long time ago.
Born and raised in Worcester, Clair Constantin has lived in Sturbridge, MA for the past twenty years. Clair is married with two children, a twenty-five-year old daughter, and a twenty-two-year old son. After losing her hearing at the age of three, Clair was torn between the hearing world (to which her family belonged) and the Deaf world she desired. After changing schools during childhood, Clair found and loved the Deaf culture. She has since played an important role in the Deaf community. In this interview, Clair discusses her family’s reaction to her Deafness and the struggles she faced. She describes the way the city of Worcester has improved over the years as well as the difference in women’s role within the home. After a successful career working for the government in the social security office, Clair spends her time volunteering at the Deaf Senior Center and the Rape Crisis Center.