A Matter for Interpretation

In 1976 I joined AA. I wanted recovery. At that time, there were no American Sign Language interpreters available for AA meetings. A call to the local AA central office was fruitless; they couldn't help. I attended meetings anyway. During the meetings, I fell that most members saw only my deafness, blinding themselves to my disease of alcoholism. Others seldom approached me. When they did, it was as though they were uncomfortable or unaccustomed to being around people who were "different." I studied the literature alone, yet little of the material had meaning--it was all too difficult without encouragement and help from other alcoholics who had experienced the same feelings. I stopped going to meetings and started drinking again.