An American Teenager Discovers Islam: Islam Is Not a “Sunday-Feel-Good Affair.”

Source: onislam.net

By: Valerie Wright

I could say that my journey to Islam began before I was even aware of it.

I was born with a progressive hearing loss. 

My mother did not realize that I had difficulties hearing until I was 4 years old. 

Once it was discovered, I received my first hearing aids, and began attending a school where hearing and deaf children were integrated.

At first I was placed in classes that contained only deaf children. Then I began to attend some classes with hearing children, and I had a teacher come to help me learn how to integrate. I felt at home there. I did not realize that I was being prepared to leave the school and go to a mainstream public school.