I admit it I am a reality television show fan. I find them fun to watch because I enjoy trying to figure out the contestants on the show.  I also love watching for strategies and predicting the winner.
 My all time favorite is the show Survivor where sixteen individuals are stranded in a remote place for thirty-nine days with no contact with the outside world. They are divided up into two tribes where they compete in reward and immunity challenges. Every three days the losing tribe votes one of their own members out. Eventually the two tribes merge into one tribe where they compete for the title of sole survivor and a million dollars.
 In Survivors sixth season the castaways were stranded in the Amazon Rain Forest.  I was especially looking forward to this installment of Survivor since there were reports from the media of a deaf participant on the show. Christy Smith of Bassett, Colorado she can hear minimal sounds and wears one hearing aide.  Christy relies on lip reading to communicate. Her primary reason to be on the show is to bring awareness to invisible disabilities like deafness. Christy attended Gallaudet University in Washington DC receiving a bachelors degree in sociology and criminology.  Today she works as a Children's adventure guide at the Aspen Camp School for the Deaf.
  Survivor started February 13 with the sixteen participants being divided into two tribes. It was  men (tamibaqui) verses the women (jaburu) as they separated into two tribes. When Christie's tribe went to its new home she informed the group that she was deaf and communicated with reading lips. Many of her fellow tribe members were surprised to find a deaf contestant on the show.  In addition many expressed concerns that Christy was not capable to surviving in the Amazon because of her disability.  Unfortunately some judge people's limitations not their accomplishments in life. Many people I meet are surprised that I graduated from college and am a professional writer.  I am always proving my independence and capabilities.  Despite my disabilities I can stand on my own two feet.
In the same episode Christie's tribe sat around a campfire talking while Christy went to sleep because of the communication barriers caused by inability to read lips due to being dark and noisy.  That scene was all to familiar to me I deal with communication barriers on daily basis. Being in a noisy room with a large group of people can be very difficult and frustrating for me trying to hear. Proper lighting and direct contact is needed for lip-reading to work.
On March 13 the two tribes swapped members. Christy joined the tribe tambaqui where she was openly accepted and welcomed.  Her tribe members lit laterns to help her see better at nite. She also felt more included and accepted by this tribe then her original one. To this day it still surprises me how differently people can act when they see something different. It is encouraging to see there are those in society who can see past someone's differences to see the real person.
  I am thankful I have family and friends who respect my independence and choices in life. More importantly they love me for who I am. Sadly, on May 1 Christy was voted out of Survivor.  She showed society that you could achieve any thing in life despite your disability with determination. A goal I strive to achieve every day. As this writer takes on new challenges she is already looking forward to next fall's installment of Survivor.
 

Carrie Tynan
Freelance writer
Email: carriewrites@yahoo.com
Website: http://pages.ivillage.com/writerfiction/