BRITTNEY'S STORY
Like many other Deaf and hard-of-hearing Canadians, Brittney has faced a lot of barriers in her young life.
When she was 18-months-old, Brittney developed meningitis that destroyed the hearing in both her ears. "My parents were devastated. They didn't know how they'd handle me being Deaf."
Throughout her childhood, Brittney came up against one barrier after another - social and financial barriers as well as barriers to communication and her education.
And yet, Brittney worked hard and persevered. And when it came time to think about college, she applied to Canadian Hearing Services for a scholarship. "It was a huge honour to be granted a scholarship. It helped me afford rent and be more independent."
"With help from Canadian Hearing Services, I can get the support I need to follow my dreams," she says. "I can share my story and help raise awareness about every person's right to equality."