When: May 20, 2010
Email: bjones@riverschool.net

Dr. Michael Chorost was born with severe hearing loss and received a cochlear implant as an adult when he became completely deaf in 2001. To Chorost, his hearing wasn't restored; it was replaced. The implant was only the first step of the author's learning to hear again, as his brain struggled to interpret the new electrical signals it was receiving. Chorost, who conducts research in educational technology, faced problems with activities most people take for granted: talking on a cell phone or carrying on a conversation in a crowded room. He recounts with candor and humor his challenges with relationships. Readers will find much food for thought on the implications of medical technology and what constitutes our humanity in this beautifully written debut: Rebuilt: My Journey Back to the Hearing World.

Dr. Chorost  was born with a severe hearing loss due to an epidemic of rubella. He didn’t learn to talk until he got hearing aids at age 3½. He earned a B.A. in English from Brown and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Chorost speaks extensively, has been interviewed by numerous periodicals, broadcast radio and TV programs, and his numerous articles have been published in The Washington Post, Wired, and Technology Review, among others. He wrote a TV special on brain implants, "The 22nd Century,” which aired on PBS in January 2007. In the 2008-2009 academic year, he was a visiting professor at Gallaudet University and has since moved permanently to this area.

PROGRAM             
7:00  PM    Remarks with Question and Answer
8:00  PM    Book Signing
 
Be sure to tell your friends and neighbors about this special event. If every parent brings one friend or neighbor—we can fill the gym.  Tickets are $25 each; series sponsorship opportunities are available. RSVP Today!

Every dollar raised from the 10th Anniversary Speaker Series directly supports The River School’s exceptional program.