The Life Story of former Mrs Deaf South Africa Tracy Duncan: Advocating for the Deaf Community
“I’m committed to championing our cause, ensuring that we receive the recognition and appreciation we deserve,” are the words of Tracy Duncan, a graphic designer, who was born deaf and is headstrong on having her voice heard.
Born and bred in Cape Town, Tracy is the founder of Deaf Confidence, an NPO that specialises in using live social media to raise awareness about the challenges and accomplishments of deaf individuals. Her influence in her self-appointed office of advocacy for the deaf community has been exemplary, and her achievements include being crowned Mrs. Deaf South Africa, Mrs Deaf Charity, and Mrs Deaf Personality in 2018.
Duncan’s life story living as a deaf person is one for oral stories, moral lessons, and an honourable mention for International Day of the Deaf.
Having been born profoundly deaf, Tracy has had to surmount the challenges that are part and parcel of her hearing disability to eventually carry the hopes and people of the deaf community on her shoulders with her proactivity. With an all-in attitude when it comes to the cause, Duncan’s fuel that keeps her fire burning is her belief that every member of society, regardless of their hearing ability, is worth respect, should be counted, and much like every other person, also has a valuable contribution to offer the world.
“My passion for advocating for the deaf community has been a constant throughout my life. Witnessing the incredible resilience and ingenuity displayed by deaf individuals as they navigate a world that often fails to fully embrace them has been a powerful source of motivation and inspiration for me. We bring a wealth of unique skills, talents, cultural diversity, and vibrant energy to our communities.” she said, sharing what spurs her to be the mouthpiece and avatar of the deaf community.
Yet, much like how every superhero arc has its highs and moments of peak motivation, Tracy’s story also has its lows. In 2020, she was diagnosed with a severe mental illness that shifted her paradigm.
“The diagnosis prompted a profound transformation in my life. I became resolute in my pursuit of a fulfilling life, which I achieved through meticulous self-care. This entailed establishing a structured daily routine, prioritizing exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, adopting healthy habits, adhering to prescribed medication, engaging in therapy, and carefully selecting the individuals who had access to my energy.”
“Despite living with both disability and chronic illness, I remain steadfast in my commitment to living a remarkable life. These challenges may shape my journey, but they will never define or hinder my aspirations.” she said.
Faithful to her words, two years later, she embarked on the testing undertaking of climbing Africa’s highest mountain, the mighty Kilimanjaro, to champion the initiative of raising funds for hearing aids and cochlear implants for children. Along with other fellow deaf title winners and in association with the Be the Best Version of Yourself Foundation, she made the dream a reality, successfully summiting the Roof of Africa.
She eventually took on Mount Everest this year, reaching base camp, stretching herself and the human spirit in the quest to empower those living with the disability that they, too, carry enough power in them to stand on top of leg-weakening mountaintops.
Life In a World That Hears the Unheard
With the South African Sign Language (SASL) having been promoted in status to the country’s 12th official language, Tracy expressed how proud she was of the development, noting that it was a hard-won victory for those living with the disability. Among the things she admitted she looked forward to was children learning SASL as a school subject to widen the gate of meaningful communication with the deaf community. Growing up, she never had such.
Duncan cited that her greatest lifelong challenge was having to hurdle the communication barrier and the poverty of access to facilities.
“It can be incredibly isolating when others are unfamiliar with effective ways to engage with the deaf community. In response, I’ve taken on the role of an advocate, not only for myself but also for my fellow members of the deaf community. I’ve proactively worked to raise awareness and educate people about various methods for effective communication, including the use of sign language, speaking clearly while facing us, and making use of speech-to-text tools. Through these efforts, my goal is to break down these communication barriers and cultivate a more inclusive environment.”
When she turned thirty, Tracy got a cochlear implant operation, a life event that impacted her lifestyle positively. Looking back at her life, she rued not having the opportunity of getting implants since they were still in their trial phase and with knowing that it wasn’t a complete guarantee that the surgery would be a plus in the long run.
“To be honest, I would have welcomed the opportunity to have cochlear implants at a younger age. However, back then, cochlear implants were still in the trial stages, and it was a daunting step to consider surgery without knowing whether it would truly benefit me. These days, we see deaf children as young as six months old undergoing bilateral cochlear implantation, and their hearing has improved significantly. Being exposed to sound from such a young age gives them more time for auditory development. Looking back, I can’t help but wonder how different my hearing experience might have been if I had chosen to be implanted.”
Tracy Duncan | Photo Credit: Nicole Bredeveldt
Throughout her journey, from childhood, what she admitted helped her the most was coming to terms with her identity as a deaf individual and living in her skin with nothing but pride. Living in a world full of sound and speech, her mother decided to teach her to speak, a decision she says changed her life because it helped initiate her into the hearing world in hopes that it would narrow the divide between the deaf community and those without the disability.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey is embracing my identity as a proud deaf individual while having access to the world of sound, speech, sign language, education, and the skills that make me employable. Daily challenges persist, but I’ve honed the abilities I’ve worked tirelessly to develop over the years. My mother’s life-changing decision was to teach me to speak, starting with hours of lip-reading practice in front of a mirror on her lap.
“Then, I learned to speak by feeling the vibrations of her vocal cords, ensuring I could pronounce words correctly. Countless sessions of speech therapy further refined my speech abilities. I’ve put in significant effort to integrate into the hearing world, and it’s my hope that others will reciprocate by putting in the effort to understand and communicate effectively with us, thus bridging the gap between our two worlds.”
As she continues to live her life as an ever-evolving face of the deaf community, Tracy had some words of grace for those in the deaf community for International Day of the Deaf.
“My message to fellow members of the deaf community is simple: don’t succumb to self-pity, and don’t expect things to be handed to you simply because you have a hearing disability. The harsh reality is that you may need to exert much more effort than your hearing peers to achieve the same level of success. However, the world is full of opportunities, advancements in technology, grants, scholarships, aid programs, and exposure that can open doors for you. Seize these resources and create your own space in this world. With determination and perseverance, you can achieve your goals and overcome the challenges that come your way.”