“Radio Head Gal” tells the compelling story of acclaimed TED speaker Rebecca Knill as she guides us through a life shaped by hearing loss. A provocative memoir, “Radio Head Gal” challenges the notion that life with a disability is inferior, instead advocating for it to be viewed as just another aspect of human diversity, like race or gender.
Knill's story covers the time period before and after her cochlear implants - a surgical procedure in which computer chips replace her sense of hearing, cyborg-style, and gives rise to her alter ego, Radio Head Gal. Blending self-reflection and social commentary, Knill navigates growing up deaf, covering awkward parental dynamics, cultural rootlessness, employment discrimination, and the access/barriers created by technology. The book also encompasses love, betrayal, faith, adaptation, silence, self-advocacy, and superheroes, all infused with the distinctive humor that earned her recognition as the TED Editor's pick for 25 Favorite Talks of 2020.
Knill also aims to educate readers about disabilities in general. Though her wry humor and pragmatic writing keep the memoir lively, the book is information-heavy at times, and that, coupled with a non-linear narrative that jumps across different times in her life, can make for a slightly challenging read. However, readers quickly get used to Knill’s style as the memoir progresses, as she goes a step beyond traditional accessibility talk and puts forth the refreshing concept that disability is not disabling; rather, it is society’s refusal to accommodate that is disabling. Knill opens readers’ minds to a new world, sharing that “a person with a disability might not have chosen their condition, [but] that doesn’t mean they actively wish for another life.”
While Knill’s experiences with disability are front and center here, she also delves into an array of other life circumstances: her childhood and parental dynamics, friendship, faith, community, romance, and work, all with her hearing loss—or “deaf gain” as an alternative term—expertly woven throughout. Knill includes a call-to-action at the book’s close, asserting that “those who claim that diversity goals are discriminatory… dismiss the fact that they have been given a head start; the deck is already stacked in their favor.”
Takeaway: Eye-opening memoir and call-to-action on accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Comparable Titles: Anne Boyer’s The Undying, Claudia Marseille’s But You Look So Normal.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
"I am in love with this book! As someone who has struggled with hearing issues through life and just recently learned of my hearing loss, this book came at the exact right time. It's truly motivating reading through each chapter and seeing how we all can make accommodations for other and also advocate for how important those accommodations are. It was also very eye opening for me because I never realized how stigmatized disabilities are in our world. Seeing how things progressed during the author's lifetime was really neat as well and it would seem like we've come a long way. But the author highlights how some people still want disability to be hidden or how some people still don't always want to be accommodating.This book was truly interesting and I could barely put it down. I think anyone and everyone can get a wealth of information out of this book and it might just change the way you think of and approach other people!"
Must read 🏆
Informative and insightful look into life as a deaf person and disability and accessibility. A must-read!
SYNOPSIS
"Radio Head Gal" tells the story of a life shaped by hearing loss. An expansion of Rebecca Knill’s TED talk "How Technology Has Changed What It’s Like to be Deaf," "Radio Head Gal" challenges the notion that life with a disability is inferior, instead advocating for it to be viewed as just another aspect of human diversity, like race or gender.
Blending self-reflection, humor, and social commentary, Knill navigates through growing up deaf, awkward parent dynamics, cultural rootlessness, employment discrimination, and the access/barriers created by technology. It also encompasses love, betrayal, faith, adaptation, silence, self-advocacy, and superheroes. Book sections address the time periods before and after her (radio head) cochlear implants.
"Radio Head Gal" is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with hearing loss (or supporting someone who is) or perhaps feel they live in a gray space between who they are and who society pressures them to be. It’s also applicable reading for people who work in disability or DE&I fields, UX designers, or those in the technology sector. This memoir offers insights that break down barriers, promote understanding, and advocate for an inclusive, technology-driven future for all, regardless of ability.
Rebecca Knill grew up deaf in a time when assistive technology had not yet hit its stride, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was not yet established. Even after it was, it was all new territory that some entities did not believe it was necessary to follow. Reading books like these sometimes makes me wish Reedsy allowed more than one reviewer to read and review titles at the same time, as people with no exposure to experience with this population would very much benefit from reading Knill's memoir. If you're reading this review, whether you know someone with hearing loss or not, I hope you decide to pick up Radio Head Gal.
As an ASL Interpreter, I work with d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals daily. Interpreters are often privy to our consumers' personal and private lives, sometimes more so than their own families if we work with them regularly. I witness their struggles, celebrate their joys and triumphs, and when appropriate, advocate with them for necessary accommodations. The d/Deaf and hard of hearing community is diverse in its populace, with folks possessing a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences and beliefs. As with any group or community, which Knill states as well, they are not a monolith, and it is important to learn from multiple sources. I appreciated this perspective, especially with the added emphasis on each person deciding for themselves what assistive devices and methods are right for them, if any, and that the use of sign language is essential, no matter if it's supplemental or the main mode of communication. It is always beneficial and only aids in language acquisition and more effective communication, and avoids language deprivation.
Working in the interpreting field, there wasn't much new information for me in this book. However, I enjoyed reading Rebecca's personal experiences. Her writing is excellent, smart, and funny, and the informative pieces will not be overwhelming for readers new to this community. I was nodding along, saying "yes!" aloud, and highlighting a myriad of quotes (99, to be exact). Rebecca discusses audism and inspiration porn, highlights the need for more accessible options without resistance, understanding biases and assumptions and challenging them, and explores the importance of self-advocacy.
Radio Head Gal is an essential read for deaf and non-deaf, disabled and non-disabled alike. Many deafies will be able to relate and see themselves in Rebecca, and hearies will hopefully learn something new and keep accessibility at the forefront, rather than on the back burner. Because accessibility is not a burden or extra steps. It's steps that are missed.
