Society & Community
Kent State Today
![Listening to the Deaf Community](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/DeafCommunity_Artwork_0.jpg?VersionId=YRtsaJCLaBiPC5Kly4mM8r.DtnKoHQs.&h=e6f36a9c&itok=9TuFx2MD)
Richard Costes, BA ’06, was born deaf, but grew up in a hearing environment. He told himself he wasn’t deaf. He refused to learn sign language and declined any assistance in the classroom and his grades often suffered as a result. Professors at Kent State helped Mr. Costes embrace his identity.