Mass H&V

A mother’s perspective on hearing differences, music, and the meaning of inclusion By Nikki Blaise | Taunton, Massachusetts When my daughter Alexa listens to music, I know she may not hear every part of it the way I do. That realization changed something fundamental about the way I think — not only as a songwriter, but as her mother. I used to think that sharing a song meant sharing the same experience. Now I understand that two people can stand side by side, listen to the same recording, and...

When I look back on the day Ryan was born, the memories still feel sharp and heavy. His birth was traumatic. He wasn’t breathing when he...