QI of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia

Caleb Yip

Caleb Yip loves airplanes, but his profound deafness prevents him from flying a plane. The upbeat young man decided to study aviation anyhow! An Aviation Studies major at the University of Western Sydney, the profoundly deaf young man loves everything about airplanes. Ryde Quota member Judy Taylor interviewed him for the We Share Foundation.

WSF: How did you manage to get through school?

Caleb: I joined the Garfield Barwick School for the Deaf and a normal school in 1989. Garfield Barwick supported me by giving me note-takers. Of course, I used to wear my FM hearing aids and, from the age of 17, my cochlear implant, too.

WSF: Has the cochlear implant made a difference?

Caleb: Before the operation, I hoped it would be a miracle. But, in reality, it is not. Anyway, it helps me to hear environmental sounds and improve my speech.

WSF: How are you managing at university?

Caleb: I completed my Higher School Certificate and went straight into my aviation course. There is a disability center that offers me a full-time note-taker who is also my classmate.

WSF: Why did you choose to study aviation?

Caleb: When I was a child, I loved to talk about airplanes and airlines. And, of course, I still want to know more about planes! Actually, I always wanted to be a pilot, but I'm deaf, so, this is the closest I can get to the planes.