5 minute read
Overcoming Obstacles: Inspiring Stories of Kids and Teens Like You
HOW does ALI hear?
With a microphone in hand, good vibes all around, and two hearing aids!
ALI ’s Words of Wisdom:
Being independent is great, but remember, there is no award for doing it all alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and accept support. Your friends, family, teachers and other important people in your life are there for you and want to see you succeed.
Hard times will happen. Times when you will doubt yourself and your dreams. Times when you don’t feel good enough. Keep trying, and don’t be afraid to go back to something you let go before.
It’s not about winning. It’s about the process and learning experience. Be present in the moment— the future is now!
Tell yourself, “It’s going to work, because I work hard for it.”
All About Me
Hi, I’m ALI, I’m 24-years-old, and this year I was a contestant on Season 23 of The Voice! I’m from Southern California, and I love singing and playing music with my family.
Hearing My Way
I was born in 1998, before newborn hearing screenings were done in the hospital at birth. It wasn’t until I was almost a year old that anyone suspected I had hearing loss. My grandpa was the first to notice that I wasn’t responding to sound. My dad, a musician, would play the drums, and I wouldn’t react. My parents got my hearing checked, and I was diagnosed with conductive hearing loss. I tried many things to find the best fit for my hearing loss. I received my first hearing aids as a toddler. I also tried bone anchored hearing aids on a headband. I had two stapendectomy surgeries to help correct my missing middle ear bone. Now I wear hearing aids, and I’m getting good benefit from them. I especially love the Bluetooth feature!
My School Journey
My family and I have worked hard so I could learn to listen and talk. Growing up, my mom led my team of audiologists, teachers, speech pathologists, and doctors. When I was a kid, my speech wasn’t as clear as it is now. At times even my parents couldn’t understand my muffled speech, but my younger sister Cammy always could! I am very grateful that I had access to early intervention, speech therapy, John Tracy Clinic preschool, special education, and IEP services. With support, I was able to attend mainstream public school starting in first grade. My accommodations included sitting at the front of the class and having my teachers wear a microphone that streamed to my hearing aids.
I feel very privileged that my parents not only had the choice to pursue listening and spoken language for me, but also that they gave me choices and authority in choosing accommodations and support. For instance, I tried learning some ASL but found that with my hearing aids and lip reading skills, I didn’t need to use it. I also have a physical stiffness in my fingers, so I was not able to form some signs correctly. That is why it is key that families have options to pursue communication methods that work best for them.
Music to my Ears
I come from a musical family and have been singing since childhood. My parents remember that when my speech teacher Natasha came to our house, she would sing simple nursery rhymes like Old MacDonald with me, and I’d sing back ‘E-I-E-I-O’ in perfect pitch! I’ve always loved songs with deep bass sounds— and of course I chose some for The Voice auditions!
I think my conductive hearing loss has influenced my preference for low, deep frequencies and rich acoustic sound. My musical journey had some ups and downs. I participated in choir in school, but it wasn’t always the best experience, depending on the chorus teacher. In college, I was a music major. Unfortunately that experience was even worse. I was required to take an audioonly class in which students were asked to identify frequencies by ear. My professor was not willing to work with me to find an accommodation or figure out a solution, and ultimately, I dropped out of school. Luckily, my musical journey ends on a high note, and I hope that professor tuned into The Voice!
This is The Voice !
Becoming a contestant on The Voice was not easy. In fact, this was my third time trying out for the show. My first time was during the pandemic at a local open call. I got a callback, but it didn’t go further. The second time, I got a callback but ultimately received an email that said it wasn’t my time. My friends wondered why I didn’t feel more disappointed, but I knew my heart wasn’t truly in it. The third time, I put my everything into it, and finally earned my chance.
My experience on the show has been amazing. I am honored to be part of this group of singers and musicians. It’s been a huge learning experience. In fact, I had never had professional vocal training before. My first voice lesson was with the show's vocal coach who helped prepare me for my audition. I knew that Kelly Clarkson would be the perfect coach to learn vocal strategies from, and that is why I chose to be on her team. Surprisingly,
I did not need many accommodations on the show. Even though the chairs look far away on TV, in real life they are closer, so I could read the coaches’ lips and hear them clearly from the stage. The speakers are under the stage, so I can feel the music to know when to enter. Fellow singers helped cue me as well. I really got along with everyone on the show. It was very inclusive and all around good vibes!
