Josh Swiller was born with a moderate hearing loss and was legally deaf by the age of four. Since graduating from Yale University, he’s had a wide variety of careers, including: forest ranger in the California Redwoods, sheepskin slipper craftsman and salesman, Zen monk, raw food chef, journalist, and hospice worker. Currently he teaches at Gallaudet University, the National University for the Deaf, and is working on a massive new non-profit to bring attention, rights and services to the deaf in the developing world.
In 2005, Josh had surgery for a cochlear implant. The implant has been a remarkable success. He also, with great pride, uses American Sign Language. He rejects the defensiveness and distrust that divides the deaf community and believes that our similarities should — and will — overcome our divisions.
He is currently at work on a novel that has nothing to do with deafness. Just because, dude.
