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My Name Is Maya is not just an inspiring children’s book; it’s a call to action. This book celebrates diversity and inclusion through the story of Maya, a deaf superhero, and her incredible adventures that empower young readers to embrace their uniqueness, abilities, and American Sign Language (ASL).
Like an I Spy book, My Name Is Maya features sign language throughout its colorful pages. The vibrant illustrations bring the story to life. Overall, it is a must-read for parents and educators who want to instill confidence and self-love in children!
About Author Shay Abigail
Author Shay Abigail has received certifications in general education, American Sign Language, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) education, and special education. She has authored My Name is Maya and is working toward a master’s degree in speech and hearing sciences. She hopes to become a signing-certified speech-language pathologist and work with DHH children and their families.
Shay aims to work in early intervention with children who do not pass their hearing screenings at birth. Shay’s goal is to provide communication access from an early age to support children’s language.
Shay, we’re excited to learn more about you and your picture book, My Name Is Maya. Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to sharing your answers with our blog readers!
About My Name is Maya
Q. Your book, My Name Is Maya, was the product of an assignment from your American Sign Language (ASL) studies. Tell us about your inspiration for writing this story.
Shay: When we were given the assignment in my deaf education class to create a product to introduce deafness to someone who didn't know anything about it, I wanted to be creative! I didn’t want to make a pamphlet or PowerPoint, so I turned to my “teacher brain” to create a product that would be informative as well as bright and inviting. My book was inspired by my first interaction with a deaf child. I met her at a summer camp, and she was the first deaf person I ever met and introduced me to the super language of ASL. My hope was to create a story that mirrored that same introductory experience for the reader.
Q. Who should read this book?
Shay: Everyone! Although it is labeled a “children’s book,” I think adults and children alike can learn a lot from Maya. Maya is deaf, but the book is not intended to be for deaf or hearing people only. Inclusion and acceptance is beneficial for all ages and abilities!
Three pages from My Name is Maya
Q. Publishing your first book is exciting but also a lot of hard work. What surprises did you learn about yourself or the world through your self-publishing journey?
Shay: I think my ability to be persistent and resilient really helped me. Writing and publishing a book is a long process. I needed to believe in Maya and the story I wanted to tell. When I first showed my professor the project that would become My Name Is Maya, she said, “I wish I had a book like this when I was younger.” If she felt that way, I had to imagine more deaf children wanting to see themselves represented. That was the driving force throughout my publishing journey.
Q. How do young readers respond to diversity and representation in children’s literature?
Shay: My background in education showed me how important it is to have diversity and representation introduced at a young age. Children are open to learning about new things and benefit greatly from reading about stories and applying them to their lives. I received a video from a mom who purchased my book for her deaf toddler pointing at the book and then at herself with bright eyes and a big smile, so proud to see herself in storybook form.
Shay’s Mission and Vision
Q. What drew you to study ASL in the first place? What has your learning journey been like?
Shay: My older sister took ASL classes in high school for her language credit, but my other sisters and I opted to learn Spanish. However, it was my experience volunteering at a summer camp for kids with disabilities where I was introduced and found my passion for ASL. I had a deaf camper in my group, but she had a 1:1 counselor since none of us knew ASL. I found it ironic that even at a camp meant to be inclusive of everyone, the camper could not communicate with everyone. I learned signs throughout the week, like “good morning” and “how are you?” in order to make the camper feel included. At the end of the week, she wrote me a note telling me how much it meant to her that I was trying to include her in the conversation and that she was thankful I was trying. After that, I found books at the library, took lessons from my local high school, and eventually went to college to study deaf education and ASL interpreting.
Q. What does ASL mean to you? What is your vision for the future, and what is the impact of sign language?
Shay: I see ASL as an opportunity—not just to communicate with other deaf people but to learn about the culture and community that is otherwise inaccessible. In the future, I want to work with DHH children and their families to increase their language abilities. Unfortunately, spoken language is considered more valid than other forms of communication. My goal is to encourage individuals to use any type of modality to communicate.
Q. You’ve had opportunities to mentor and work with children. With your master’s degree in speech and hearing sciences, could you share how you hope to work with deaf children, their families, and caregivers and why you feel drawn to this field?
Shay: When I was in college, I was told stories by my professors about how doctors would use derogatory words from when they were born to describe them to their parents. For example, “Unfortunately, your child has failed their hearing screening.” This immediately cast deafness in a negative light and sent the parents into panic mode. There seems to be a ticking clock on getting cochlear implants and a fear of what is to become of their deaf child. I want to be a speech therapist who reassures families that deafness is not something to fear or mourn. As Maya says in the book, her deafness does not make her sad or scary. A Deaf child is capable of achieving their fullest potential when they receive the right support. That support looks like being involved in the Deaf community, meeting deaf mentors, and learning ASL. I want to be the kind of speech therapist who leaves a positive impact and validates communication in all forms.
Q. How has your experience with special needs children affected your view of the school system?
Shay: My experience showed me that children who require additional resources often [experience] disadvantage[s] in the school system, whether it is lack of funding, resources, or qualified teachers and specialists. I admire all educators. I always wanted to be a teacher, but I realized that there is more that can be done to support children before they enter the school system. Specifically, with DHH children, early intervention is critical. So, if they have not received any intervention when they get to public school and are diagnosed with hearing loss, they have already lost years of opportunity to be exposed to language and have to play catch-up. It is exhausting and frustrating for both students and teachers.
Science and Research on Sign Language and the Deaf Community
Q. What research has most influenced you?
Shay: A fact that shocked me that I share often is that more than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents. I assumed that if hearing parents had a deaf child, they would learn sign language, right? But this is not the case. Many DHH children experience language deprivation because their families do not learn to sign. This statistic encouraged me to include signs and the fingerspelling alphabet in My Name Is Maya. It is not overwhelming to non-ASL users and is inclusive of those who sign. Access to language is SUPER important!
Q. Where do we need more research on deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children, in your opinion?
Shay: I think we need more research on deaf-disabled children. Knowing how to effectively communicate and support deaf children with additional disabilities is very complex. I think parents, educators, and other professionals could benefit from more research in this.
Takeaways for Parents and Caregivers
Q. Statistics state that 90–95 percent of children born deaf are born to hearing parents. Your book gives a beautiful and positive presentation of life with hearing loss. In what other ways can you offer guidance and hope to these families?
Shay: Like Maya says, deafness does not make a person “less” or “broken.” I want parents to know that their child’s deafness does not take away from the fact that they are their child. They can still be held, be loved, and be successful individuals! I encourage parents of deaf children to find deaf mentors, teach their children about deaf role models, and not be afraid to seek out additional resources. Be willing to learn and know that your deaf child can do great things!
Q. What role does early intervention play in supporting children who do not pass their hearing screenings at birth?
Shay: Early intervention plays an integral role in providing access to language for a deaf child. Before words or signs happen, things like joint attention must be established. It also provides guidance for parents who may be unfamiliar with how to communicate with their deaf baby. In early intervention, parents can learn strategies on how to play to create positive interactions and support visual communication.
Q. How early should parents begin using sign language with their children?
Shay: The sooner, the better! ASL is not just for babies, and it is not something that children should “age out” of once they acquire spoken language. All children can benefit from ASL, but deaf children especially need early exposure to signing.
Q. What is My Name Is Maya’s overall message to the readers? What do hearing parents of a deaf child need to know?
Shay: The overall message of My Name Is Maya is that deaf children can thrive when they are given access to communication and equal opportunity. Maya’s message is that being different does not mean bad or scary, and we should be accepting and inclusive of our peers.
Hearing parents of a deaf child need to know that access to language (not just verbal—ASL is a super language) is key, and there are plenty of resources available to support deaf children and their families. Deaf children can do anything they put their minds to, and hearing parents are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to see what their child will achieve!
How can people contact you and get a copy of My Name Is Maya?
Follow me on Instagram @mynameismayabook or visit my website at www.andonthisfarmbooks.com to purchase a copy—and for all things Maya!
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