My mother found out that I was deaf and mute when I was three years old. She had worked with children with disabilities before, and used her training to teach me the alphabets, numbers and sign language. I started speaking using them when I was six.

My father was worried, and would cry at night. How will we educate her? How will she walk on a busy street? What will she do when we are gone? I wouldn’t flinch at loud noises. I would cry for hours without a sound.

My mother home-schooled me. I became really independent. She would write the name of a place on a piece of paper and I would get on a rickshaw or a bus to get there, alone.

I have always been aware of our financial situation. When my father took me shopping, I never wanted expensive things. I was happy with a packet of pickle for BDT 2 (USD 0.02). In general I try to spend as little as possible. I’ve recently bought a large bed and a wardrobe for my parents’ bedroom though. They deserve comfort after a hard day’s work, and I can now afford it. I’m earning BDT 9,500 (USD 100) a month. I was trained in stitching through BRAC and I work at a garment factory. I am currently saving up for a fridge because my father, sitting in his small street shop for hours, constantly craves cold water.

My parents are not as worried as they once were. I am their pride. People know them as Shuborna’s parents.