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RJ Whitaker

Robert “RJ” Whitaker Jr., known as RJ, was the youngest child of Annie Whitaker and Robbie Whitaker, born at Sinai Hospital in spring 2012, and the younger brother of identical twins Lindsay and Leslie. He was a deafblind Ashkenazi Jewish ASL and Protactile user who read braille and used a white cane.

Early Life and Family

RJ was born in 2012, five years after Lindsay and Leslie. His maternal grandparents were Saul Rosen and Miri Rosen, who were also DeafBlind. He grew up in the Whitaker household in Mt. Washington, Baltimore, where ASL was used from infancy.

Communication and Access

RJ learned ASL from infancy. His family began braille instruction around age four and orientation-and-mobility training around age five so that those skills would be established before his vision narrowed substantially. He began transitioning to Protactile at approximately ten and was fluent by eleven. He did not speak aloud; the family chose an ASL-first approach rather than oral education. As his vision narrowed, lipreading remained only minimally useful.

RJ was ambulatory and began using a white cane outdoors at approximately ten. His family adapted the home with tactile wayfinding, vibrating alerts, and accessible controls.

Health and Disability

Main article: Usher Syndrome Reference

RJ had USH1F Usher syndrome, profound congenital Deafness, mild vestibular dysfunction, and progressive retinitis pigmentosa. Night blindness became apparent around age seven, peripheral vision narrowed through ages eight to ten, and he was functionally deafblind by approximately twelve. His vestibular dysfunction contributed to delayed early motor milestones and lifelong balance adaptations. He received regular ophthalmologic and genetic follow-up through Johns Hopkins.

Cultural Identity and Community

RJ grew up in an Ashkenazi Jewish, Reform-cultural household that observed Shabbat, the High Holidays, and Jewish coming-of-age traditions. At thirteen, his bar mitzvah was conducted in ASL and Protactile with voicing interpretation.

Family and Core Relationships

Main article: Annie Whitaker and RJ Whitaker

Annie and Robbie Whitaker

Annie and Robbie were RJ’s parents. Annie communicated with him in ASL and Protactile, while Robbie learned tactile communication as RJ’s access needs changed. Robbie’s accessible-residential-design work shaped adaptations to the family home.

Lindsay and Leslie Whitaker

Lindsay and Leslie were RJ’s older sisters. Both had used ASL since childhood and learned tactile communication as their brother’s vision changed.

Saul and Miri Rosen

Saul and Miri were RJ’s maternal grandparents. Their shared DeafBlind experience gave RJ close family members who already used disability-specific access practices. Saul taught him signed mischief from infancy, and Miri baked with him using Protactile communication.

Physical Characteristics

RJ had dark hair, olive skin, and dark-brown eyes like Saul’s.

Memorable Quotes

No verified exact quotation is currently available.

Characters Supporting Characters Living Characters Jewish Characters Ashkenazi Characters Disabled Characters Deaf Characters DeafBlind Characters ASL Users Protactile Users Whitaker Family