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The Importance of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Role Models

By DeafHHCareer | June 25, 2008

Before you read on, I want you to go and take a look at Stephen Hopson’s blog post over at Adversity University:

Aspire to Inspire a Kid Before You Expire

From his blog:

Around 11:30 am, the first batch of kids began to arrive. My heart picked up a beat. While my signing skills had improved over the years, I was a late bloomer in that department (among other things) because I wasn’t exposed to it until I was well into my third year of college. Over the years though, I slowly but steadily improved to the point where I was easily able to converse with just about anyone who used sign language as a primary means of communication. It made me feel bilingual.

I also had a flashback to when I was a young boy. While growing up, I never had deaf role models to look up to because there weren’t any. So casting myself in that role was going to be one very interesting experience.

Little did I know a pint-sized of a kid was going to make a huge impact on my life a few hours later.

There’s an important message in there: Stephen didn’t have any role models while growing up deaf.

Neither did I.

I like to think that deaf and hard of hearing kids today are exposed to many more deaf and hard of hearing role models today than in the past, thanks to the access to many inspirational articles found on the internet and so many deaf and hard of hearing individuals in all kinds of jobs.

Programs like the Chicago Hearing Society’s Adult Role Model Program are valuable in connecting kids with deaf and hard of hearing adults. The Chicago area kids have met chefs, vets, doctors and more. You can read more about June Prusak, the Youth Manager behind the program here: June Prusak, Youth Manager.

While there have always been deaf and hard of hearing adults who have succeeded in areas where no one has gone before, I find that they have often had someone behind them–whether parents and/or teachers–someone– and the attitude of “I can do it!” and “I will do it!”

That’s why it’s so important for deaf and hard of hearing adults to become role models for today’s deaf and hard of hearing youth. Whenever a kid wonders, “Can I do that, even though I’m deaf/hard of hearing?” having a role model to look up to or be mentored by can make the path so much easier for that kid. Even when a deaf/hard of hearing child is blazing a new path, the support of deaf and hard of hearing role models encouraging them along and saying “Go for it!” can make the difference in the life of a child.

So parents, if you’re reading this and realizing that your child hasn’t had much exposure to deaf and hard of hearing adults, take a moment to show your deaf/hard of hearing child that the world is indeed, wide open for them and find them a role model today.

Topics: Raising Deaf and HH Kids | No Comments »

LaRonda Zupp–Client Support Specialist

By DeafHHCareer | June 16, 2008

As a Client Support Specialist for DCARA, LaRonda provides a variety of services to deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens every day. She meets with clients to provide peer counseling, advocacy, document translation and communication assistance. She also coordinates interpreter services. Her office is located at Fremont Oak Gardens, an apartment complex with 50 apartments.

In addition to meeting with several clients each day, LaRonda provides classes in exercise and nutrition twice a week. “I coordinate Community Education two or three times a month,” said LaRonda. “These classes include topics that cover deaf issues, health issues and senior issues. I teach a lot of independent living skills to help seniors stay connected to their world and live independently.”

LaRonda holds a B.A. degree in Deaf Studies and an M.S. in Counseling. In addition to her degrees, LaRonda holds certificates in Parent Education, Non-Profit Management and Adult Education.

“I have a lot of paper to hang on my wall of fame,” LaRonda chuckled.

Before coming to DCARA, LaRonda worked as a Parent Educator for deaf and hard of hearing parents for eight years. She spent ten years as a School Counselor at the Washington School for the Deaf. “I believe my jobs have chosen me,” LaRonda said. “I never went out looking for them. Most often, they have fallen in my lap. I have had a number of bosses come up to me and simply say ‘I want you to come work for me. Want a job?’ I lick my finger, hold it up to the wind and trust in the will of heaven. I know that wherever I go, I’m supposed to be there. The one thing I choose to do is remain serving the Deaf Community.”

LaRonda has a piece of advice that she’d like to share with those who are exploring their life path:

Listen with the ear of your heart. The path we choose is not always the path we think we want. Our paths often choose us. My advice is be true to what you know about yourself and follow your bliss. If you don’t know what your bliss is, take risks to find out. Live life outside of the box a bit and trust your journey will become you.

Don’t be afraid to dance, just get out there and boogie! Take risks. Try new things. Don’t limit yourself. Burst forth. You will discover how beautiful you are and how enriching life can be when you just get out there and give it your best!”

For more on LaRonda, visit her blog: The Ear of my Heart.

Topics: Counselors, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leonard Hall, Attorney

By DeafHHCareer | June 14, 2008

There’s no typical day of work for the City of Olathe Legal Department. Leonard Hall, a deaf attorney who works for the city, takes care of land acquisition, eminent domain, zoning, and construction contracts. Toss in a little bit of ADA, Tax Law and Development Standards, and you can see why the Assistant City Attorney is busy from eight in the morning to six at night. On Tuesday nights, he is involved with City Council meetings.

“I like my job,” says Leonard. “I usually see the ‘final products,’ such as commercial shopping centers, interchanges, road improvements or bridge projects completed by the city.”

Leonard has a background in business and he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Social Sciences at Emporia State University. He attended Emporia on a scholarship for long distance running and participated in the World Games for the Deaf. “I hold one world record for the deaf for the three-mile run and four American records in other events,” Leonard shared.

Leonard worked in his father’s business, Hall Truck Line, which gave him a solid background in business. With a strong desire to help people and provide service to deaf people, Leonard decided to continue his schooling to become an attorney. He obtained a Juris Doctor Degree in Law at Washburn University Law School in Kansas.

Leonard still finds time to write a weekly column for the Olathe News. He became a columnist in 1993 and has produced over 700 articles for the newspaper. He is also the coordinator of the Kansas City Coffee Chat– a social, monthly gathering of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Leonard’s newest challenge is learning to adjust to the new sounds produced by his cochlear implant. He had surgery in July of this year and wears a hearing aid in the other ear. “I am going through a world of changes with my hearing,” says Leonard. “My ability to understand speech went down to 5% before the surgery. Now I am back up to understanding 30% of speech with my implant and my hearing aid. I hope to increase it to 50% with the implant.”

Leonard is enjoying the new sounds but explains that it is a lot of hard work. “I like it, but it is a very difficult process — first the surgery, second, the mapping to increase the level of hearing and understanding, and third, the difficulty of adjusting to each level of hearing. It has been a long four months of making a lot of adjustments and many more months to go.”

Leonard is married to Charla, who is hard of hearing and has a vision impairment. They have one pre-teen son, Daniel who has hearing in the normal range.