The Times Are Changing

I heard on the local news this week that the Mayor is bidding for Los Angeles to host the 2012 Olympics. I began to wonder how different life will be for the hearing impaired then. Will we have made any progress in our struggle to lead a normal life?

I read about a young woman who has helped bridge the gap a bit for the deaf world. Jennifer Brinkley was chosen to be the 5 Acres Therapeutic Treatmeant Centers Deaf Foster Care Program Coordinator. Brinkley is 26 years old and deaf.

Jennifer has counseled students in the San Diego Unified School District, and in Washington, D.C. In 1998 Jennifer represented Washington State in the Miss Deaf American Pageant.

At her new job Jennifer will coordinate recruits - adults, Deaf and Hearing, who are proficient in sign language and want to be a foster parent. For more information on becoming a foster parent to a Deaf child or teen call 5 Acres at (626) 844-1430 Ext. 206. To use TTY Services for the Deaf call (626) 844-1434.

I believe this program will be an essential help for small children who are already facing an adjustment period. They are without any family, guidence, or support.

At this time in these children's lives they truly need the foundation to know in what direction they are heading. In addition, the people who CAN and WILL make such a difference are available.

I hope in the near future we will find good foster care adults for these children, who desperately need role models (such as Miss Brinkley) to come into their lives and truly make a difference for these young boys and girls. There is a need to smooth the road for both the Hearing Impaired and Deaf so these youngsters will not get discouraged at such a tender age.

Sometimes these things appear to be onesided...for example, we, the Hearing Impaired, must bend like a willow to fit into the hearing world, but often (it seems) many in the hearing world won't even try to meet us half way.

As time moves forward the hearing world shouldn't make it so easy for us to keep to ourselves, and be isolated. Our handicap may not be obvious, but we still appreciate help when it's offered.

I was at a local department store shopping for Christmas presents. Luckily I was not alone, as music was blaring, children were crying, and parents were distracted by the gift searching they were involved in. To add to my dismay, I've been quite sick with a cold affecting my hearing and my ears. I walked around the store. I became a bit disorientated.

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