Posed/or funjoa,me Raymond, a seco11a. year stude11t in N77D'sinterpreter training program, takes advantage of idealcross­ country skiing corulitions. NTID

CONTENTS Winter/Spring 1988

2 Information Exchange From the Director'sDesk NTID FOCUS is puhlbhcd by the Oivbion of Public Affairsat the Nat ion al Technical Institute for the l)eafand Communications at Rochester 3 Chopsticks andJalapeiios Institute ofl<:chnology. Rochester. New 'fork. For Richard LeRoy and jack Slutzk_Ji all the u'Orld's a classroom. Director Marcia B. Dugan 6 Matchmaker Editor I-Jelen1/erreros is a whiz al matching people-with Jobs. Kathleen Sullivan Smith Coordinator, Publications 8 Desktop Dynamo Lynne Bohlman Graduate Mitchell 7raoersturns a profit with his computer skills. Art Director Walter Kowalik Writers 10 Signing Stars Emily Andreano Phyllis Frelich and J::d Waters/reel pay a stellar visit to NTIIJ. Vincent l)ollard Louise Hutchison 12 A Real Eye Opener Jean Ingham Seeing is believing in N71D's Eye and Ear Clinic. Ann Kantt.:r

14 Mastering Fate Photography Sharon Komlos shares an inspiring message of hope. Robt.:rt lannazzi-p. l.. :\l. (top). A. Sue Wcisler-pp. 6. � 10. 11. 14-18. 19 ( middle. bottom). 26,29, 16 Managing the Message :32( bottom right). lnte,preling Services keeps the R/1' campus communicating. Michael Gt.:iS.!>in!(Cr-p. 9. Michael Spenccr-p. l:\. Chris Quillen-pp. 19 (top). 20. 24. 25 20 A Year in Israel John Keenan-pp. 22, 25 (top). Diana Pryntz hrings neuifangled technology to an ancient land. Mark Iknjamin-p. :I I. David Hays-p. 32 ( bottom left). 22 (Almost) All-American He doesn't have a lleisman trophy, but Wally Harmasch is a winner About the co,-er Assista11t Professor to his co-workers and family. Riclx1rd l,eRoy and a /n'end e11joy a11 Ice La11ten1 Festirv,I in llaroi11, 01itu,. 24 Shared Memories Author Lou Ann Walker discusses a poignant memoir.

26 Mitch Bilker, One of a Pair A Rochester education has equal appeal for a special set of twins.

28 Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground Stephanie Cloutier'sflight plan is clear and direct.

30 Focus On ... Dean Woolever This talented designer has shaped his life into an art form.

n,is nwleri"I 11·,,s produced ll1ro11gb "" agrt'<•me11r 32 Newsline hef"'""' R<><'I.H'Sf<'r lnsfifur,• of 7<'<·lmolo[!.y t111d /1.H' I·.� IJeparrmemof E.tt11wrio11 From the Director's Desk Information Exchange

TID's reputation is interna­ And then there arc those who come tional, and during the past to TID for longer periods-students year, several faculty members who come to learnand to select careers. haveN helped enhance that reputation­ Stephanie Cloutier, an Industrial Draft­ in China, Mexico, and Israel. Our cover ing student who has a penchant for fly­ story examines the experiences and ing, and Mitchell Bilker, a first-year stu­ travels of two faculty members who par­ dent who seems always to end up "on ticipatl'.d in the RJ'I' Faculty Exchange top," arc but two examples, and they arc Scholar Program. Richard LeRoy, assis­ featured within. Wally Harmasch and tant professor in TlD's Liberal Arts Mitchdl Travers are graduates who have Support Department, taught English to shaped successful careers in chemical Chinese students who practiced their testing and desktop publishing. Their second language under a statue of stories also are in this issue of Focus. Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. Half a world Of course, our students arc aided in away, Jack Slutzky. professor in the Vi­ their cart:cr quests hy the support and sual Communication Support Depart­ services offered at TID. The Eye and ment, caught graphics and design in Ear Clinic screens every student who stark Mexican classrooms. Another enters the Institute for visual problems, traveling faculty member, Diana Pryntz, and counsels those in whom problems is featured in this issue. Pryntz, assistant arc detected. All of our students at one professor in the Department of Busi­ time or another receive support from ness/Computer ScienceSupport, brought the Department of Interpreting Services. 1TTD's educational philosophy to deaf The R1T campus would be far less acces­ educators in Israel. sible to deaf students without this vital Not only are faculty members taking communication link, also featured in word of TIO at RJT to the world this issue. beyond, hut educators and counselors Another communication link on this who work with deaf students in their campus is Dean Woolever, our Focus part of the world arc coming to the On ... subject. Art director in the Depart- Institute to learn how better to serve ment of Instructional Design and Eval­ students. Belen Herrcros, vocational uation, Woolcvcr's work finds its way placement coordinator of the Special into many a classroom. Through his Education Unit of the Philippine Minis­ calems, students arc:: able to learn more try of Education, spent the fall and win­ readily. 'l11rough the teaching and travel ter at TIO studying job-placement of our faculty members, the world learns marketing and training skills. about TIO; and through this issue of Other featured visitors have come to Focus, we hope that you karn a littk: the Institute for shorter stays, and to more about what TID is all about. impart special messages to their various audiences. Lou Ann Walker, author of the critically acclaimed A loss for \Vords: 1beStory ofDeafness in a Fam­ iZH visited in August as keynote speaker at the second annual Children of Deaf Or. Willian1 E. Castle Adults (CODA) Conference. Sharon Komlos, blinded tragically eight years ago, inspired students in September with her bright ''can do" attitude. In November, Phyllis Frclich and Edmund Watcrstrcct, former ational TI1catrc of the Deaf actors and stars in the Emmy Award-winning television movie love is Neuer Silent, shared with students a sampling of the fmstrations, challenges, and joys of working in a largely hearing profession.

2 STII) FOO.('i • Winter/Sprin� /9HH International Outreach

HOPSTICKS """' ENOS

by Jean Ingham

o enhance faculty members' His favorite group of undergraduate knowledge of other cultures and smdcnts were third-year English majors. to further understanding of "Articulate speakers, wonderful writers, T and fascinating students whom I shall American educational systems by other countries, RIT five years ago initiated an always remember," is how he describes Internacional Faculty Exchange Scholar them. Program. Interested faculty members LeRoy also taught two sections of apply for exchange positions and their doctoral candidates who needed to pass resumes are forwarded co participating a qualifying English exam before receiv­ universities. These universities then ing their degrees. ll was "an energetic invite RJT faculty members to teach, group, whose members wanted to dis­ based on their expertise. cuss the unlikely combination of envi­ In 1986, two TIO faculty members ronmental issues, 'spiritual pollution,' found themselves in two radically dif­ and American short stories," LeRoy ferent environments. Richard LeRoy, as­ recalls. sistant professor in NTID's Liberal Arts Another group included advanced Support Department, and Jack Slutzky, communication students and experi­ professor in the Visual Communication enced teachers. Support Department, traveled as ex­ "Most of these teachers were over 30 change.:professors to China and Mexico, and used the Cultural R(."VOlution as a respectively. reference point for their lives and the LeRoy spent the 1986-87 academic life of China," says LeRoy. year teaching in Hangzhou on mainland In the University's hierarchy, LeRoy China. Although at firsthe was dubious l('s a/1 <1matter of perspectilleRic/Jard LeRoy is was considered the "head foreigner." As about spending the entire year away dll'arfed by a 70-metc>r 'fibetanHudd})a statue. such, he acted as liaison between 12 from home, friends, and family, he finally fellow foreign teachers and University agreed to go with one stipulation. personnel. He arranged trips and helped "If it was dreadful, I could come ingenuiryv.rhen they didn't arrive before with a variety of problems-both per­ home;' he laughs. "It wasn't dreadful. It classes began. The materials finally sonal and academic. was the beginning of a love affair with arrived in mid- ovember-just in time He found that, for most educated China. for winter break. Chinese people, learning to speak En­ "I met Chinese people with values Because many students were reticent glish was highly desirable. Each Tu esday similar to my own," he says. "They have a to speak out on issues during class, evening during the academic year, the sense of hospitality, generosity, curios­ LeRoy asked them to keep journals. University presented a lecture in En­ ity, and comradery that is greater than Through these, he gained a greater glish. It was part of LeRoy's job to secure any I've experienced." insight into their personal lives, feelings, and introduce each speaker. The pro­ TI1e head of the Language Depart­ and concerns. Individually and in small grams were so successful that everyone ment at Zhejiang University assigned groups, he met with smdents to discuss on can1pus soon recognized the "for­ LeRoy to teach English to undergradu­ their journal topics. While LeRoy learned eigner from RIT" ate and graduate students. Although more about Chinese culmre and peo­ Many Sunday mornings he could be LeRoy had sent. in mid-July, materials he ple, the smdents gained language, think­ found at the "English Comer" in a lake­ wanted to use. he had to fall hack on his ing, and presentation skills. side park in Hangzhou.

N11D FOOJS • Winter/Spri11J.1 1988 3 "'That's where the local citizens would tured to students, and enjoyed an "Ice away from homc"-a room in a small come to practice their English," he Lantern Festival." hotel approximately 30 minutes from explained. "I felt like an athletic coach "ll1e festival was truly unique," LeRoy campus. with all the players huddled around me, remembers. "The townspeople cut huge From a well-cared-for RIT campus of hanging on my every word. The people blocks of ice from the river and carved 13,000 hearing and deaf students, Slutzky arc very aware of U.S. culture, history, them into temples and sculptures of all found himself, with none of his former and politics. They asked penetrating kinds. Colored lights glowed frominside amenities, at a neglected universiry sys­ questions about Watergate, Iran-gate, the ice, making a dazzling sight. tem of 320,000 students. and our economic policy toward Japan." "Rut I've never been so cold," he adds. Education in Mexico is a "political Additionally, every Thursdaynight, in "It was 20 degrees below zero Celsius. I stick of dynamite," according to Slutzky. the darkness, students gathered under had on every article of clothing I'd An administration exists that wants to the University's statue of Chairman Mao brought with me, plus a huge green elevate the qualiry of education, yet stu­ Tse-Tung, ironically to improve their army overcoat and a fur hat that some­ dents are fearful of "creeping elitism." spoken English. It also was not uncom­ one loaned me." One day at UNAM, 240,000 students mon for people on the street to approach On the same academic break, LeRoy went on strike and made speeches. LeRoy and ask if they could "practice climbed the Great Wall of China near "It was an awesome sight;' Slutzky speaking English." Beijing, then flew to Guangzhou. There says. "Argumentative topics included LeRoy taught in English, but he had the weather was warm and tropical, a tuition raises from 78 cents to S3.50 per wanted to learn to speak Chinese. pleasant change from the frigid north of year and minimum entrance require- Harbin. LeRoy then ventured even farther south to Hainan Island, a sparsely popu­ lated area at the tip of China. "Although the beaches were beauti­ ful,I spent only pan of one day walking in the sand. My colleague would never linger very long." From the "roof of the world" in Tibet to the subtropical dimes of the Mekong River, where a trail was cut into the jungle so that Great Britain's Prince Philip could view wild elephants, LeRoy saw it all. "When I reflect on my year in China," he says, "I realize chat my apprehensions were unfounded. It was gratifying when On topof the u'OrldLeRoy tours Tibet, often y i Comprendes.'Jack .\1111zky expt�1i11s/be co11- called /he ..rrx,foflbe ,mrld ... Zhejiang Universit asked me to stay for cept ofJ11niil11r e desig11 10 a Mexic:mtstudetll. another year. TI1ough impossible at this time, I would cherish the opportuniry to return to my second homeland." "However, upon arrival, I realized that Jack Slutzk')' spent an equally stimulat­ ments. Speakers were not interrupted­ everyone was more cager to speak En­ ing 10 weeks teaching at two univer­ everyone had his 'day in the sun.'" glish than help me practice my broken sities in Mexico-the Universidad The UAM campus, across the ciry Chinese. I did manage to learn enough Auc6noma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco from UNAM, was created after the 1968 survival Chinese, which, with the body ( UAM) and the Universidad acional riots. It's broken into different geo­ language and mime I learned fromteach­ Aut6noma Mecropolitana (UNAM). He, graphic units spread over a large area to ing hearing-impaired students, allowed too, would like co recurn to his host discourage groups of students from me to communicate with non-English country to visit his extended family. gathering together. speakers." Slutzky recalls the January day he left Primary and secondary education is During the academic breaks in Janu­ Rochester. The skies were turbulent. mandatory in Mexico. The problem is ary and July, LeRoy left the campus reflecting the state of his "churning that with so large a population ( cur­ behind and traveled around China. innards." rently more than 24 million people live Unlike other foreigners in China, Although eager for a new challenge, in Mexico City) and so small a truant LeRoy got an insider's view of the people Slutzky admits that he was apprehensive officer staff, monitoring attendance is and culture by traveling with a Chinese because few, if any, detai Is of the trip had close to impossible. Children can be colleague from the Universiry. He found been worked out before his departure. seen in the parks at all times of the day. that the prerequisites for successful He was entering a foreign culture whose "Of course, with the number of chil­ travel in China include being resource­ language he didn't speak. Would there dren already born and one being born ful, diplomatic, and persistent. Even be anyone to pick him up at the Mexico every 22 seconds;' Slutzky says, "there then, there are no guarantees that you'U Ciry airport? \Vhere was he to go, what aren·t enough schools to house them." be able to "negotiate" tickets on trains, was he supposed co be doing, and how At CAM, Slutzky found the classrooms buses, or planes. would he communicate? barren-no lights. no heat, and no black­ In January, LeRoy was fortunate to fly As it turned out, his fears were un­ boards. Cntil the sun came up and to the northern ciry of Harbin, not far founded, for he was picked up at the warmed the rooms a bit, students and from the Russian border. There he lee- airport and taken to his new "home faculry members kept warm by wearing

4 NnD FOC(!S • \Vi11ter/Spri11g 1988 .. coats and gloves. 1l1erc •.vcre so many Slutzky believes that he now under­ "Massive amounts of \·isual pollution Mudents that two sessions with tv:o stands much better how people who are is how he describes the signage and complete faculties \Yere needed each deaf feel when confronting spoken general communication design of the day. Th<.: first session ran from - a.m. to English. capital. I p.m. and the s<.:cond from I to 7 p.111. "It was an important experience for "The visuals of Mexico City are Faculty m<.:mb<.:rs \\·ork on a yearly me. aftt'.r 18 years of teaching deaf stu­ deafening-evel)'thing is vying foratten­ contract and, hecause of Ylexican inila­ dents. I discovered that I could feel a tion. The colors arc thrown together tion. their salary loses nearly 120 per­ similar frustration that tht:y have daily with little or no understanding of nega­ cent in buying po\.ver each year. The trying to communicate." tive space," he laments. majority of faculty memhers must hold His dc:sireco learn Spanish impressed Slutzk,• explained in a speech to a two job in order to surYi\·e. his students. and others he met, because. national graphic designers association "\ly office at the uni\·ersity was small ht'. says, "Few Americans make any that graphic design in Mexico is "headed and was shared by five people," say serious effortto talk to Mc:xicansin their for disaster" unless somt: standards are Slutzky. 'Two people used it in the own language. Mc:xicans are a gracious crc:atc:d. morning and three others in the after­ and hospitable people who become "Cntil graphic design is considered a noon. Space is at a premium." more so \.vhen you make an effort to profession. a legitimate career," he told Slutzky taught classes in computer graphics, corporate design. furniture design, and packaging. His students in­ cluded teachers and design studio pro­ fessionals. as well as typical college stuclents. Slutzky found one of his many chal­ lenges in the students. "They couldn't follow directions, and never met deadlines. If the classes had been graded. I'd have flunkedthem all." Although the students recei\·ed no grades. they benefited from learning a goal-oriented process. ",Vtexicans in general," explains Slutzky, "arc creative and intuitive, but they need to add balance and learn that the product is the end result of process. 'Tm a task.master. but. I teach differ­ ently than most instructors." he says. "I par a head, or put my hand on a shoulder, or maybe l'\'Cn 'beat up' on someone by hitting them on the arm. In essence. I try to establish rapport as I work. Wbt1t you see... !,lulzky/0111ul lbe l '11it'C'1":.''itlmlA11td110111" .IIC'ltY>/x,/itm1aAzc"/)otzalco 1<, be lack­ "Th<: students didn't k.nO\Y what to ing numy of lbe amenities bC' IXIS "' ST7V. make of such a weird man. But I wa able. by showing them that I can be a fool at times and as vulnerable as they understand them, just like all other his audience. "it will remain a lesser art are, to break down their resistance. people.'' form. The organization must take a lead­ Then the learning process began." During his 10 weeks in Mexico, there ership role if change is to be effected." As part of that process. Slutzky asked was Little time for sightseeing, but Slutzky Slutzky would like the opportunity to his students to complete 200 concept did get to climb some pyramids. Long go back to Mexico and work to establish sketche in 40 minutes. ago, in an attempt to destroy the Indian these standards. "We call them 'thumbnail sketches· at culture in Mexico, Spaniard had torn Until then. he says. "I live a wonderful, N'TID. But there's no equivalent in Span­ down most of the pyramids and erect­ creative life. I have many joys. How for­ ish, so it became 'dibujito pequeno' or ed churches in their place. But after tunate I am to be here-how thankful I 'little drawing.' Because the tcrm was Mexico won its independence, many am to work at TID-hov,: glad I am to foreign to the students. they interpreted were rebuilt. be American. You have to go through a it literally. and the ensuing drawings "They are glorious structures," Slutzky variety of experiences to appreciate were very small-nearly microscopic," notes. what you have." laughs Slutzk,·. Equally beautiful, in terms of archi­ When he accepted the exchange ap­ tectural design, Slutzky believes, arc the ) pointment, Slutzk,' did not know Span­ many churches. But as much as he loved ish, but was detem1incd to communi­ the architecture and sculpture, he was cate with people in their ov:n language. not as enamored with the graphic design He cook Spanish lessons and often stud­ of Mexico City. ied late into the night. He remembers falling asleep exhausted many nights, only to dream of his struggle to communicatt:.

.\'770 FO(.'(' \ • \Vi111er/'ipring 1988 5 J fllter11takes -1.\[;ED skills honze tothe J hilippi11ej·

by Ann Kanter

drastic cut in responsibilities Herreros' goals in embarking on this In her internship studies, Herreros and pay when she returned from internship were to study NCED market­ hoped to learn better strategies and A maternity leave to her job at the ing and training team techniques in job techniques for doing her work. Marineles Institute in Bataan, the Phil­ placement and employer development "Dick tells me I've been doing the ippines, brought Belen Herreras to a and training; to increase her sign lan­ right things;' she says, "but I've been turning point in her life. f,>uage skills; and to add to her knowl­ doing them on a hit-or-miss basis. I had "The pay cut meant I couldn't earn edge of curriculum development. no training for my job." enough to feed my new baby," she says. Because her placement responsibili­ Perhaps not. But what she lacked in "That was in 1960 and my husband was ties in the Philippine Ministry of Educa­ training, she more than made up for in stilJ alive, so the financialsituation wasn't tion involve placing high school gradu­ hands-on experience, which is why she desperate; but still, it really hurt." ates, her internship included visits to was appointed to her position hy the Thus, when she learnedof an opening local schools and agencies such as the director of the Department of Educa­ at the Philippine School for the Deaf in Board of Cooperative Educational Ser­ tion for the Philippine National Capital Pasay, one of four cities that comprise vices, Rochester City School District Region. metropolitan Manila, Herreras took it, Special Education Division, Edison Tech­ When Herreros was teaching at the although the 375-kilometer trip meant nical and Occupational Center, Associa­ Philippine School for the Deaf, parents taking an apartment for herself and her tion for the Blind, Association for Re­ would approach her after graduation infant son in Pasay, then commuting on tarded Citizens, and the Al Sigl Center. and ask, "What will my son/daughter do weekends to join her husband at the There, she observed, talked with admin­ now?" familyhome in Bataan, where he worked istrators, and inquired about curricu­ "I would get on the phone and call in the national shipyard. lum and placement activities. She also local companies to tell them that we had Although Herreros had had no pre­ joined first-year NTID students in a "Job a skilled seamstress, fileclerk, welder, or vious contact with deaf people, she was Search Process" class. carpenter-whatever type of worker I to spend the next 25 years of her life at knew they needed." the school until, in 1985, she was named Before long, she became a self­ vocational placement coordinator of the appointed job placement coordinator. Special Education Unit of the Philippine Her skills were so much in demand that Ministry of Education, the position she she had to miss classes to keep up with holds today. the work. As a one-person marketing and em­ 'Then, although she had started out ployer development team, she is in placing only graduates, her reputation charge of finding jobs for graduates grew to the point where alumni who fromfour high schools serving students had graduated five and 10 years earlier who are blind, deaf, orthopedically dis­ approached her for help also. She even abled, educably mentally retarded, or got letters from government officials, with conditions such as cerebral palsy, asking her to place deaf young people muscular dystrophy, or emotional or that they knew. behavioral problems. Because of her passion for placing From September to November, how­ deaf students, in 1979 Herreros encour­ ever, Herreros was on a professional aged the Philippine School for the Deaf leave of absence to participate in NTID's to add a postsecondary program that Internship Program in the area of Job emphasized vocational training. Former­ Placement/Employer Development. Her ly, the school had included only kinder­ mentor was Richard Elliott, senior garten through high school. Career Opportunities advisor in the Herreros also helped organize a Deaf National Center on Employment of the Enjoying her "constitutional" Belen Herrl!ms Employees Association, which currently Deaf ( NCED ). trm,erses the ··quarter mile" tbat links RJT's boasts a membership of approximately residence ball_� and acadt>tnic buildings.

6 N71D /·OCUS • Wi11ter/S{>ri11g 1<)88 400. In 1985, to celebrate its third anni­ versary, the association awarded plaques of appreciation to five companies that had hired deaf employees. The U.S. Emba�)' was one of the recipients, hav­ ing hired seven employees through Her­ reros' intermediary services. She placed her clients in the Embassy's General Services Department, where they filled positions as fileclerks, carpenters, elec­ tricians, and plumbers, most of them caring for the residences of Embassy personnel. Herreros, who is 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds, smiles oftenand constantly pops out of her seat to act out the story she's telling. When she starts to tell about another of her placements, how­ ever, her attitude changes noticeably, as she searches her pockets for a tissue. "I always cry when l talk about this Strategy-plannin�conference l /errertJSand FJ,,,.mentor, Richard Elliolt, discussjob one," she says apologetically. "It's a suc­ /Jlaceme11t te cfJniques. cess story about one of the students I was able to place. Jose de la Cruz is very intelligent-he was valedictorian of his De la Cruz passed the exam, and today directors of Philippine schools for the high school class in 1972. is a successful teacher at the Philippine deaf. "Aftergraduation, he came to me and School for the Deaf. He also is working "I had been successful in placing deaf said, 'I want to go to college, but my toward his master's degree at the Te ch­ students as well as students with other parents are poor-they can't afford it. nical University of the Philippines. disabilities," says Herreros, "but I was Please help me.' Herreros' own introduction to sign doing it all myself with no system or "Jose was talented in the finearts and language came from her students at the organization. Then I heard Liz talk about had won many prizes in high school. He Philippine School for the Deaf. When NTlD's marketing team-a group of knew I had connections with people in she started teaching there, the school employment advisors who develop civic organizations. I took his address, was run in the oralist trndition, and sign strategies formarketing co-op students but at the time, there was nothing I language was forbidden. and graduates to employers. J thought to could do." She recalls conducting a lesson on myself, 'I must go there and learn their One year later, Herrcros received a The Merchant of Venice and attempting techniques.'" caJI fromthe principal of the Philippine to bring the play to life by acting it out. Once at TIO, the internship lived up School for the Deaf, saying that the state "I was all worked up, I really put my to her expectations. Sharing space in the had just opened its scholarships to heart and soul into it;' she says. "When I CED offices was a luxury and an eye­ hearing-impaired students. Immediately, finished, I asked the students, 'Do you opener for Herreros. she thought of de la Cruz, but couldn't understand?' "Dick let me use an officenext to his," find his address. To add to the urgem)'. "'Oh yes,' they said. But when I gave she says, "and I even have my own tele­ she felt, the phone call came at 11 a.m., them a test, not one knew eventhe name phone. Where I work in the Philippines, and the principal said, "You must pro­ of the play. That was when I decided I the phone I use is down the hall in duce your candidate by 3 o'clock this had to learn their language." another office.It rings, and by the time I afternoon." She learned it well enough to become get there, it's stopped ringing." Herreros called the vice president of the school's much-sought-after inter­ As her internship drew to a close, the Pasay City Jaycees, who often volun­ preter. She also has served as court in­ Hcrreros looked forward to returning teered to help with her activities, and terpreter at criminal trials, and is certi­ home to share with her colleagues the said, "Do you feel like being a good fication chairman of the Philippine fruitsof her internship.She hoped to see Samaritan today? Then hurry and pick Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. But them set up student marketing and me up in your car." she's still not satisfied with her skills. employer developmentteams, and she'd It was lunch time, and she was starv· "I can interpret what a hearing person like to see the establishment of a Philip· ing, but there was no time to cat. They says to a deaf audience," she states, pine national technical institute for the drove to Montalban Municipal Hall, "but when it comes to reverse inter­ disabled, modeled on TIO. where Herreras inquired about de la preting-translating what a deaf person Cruz. says for a hearing audience-I don't feel > An employee provided directions to confident." de la Cruz's house, and de la Cruz was Increasing her reverse interpreting there-on the verge of eating lunch­ skills is one of the goals of her internship. but he jumped into his best clothes and Herreros first learned about NTID in they drove straight to the State Scholar­ 1985 when Elizabeth Ewell, NCED man­ ship Committee's office. ager, conducted a conference among

.vnD POaJS • Wintt-'1;/Spring 1<)88 7 working more hours than he has ever worked before. Today he is self­ 100 Megabytes employed-a desktop publisher and consultant. of Energy As such, Travers sets up automated memory systems for directory listings and small business computer systems . He is art editor for the NAD Broad­ ...... caster and 7be Deaf American, both published by the National A�sociation of the Deaf. He also is designer and layout artist for World Around You, a Gallaudct University publication, and Newsounds, a newsletter produced by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf. In p his "leisure" time, Travers is compiling a textbook on desktop design and layout. He works out of the quiet con.finesof his townhouse in Seabrook, Maryland. His officequarters arc slightly cramped, with a sofa, computer, printer, and chair vying for space. Built -in bookshelves are by Jean Ingham organized from top to bottom with work in progress. instruction manuals, and the residuals of subscriptions to 10 computer/ desktop publishing-related magazines. From his first tentative attempt at reat Expectations Realized After five years, he left Brookhaven to being his own boss-fromAugust 1986 might be the title of a novel that design software for Software Design to January 1987 -the business grew so G Mitchell Travers, a 1974 Busi­ Associates, Inc., in ew York City. fast that Travers had no free time. He ness Administration graduate, will write "I did this against my father's advice," worked every waking moment to keep someday. he says. "Dad told me New York City was up with his commitments. But he doesn't "Expectations" is Travers' synonym tough and why take a chance when I had regret it for a minute, for it represents a for challenges and goals. His newest a secure job." dream come true. The business is so challenge, a desktop publishing busi­ While at SoftwareDesign Associates, successful that now he can "make a ness, is the result of his love for he wrote and produced a five-day profit" without exhausting himself. computers. "Structured Programming " course for In fact, the business is doing so well Although Travers graduated with a businesses. that he has hired five people to help llinl. bachelor of science degree from RlT's Each time he changed jobs, Travers Two of his employees do desktop pub­ College of Business, he explains that "If became more excited about the capabil­ lishing on their home computers; one is a degree in computer science had been ities of computers. his quality control person; one is backup offered at that time, I would have "1l1ere is so much they can do," he quality control; and the ftfth does color majored in that area. " says, "so much more than anyone realized overlays for 7beDeaf American. He received his first taste of comput­ when computers were first introduced." 'O,is energetic young man of 3 7 was ers during co-op employment at Occi­ In 1980, Travers, looking fornew chal­ born with normal hearing. dental Petroleum Company, Inc., in lenges, changed jobs again and worked "He was speaking words and phrases Hackensack, New Jersey. Computers forfour years as a softwareengineer and by the time he was 2," says his mother, were a challenge, and Travers thrives on manager at Manufacmrer'sHanover Trust Marcia. "But when he didn't respond challenges. Company in New York City. In this posi­ when spoken to, his grandmother sus­ Although he couldn't major in com­ tion, he supervised managers of six pected he was losing his hearing. How­ puter science, Travers' enthusiasm for satellite planning groups, including trust ever, doctors who examined him computers continued. Brookhaven securities, money markets, and other assured me that he could hear because National Laboratory, in Upton, New York, investments. he could speak." was the first company to benefit from "Services at Manufacturer's l Ianover When Travers was 3, the family moved this enthusiasm after his graduation. are 98 percent computer-based;' he to Puerto Rico. lhere, Travers' speech He designed a program that allowed says. "I enjoyed the work and encour­ began to deteriorate and when his the company to use a different method aged those I supervised to stretch their mother consulted another doctor, they of tracking and monitoring money that abilities and achieve. discovered that Travers had lost his went beyond a single fiscal year. With "I played the part. I was a 'power hearing. this capability, the Department of Energy man' -three-piece suits, ties, perfect Although no one is sure, doctors allowed Brookhaven to receive research posture. But I prefer my present life­ think the Rh negative factor that his money. Travers also designed and pro­ style," he smiles. mother carried may have been the grammed an inventory subsystem for His present lifestyle is open-necked cause. Brookhaven. shirt, casual slacks or blue jeans, and

8 J\'77D FOCUS• lf i11ter/Spri11gl 1988 Expectationscome true Mitchell Traversbeams at the success of bis desktoppubliSbfng business. But he did so poorly in chemistry class­ Although he admits to being a work­ "organic chemistry blew my mind"- aholic, Travers does take time out tO play that he changed to Business Administra­ racquetball. He finds it a good way to With a 95 decibel loss in both ears, tion "to see ifl could succeed in the rat "let off steam." He also discovered so Travers wears behind-the-ear hearing race-and I did." many deaf racquetball teams in the aids. As a young child, he studied at the The Rev. Lawrence Mothersell, a United States that he began a U.SA. Deaf Lexington School for the Deaf, at its General Education Instruction Team Racquetball Newsletter to keep teams original New York City location, until he professor, says, "Mitch was a joy to have up-to-date on tournaments and upcom­ was old enough forjunior high school. in the classroom. He always was well ing events, and to provide tips on the He then attended Junior High -189 in prepared and liked to debate issues. He sport. Queens, New York, a hearing school enjoyed arguing his point, but if he Travers also has begun publishing lbe where his mother taught. He remained could be shown another valid one, he MacDeaf Letter, through which he en­ there for two years. might concede. courages deaf people to use computer "I did terribly," he recalls. "Eventually, "However," Mothersell continues, technology to advance their standard of my parents transferred me to Dwight "any instructor with Mitch in his class living. He also has created "MacDeaf School for Boys, a private school, for my needed to be right on his toes. He was Shopper" a service that helps deaf junior and senior years. extremely adept at derailing an instruc­ Macintosh computer users become wise "This was before the concept of main­ tor from a major topic." consumers of printers, software appli­ streaming took on its current meaning," Travers admits that he could be an cations, and various equipment. he says. "Until I reached RIT, I had no assertive and aggressive student. As a What's next for Travers? More chal­ interpreters, no notetakers-zilch." one-man campaigner, he sought ways to lenges, no doubt. And he plans to con­ After high school graduation, Travers help deaf persons help themselves. quer them all. attended New York University for two To encourage deaf students to take "I'm happy with my life," he says. "I years. But his parents felt that he would part in different campus activities, love it." be happier in a more technical envi­ Travers began publishing a weekly stu­ ronment and recommended RIT, with dent newspaper, lbe Eye. Modeled after ) its many support services available lbe New York Times, the paper's motto through NTID. Taking their advice, he was "All the News Worth Eyeing." transferred to study Biology, because he "It was a good paper;' he says, "fourto was interested in marine biology and six pages chock full of news. But it died wanted to become an oceanographer. after I graduated."

NnD FOCUS• Winter/Spring 1988 9 ************************************************• ** SIGNING STARS ************************************************** by Louise Hutchison

s seasoned performers, Phyllis Patrick Graybill, teacher/artist in "She believed in the project for 10 his offscreen wife. "Maybe someday Frelich and Edmund Waterstreet NTID's Performing Arts Department, years before it happened," says Water­ we'll get married on the show," he are accust0med tO receiving remembers the pair from their early street. The network wanted two well­ laughs. A He especially enjoys the opportunity accolades for the many roles they play. days. "They've become so professional," known hearing actors to play the lead In November 1987, however, when he says proudly, "and it's important for roles, but Fjeld insisted that deaf actors to work with young children. 'Tm glad they shared the NTID Theatre stage to our students to meet deaf role models." portray deaf characters. that when the children who watch present their experiences to students as In 1968 Frelich left Nm to raise her Fjeld's persistence paid off, and for Sesame Street grow up, they will be part of NTID's Special Speaker Series, two sons. Waterstreet stayed on for 12 the first time, a TV network cast deaf more aware of deafness." the enthusiastic applause they received years. During that time, he also taught actors in leading roles for a prime-time In addition to performing, Waterstreet was for simply being themselves. acting workshops and directed produc­ production. teaches for the Visual Theatre Work­ A dynamic pair, their signing styles tions both forNID and its Little Theatre Aside from the professional and shop (VfW)at the Mark Taper Fomm in provide a fascinating study in contrast. of the Deaf (LID), which stages produc­ financial rewards of TV work, both Fre­ Los Angeles, and works on story "treat­ The slender, dark-haired Frelich signs tions for young audiences. lich and Waterstreet feelstrongly about ments" for producers to develop into TV quickly and intensely, hands flying and Frelich got her acting career back on doing more work in a medium that movies. ''You really have to create your body shifting to make a point. Water­ track in 1978 when she met playwright reaches such a wide audience. own stories," he says. street, with his husky build and blond Mark Medoff through her actor/set "I feel a great responsibility to repre­ His teaching experience has included hair, is more relaxed. Quick to smile, his designer husband, Robert Steinberg, sent my people in my work," says Frelich. both deaf and hearing students, and he signs are slow and clear. who had designed the sets for several of Waterstreet, too, is confident that TV has found that hearing actors are "very Frelich and Waterstreet first per­ Med off'sshows. Medoffwas so intrigued can be an effective t0ol for promoting open, very accepting" of his direction formedtogether asstudents at Gallaudet by Frelich, the first deaf person he had deaf awareness. "We need to get more and comments. University, then worked together as ever met, that he decided to write a play deaf actors mainstreamed into TV with­ "I use the same strategies for direct­ company members of the National for her. The result was the critically out dwelling on their deafness," he says. ing deaf and hearing actors," he says. "I Theatre of the Deaf ( NID). Most re­ Pbylli.sFrelich acclaimed Children of a Lesser God, a ''We need to see deaf people managing Edmund Waterstreet rely on the assistance of an interpreter cently, they appeared in the Emmy story that examines the personal rela­ to overcome communication difficul­ who knows me 'through and through; Award-winning television production of The oldest of nine children in an tionship between a young deaf cleaning ties in various ways." showing a deaf character as a bright, and a hearing assistant director who Love isNever Silent. entirely deaf family, Frelich never consid­ woman and a male hearing teacher. Both actors have done much to pro­ capable woman who happens to be listens to how the voices sound." "I'm really lucky to know a great ered herself disahled. "Being deaf Children won the 1980 To ny Award mote the portrayal of deaf persons as deaf," says Frelich. "It is an important Providing professional training and actress like Phyllis, and to have had the seemed quite natural," she says. for best Broadway play, and for her por­ ordinary individuals. step in helping the average person see preparation for aspiring deaf actors is a opportunity to grow with her all these As a student at the North Dakota trayal of the lead role of Sarah orman "Both Phyllis and Ed have demon­ deaf persons in a new way." rewarding experience for Waterstreet. years," says Waterstreet. Frelich returns School for the Deaf, she enjoyed per­ Leeds, Frelich received a To ny for best strated that acting is acting," says Or. Waterstreet tries to create opportuni­ "I had to learn from hearing actors-I the compliment. forming in classroom skits. In high actress. She was the first

10 NnJJ FOCUS• Winter/S{m·nx 1988 NnD FOCUS • Winter/Sp1ing 1988 l1 AReal Eye Opener NTID'sEye and Ear Clinic

by Vincent Dollard

tudents jam the hallway in various screening receive a complete ophthal­ Johnson soon became chairperson of postures of noisy repose. Their mologic test, conducted in TID's Eye a task force that researched students' boisterous greetings and lingering and Ear Clinic. Ors. Scott Searl and vision problems from 1976-79. S Richard Seeger, ophthalmologists with The group's mandate was to answer exjts produce a discordant ebb and flow. It is the first week of NTID's orientation Strong Memorial and St. Mary's Hospi­ questions and develop guidelines in for new students, and each participant is tals, respectively, conduct the tests and order to address the nature and inci­ receiving a visual screening exam. write any further prescriptions or dence of vision problems among TIO All entering NTID students are tested referrals. students. for visual and distance clarity and color The tests are conducted in August, to They chipped away at mountains of distinction. l o other postsecondary allow time for prescriptions or further information and determined that sup­ educational facility in the country con­ testing to be completed by the time port service was at the heart of deter­ ducts as thorough a program to detect classes begin in September. mining policy. vision problems among its student "Of primary importance," says John­ population. son, "were the demands that would be "We can't ignore the importance of made on existing support services over visual screening," says Dr. Donald John­ and above what was required for son, senior research associate in NTID's deafness. Department ofCommurucation Research "lf the secondary impairment was and director of TID's Eye and Ear mild enough that it didn't require Clinic. extraordinary services," he says, "then "It all begins with the Summer Ves­ TIO could handle the request." tibule Program (SVP)," says Johnson. In recent years, however, the advent of "We screen every student who comes to technological support services has in­ the Institute. With the help of about a creased the opportunities for students dozen assistants, we can see 50 students with vision problems. Large-print pro­ during a two-hour period. We run eight cessors enable students to read from rwo-hour blocks in order to process all text books simply by passing the printed 325 students." page under the processor. Also, by inter­ Johnson notes that of the 1987 SVP facing the processor to a personal com­ population, 51 percent had functional Scree11i11gfor thefuture ,\1icbael Cm1gelosi puter, information being typed into the vision problems. This is approximately recein>s c1 1 'is1wl screening e.tam as part of computer can appear on the screen in a , \TIU s orientation progmm for entering SIii· 50 percent higher than the national dents. Fij�1·-

12 X77D FOCUS• Wi11ter/Spri11g 1988 months Johnson schedules tests to note ing to talk, either in person or over the to discuss it with their teachers and any progression in those students diag­ telephone, with students or parents. learn how co explain to others what's nosed as having severevision difficulties. Asthe technical and educational sup­ needed." In addition to technological support, port that Johnson provides has devel­ She says that in some cases, a student Johnson advises students based upon oped, he has noticed another group that will refuseco accept the limitations that the type or severityof their vision prob­ needs information - RlT and NTID accompany a vision loss. And while Lago lem. The standard procedure involves faculty members. To address the needs advocates a strong sense of indepen­ one hour of ophthalmological exams of professors who encounter students dence and a solid work ethic as a means and whateverfollow upJohnson and the with vision deficiencies, NTID has im­ toward success, she also believes that ophthalmologist believe is necessary. plemented a vision liaison program with students must realize what they will be Follow up takes many forms, includ­ NTID's School of Business Careers and up against in the world beyond RIT. ing educating and advising students or RITs College of Business. Patricia Lago, "Sometimes it means having to say parents. This usually involves a slide NTID career developmentcounselor in some painful things;• says Lago. "But if show explaining the human eye struc­ Business Careers, is the first vision liai­ that's the only way to get a student to ture, followed by a description of the son for the year-old program. face reality, then it's my responsibility. various color or other vision defects as It's important to understand whether a well as the type and degree of loss. student is in a denial or acceptance "I discuss the different eye tests;' says stage of understanding his or her loss." Johnson. "We talk about why the stu­ Lago's second priority is working with dent makes errors, what the errors RIT faculty members to provide the mean, and the different classification support they need in working with visu­ systems of vision deficiencies." ally impaired students. Lago last year One student who has benefited from assembled a panel of NTID students the visual screening program is Edwin with vision problems and made a presen­ King, a first-year studentfrom New York tation to RIT faculty members. City. King, who has glaucoma, did well In addition to the knowledge gained on the visual screening tests. However, by those who attended, Lago says that he noted his condition on the "personal/ the students involved also benefited. family ocular historyform." "One student wasshy and never had Johnson points out that since King talked about his vision," she says. "He passed his screening tests, he would not didn't know what he was going to say, have known about the glaucoma with­ but he did a wonderfuljob. He gained a out the ocular history form. lot of self-confidence in one morning." King's condition had been diagnosed Lago's third goal is to help the RIT by his family's eye doctor who had pre­ community become more comfortable scribed medicine to keep the glaucoma in dealing with students who have spe­ fromgradually eroding King's peripheral look i11to my try-esDr. Do11ald]ob11so11 uses a cial needs. J)rojectio11 perimeterto administer 1,/stw/field vision. tests 011 st11de111s. 71.>e tests /.>elf)dete ct J)rogressit'f? Sally Hutteman, associate professor in Afterfurther testing at NTID,Johnson reli11al dege11eralion or otl.>ersuspected reti11al NTID's School of Business Careers, ap­ took King to Strong Memorial Hospital /Jroblems. preciates Lago's efforts. for"fundus photos;' or pictures of King's Hutteman points out that both Lago retina. Johnson will use these photos as and Johnson have taken the time to a baseline against which to measure any attend her classes and offer advice and changes in King's vision. When King Lago, who has Usher's Syndrome, a practical suggestions. And she notes graduates, he can take the pictures with gradually degenerative vision loss, says that the need for a vision specialist is him for use with another eye doctor. that her position as vision liaison is still real, since most faculty members are not In addition,Johnson has setup period­ evolving. Her current job description trained to deal with visually impaired ic checkups for each year that King involves direct service in the form of students. attends NTID. counseling for all visually impaired RIT "Whereverthere are visually impaired "Dr. Johnson has given me a lot of students and consulting with all RIT students," says Hutteman, "there should information;· says King. "I feel better counselors and faculty members in the also be a vision specialist. Patti is empa­ about my glaucoma after talking with College of Business. thetic, but she's also realistic. She wants him;' Lago's goals forher new role are built nothing more than what's needed for For students with color vision prob­ upon three basic premises: she encour­ the student to succeed." lems, Johnson provides information ages students to take responsibility for "Don and I make a good team;' Lago about which colors will present prob­ themselves; she provides support for says. "We both care deeply about these lems and which careers these deficien­ RIT faculty members; and she is intent students. However, there comes a time cies will adversely affect. Students also on creating an honest environment for when you haveto step back and let them receive a letter fromJohnson describing students with these special needs. make their own decisions." the tests and their results so that they Part of her responsibility is to identify can discuss this information with their with the students what their needs are ) families or potential employers. and to lead them to the point where Johnson, with the students' permis­ they take responsibility for themselves. sion, also sends parents a copy of each "I don't want students to say 'I have a piece of information and always is will- vision problem; " she notes. "They need

N71D FOCUS• Winter/Spring 1988 JJ students, faculty, and staff members in the TIO Theatre. "When you look at the past," she MASTERING advised, "give it a glance and wave goodbye. When you look at the future, greet it with hopes of good things to come. When you look at today, the day in which we live, look at it with excite­ ment and enthusiasm, as through the eyes of a child." Her life, before she was blinded, was normal. She had three children: Shawn, Marc, and Kristin. he wasmarried and worked as an insurance adjuster in Boca Raton, Florida. On a fateful night in 1980, Komlos drove home alone over a quiet stretch of by Jean Ingham Florida turnpike. A car had been following her, but she didn't think that was unusual. Then, as the car pulled next to her, she saw a blinding flash of light and felt a searing pain. She was blinded instantly. She haron Komlos is the type of person them, and move on with their lives. She realized that she had been shot, and who inspires enthusiasm in those is an excellent example of the adage, struggled to bring the car safely to the she meets. Facing an audience of 'Strength comes with adversity.'" shoulder of the road. S y deaf students, who daily confront a The reaction to Komlos, who was "I had to," she says with a wr smile. variety of communication challenges, blinded in 1980 by an attacker's bullet, "It was a new car and my first thought Komlos used her charm to convince was exactly what Cammeron predicted. was, 'My husband will kill me if I dent them that "Anything is possible." "t ow that I've met her, I can get the car.' " "Everyone has problems;' says Julie through the little things that l thought She sounded the horn to attract atten­ Cammeron, coordinator of the Special were big;' a student commented. tion. Within a few minutes, she says, a Speaker Series that brought Komlos to "She showed such strength, it made male voice said, "My God, who did this NTID in September. "I felt that when my problems seem small and easier to to you? I'll take you to the hospital." our students and faculty heard her st0ry, handle," added another. Thinking she had been rescued, they would be able to deal with life's Komlos shared her "live-for-the-day" Komlos gratefully accepted. To stay problems, put their problems behind philosophy with an overflow crowd of alert, Komlos says, she concentrated on sounds-the car's engine, passing vehi­ cles. When the man stopped the car and helped her out, she realized she was not at a hospital. Instead, the man had taken her to his apartment, where he raped and stabbed her. 1l1e next morning, Komlos heard her assailant moving around the apartment. Paralyzed with fear, she lay still and he, thinking she was dead, left. She heard an engine start-"the same engine l'd lis­ tened to the night before:· Whenthe car drove off, she struggled to her feet and began groping around the room until she found an unlocked door. She stepped outside and screamed for help. The first voice she heard was a man's. Instinctively, she withdrew, not know­ ing if he was her assailant. But afterask­ ing a few questions and listening to his voice, she allowed the man to take her to a hospital. Doct0rs and nurses were amazed that Komlos was still alive. For seven hours they struggledto close her stab wounds. A 11ision of hopeSbamn Komlos reacbes om to .vnos11tde111s after ber presentation. The bullet, however, had entered

14 N771) FOCUS• WintL>r/Spring 1<)88 cleanly through the corner of her left Another student asked if she consid­ eye and exited her right eye at about the ered herself a role model. She laughed. same point, leaving her permanently "Heavens no, I could never be that. blind. Just because I approached my disability The next day, the doctor revealed the in a particular way doesn't mean that prognosis. Instead of being depressed everyoneshould do the same thing. I'm and angry as the doctor expected, saying, 'You can if you try.' I just try to Komlos· reaction was "Okay, let's get on motivate:' with life." Students flocked to purchase Komlos' This attitude, and the fact that Komlos book, Feel the Laughter,after her presen­ has never given in to anger, fear, or tation, and crowded around her for defeatism, puzzles many people. autographs. "My life didn't stop just because I was In addition to her monumental speak­ shot;' she says. "I had things to do, deci­ ing schedule, Komlos spends much of sions to make about my family. That man her time helping other crime victims. took away eight hours of my life and my She is on the board of directors of Crime eyesight. I'll be darned if I'll give him a StOppers of Palm Beach (Florida) second more by harboring a lot of use­ County, Inc. and on the advisory board less emotions." of Crime Stoppers International. She A remarkable woman who looks also is a member of the Crime Preven­ younger than her 38 years, Komlos can Can't wait Many u·ho purclxised Komlos'book tion Officers of Palm Beach County and laugh at some aspects of her disability. f>ega11 readi11Ji immediately the International Association of Crime When she came home fromthe hospital, Prevention Practitioners. she recalls that her daughter, Kristin, In ApriJ 1985, President Ronald Rea­ then 3 years old, told her, 'Tm blind like gan honored Komlos for outstanding you, Mommy" Frustrated by the inability "even of service on behalf of crime victims. Later Komlos explained to Kristin she people experienced with handicaps" to that year, her former hometown of Gar­ wasn't blind because she could see. But understand her acceptance of her dis­ field Heights, Ohio, proclaimed July 8, the child insisted. Finally-to make her ability, Komlos continued to forge ahead "Sharon Komlos Day." point-Kristin pulled on her mother's on her own. She has appeared on ABC's 20/20 blonde hair. "We're both blind." "It was-and still is-difficult for with her family, which now includes her "At the tender age of 3, blind and people to accept that I felt no anger, no fiance Raymond D'Eusanio. blonde sounded the same," Komlos depression," she says. "For the man who Komlos feels that life has many differ­ laughs. assaulted me, who is now in prison, I ent avenues, each with twists and turns. Komlos, who believes that, "You can feelpit y. And that is a lower feeling than "It's the way you deal with it," she says. be anything you want to be if you try, anger-much more powerful. I have to ''You can't expect someone to hand you regardless of the obstacles you face;' is pity him because he can't sec life as answers on a silver platter. It doesn't living proof of her optimism. positive. happen that way. Your strength comes She cites several times when, if she 'Tm still free to experience life;· says from within, and you do have it. You just hadn't been determined, others would Komlos. "I get frustrated over little either haven't known how to find it or have categorized her as "handicapped." things, and I have no patience, but I haven't been challenged enough." The first time was when the doctor don't get depressed. There is too much The twist that Fate handed Komlos told her she would never see again. to feel:' eight years ago shifted the course of her Another was about six weeks after the There are times, however, when she life. She lost her job and got divorced, attack, when a representative of the feels isolated by her disability. but has found a new avocation in speak­ Association for the Blind came to her Many people, Komlos e,xplains, equate ing and writing. In her darkness, Komlos home and offered to teach her how to blindness with deafness-"lf you are says, there are still discoveries to be brush her teeth, take a shower, and fix blind, you can't hear. made-and she is ready to make them. her hair. "I imagine deaf persons experience "lf l hadn't taken a shower or brushed something similar-'If you can't hear, > my teeth in all that time," Komlos you can't think or talk,'" says Komlos. grimaces, "no one would have stayed in During a question and answer period the house with me'" following Komlos' presentation, a stu­ The Association was equally deter­ dent asked if it disturbed her to be so mined to teach Komlos to read braille, dependent on others. Her answer was although Komlos had-and still has­ affirmative,but she says she has learned no personal desire to do so. to live with it. "I have a talking clock, a talking calcu­ ''You see," she says, "I'm a realist. I lator, and the use of my daughter's talk­ look at my limitations, know what they ing computer," she argues. are, and work within them-or rise "I realize that many blind persons above them." prefer braille and that's fine. I use talking books and listen to radio stations that feature reading for the blind-news­ papers, magazines, even recipes."

NTIDFOCUS• Winter/Spn·ng 1988 15 anaging the Message by Lynne Bohlman

he scene is typical of college "I can't imagine not having interpret­ "I got tired of taking out paper and Designed by a committee made up of classrooms around the country­ ers around;' she adds. "They're really a pencil to communicate," she says. "The department members, the career ladder T with one major difference. helping hand fordeaf students." students were trying to communicate has three levels and three areas of The teacher paces in front of the Not only do interpreters help deaf with me and I wasn't even meeting them credential-educational degree, expe­ room, lecturing, rubbing his hands, and srudents understand what's happening halfway " rience, and certification. posing questions.The students, slouched in the classroom, Walsh says, they also Both women signed up for sign lan­ Certification of skills by a national in their chairs, take notes, listen atten­ help provide understanding in social guage courses, and with the encour­ board of the Registry of Interpreters for tively, or daydream about the upcoming interactions between deaf and hearing agement of their instructors and train­ the Deaf (RID), is required within two weekend. students. ing at NTID, developed the skills years of employment in DIS. In this classroom though, there is "Without interpreters," she says, necessary to become interpreters. Certification, those in the interpret­ another role player. An interpreter sits "there would probably be a line between Barrett, Freeman, and Randleman ing profession say, is a professional stan­ straight with no space between his back hearing and deaf srudents." came to DIS during different stages of dard as important to an interpreter as a and the black formica chair to the right A variety of interpreting needs exists the Department's development.DIS, like medical degree is to a doctor. In the of the pacing teacher, translating his on campus. DIS receives requests for the profession of interpreting, has grown same way that "You wouldn't go to a words into a signed language that two oral ( without voice), reverse ( voicing a great deal since it was established 20 doctor who didn't have 'M.D.' after his deaf students in the classroom of about for the deaf person), manual (sign lan­ years ago. name;' says Randleman, echoing her 35 can understand. guage only), and deaf-blind interpret­ When Barrett joined DIS in 1974, the colleagues, "those who use interpreters This interpreter is a member of ing, but most requests are for simul­ Department consisted mostly of stu­ want to know they are certified.'' NTID's Department of Interpreting Ser­ taneous interpreting ( sign language and dents and general staff, who were paid "The market population," Gillies adds, vices (DIS), which provided RJT in fis­ oral). hourly wages. Now, DIS is comprised "depends on certification to determine cal year 1987 with nearly 60,000 hours Although DIS schedules are heavily primarily of a full-timeprofessional staff whether or not an interpreter is skilled." of service. The department, comprised academic, interpreters also can be found that is salaried. Also, the minimum re­ Like DIS, the interpreting profession of 58 full-time and eight part-time inter­ at student organization meetings, Insti­ quired skill level expected of staffmem­ itself is young and is experiencing some preters, is the largest single employer of tute-wide presentations and lectures, bers is much higher now. growing pains, one of them centering interpreters in the country; and yet, it is athletic events, on-campus job inter­ Barrett remembers with chagrin one on the issue of certification. not enough. views, religious services, registration, of his first interpreting assignments. The professional interpreting organi­ DIS cannot meet the interpreting on field trips, and in studios and Thecommunication link RobertBarrett (left) "I was interpreting a biology movie," zation, RID, was established in 1964 to T demands at RI. In Rochester and laboratories. prcting in other areas to sample the intc>tpret-Sa "Science and TechnologyPolicy" he recalls. "My skills were really bad at make available throughout the country a throughout the country, the demand for "Education is the number one prior­ variety that exists on campus. course for Edward BoyerI fl, across-regis tered that time. During the film, I saw one resource of interpreters, set a standard student in RIT's College of Business. qualified interpreters outstrips the sup­ ity here," notes Interpreter Robert Bar­ "Before the core teams were estab­ hearing-impaired student signto another of ethics, and developand evaluate certi­ ply. So sometimes, evenat RIT, classes in rett. "So most interpreters' energies are lished, interpreters were jacks-of-all­ 'Lousy interpreter.' At first, I was sur­ fication criteria. which deaf students are enrolled pro­ directed toward a classroom before a trades and masters of none;' says Bar­ year, he decided to stay on as a general prised I understood her, and then I was One of the clearest challenges the ceed without an interpreter. residence hall floor meeting." rett, who has been a DIS staff member staff interpreter, partly because he had disappointed that I had." fieldnow faces,says Gillies, is to revamp When the interpreter is absent and a To cover the campus, interpreters are since 1974, longer than anyone else. lost interest in his Printing program. Today, Barrett, because of his senior­ certification standards to better reflect replacement cannot be found, Edward divided into five teams, each headed by a The people who make up DIS today Interpreters Colleen Freeman and ity, skills,and professional development, what truly is expected of interpreters. Boyer III, a cross-registered student in manager: business and computer are a bright, creative, and individual Valarie Randleman both became inter­ is a highly respected "veteran." This process currently is underway RlTs College of Business, leaves the science; campus life; fine and applied group. "The department," Barrett says, ested in sign language while workingin All staffmembers are encouraged to Another challenge interpreters con­ classroom. arts and graphic arts and photography; "is as diverse in personalities as it is in other areas at the Institute. improve their skills and technique, tinually have faced_ during the past 20 "I feel like I'm left out;' he says. "If I liberal arts and social work; and science assignments." Secretary in NTID's Department of further their education, and participate years is the struggle to be viewed as stayed I wouldn't understand what was and engineering. And it is likely that these personalities Professional Development seven years in other professional development professionals. being communicated. I'd become bored The IO to 15 staff members on each chose interpreting for as many as 66 ago, Freeman became interested in deaf­ activities. "We've come froma place where we and restless." team spend at least half their interpret­ different reasons, including a desire to ness and the language deaf students and A career ladder recently was devel­ were considered simply signers and Despite the occasional frustrations, ing time-25 hours per week-within be of service,a concernfor deafness, an faculty members used. oped to give interpreters room for helpers to a place where we are viewed says Michael Rizzolo, a DIS manager, "It their area. The rest of the interpreting interest in performing arts, and a fasci­ "It really intrigued me that these peo­ growth within the department. as professionals," says Randleman, add­ would be a whole other ball game on time is spent gaining experience in nation with sign language. ple had spent their entire lives trying to "It's difficult for a practitioner to ing that, in some cases, there still is work this campus without the interpreters. other areas. After completing his freshman year at learn my language, to communicate remain a practitioner, to move up, or to to be done. We cover 95 percent of the needs. DIS divided into teams, says Rizzolo, RIT, Barrett needed a summer job. with me," she says. "I thought I could at earn more money without going into "We know we are professionals, but it Interpreting Services is a vital part of to help interpreters become more effec­ "I knew I had to help support myself," least make an effort to communicate interpreting training or administration," is important for others to recognize us NTID." tive and develop an area of expertise. he says, "and I didn't want to wash with them in their language." says Katharine Gillies, formerDIS chair­ as such. If someone does not view us as "Without interpreters," says Mary Over time, team members gain a knowl­ dishes." In 1981, Randleman was working as a person and now a part-time interpreter. professionals, then we need to be re­ Walsh, a third-year Accounting student edge of technical terms used in a partic­ He signed up in the summer of 1974 part -time security officerat RIT,in addi­ "We developed the career ladder be­ sponsible foreducating that person." at NTID, "the classroom would be dead ular area. They also spend time inter- for NTID's then IO-week Basic Inter­ tion to her full-time job in a local insur­ cause we wanted to encourage inter­ While these challenges face the pro­ for me. preter Tr aining Program. Afterhis junior ance company's office. preters to stay at NTID as practitioners." fession as a whole, individual interpret-

16 NT7D FOCUS• Winter/Spring 1988 N77D FOOJS • Winter/Spring 1988 17

L he best moments are when the communication is happening so well that they almost don't know you're there."

Emotions also become a part of the "It's hard to define what the right atti­ communication process. Rizzolo recalls tude is," she adds, "but it's easy to pick crying along with a girl who called out who has it and who doesn't." home to tell her mother she was preg­ Interpreting, Rizzolo notes, is a de­ nant, and sharing in the delight of a stu­ manding field, both physically and men­ dent who told his parents he had earned tally. Interpreters take in information at a 4.0 grade point average. Freeman the same time they are interpreting remembers having to interpret from a what was communicated only seconds hearing person to a deaf individual the earlier. message:"I don't have time to watch you "The brain is working constantly;' he wave your hands around and wait for the says. "There are no mental breaks; you're interpreter to figure out what you're continually processing information." saying." Because of the heavy demands, inter­ Whatever the subtleties or emotions preters can sometimes suffer fromburn­ of a communication situation, Rizzolo out. A few years ago, Barrett was inter­ says, it is the interpreter's responsibility preting in an area that held no interest to convey the message as a facilitator, not for him and his skills were not improv­ a participant. ing. He considered leaving the field, but "The best moments;' he says, "are instead changed teams and became re­ when the communication is happening juvenated. Today, in addition to his DIS so well that they almost don't know responsibilities, Barrett is president of you're there." the local RlD organization, the Genesee In the early days of the profession, Valarie Randleman Gillies says, interpreters were consid­ ered helpers of deaf people. The field then went to the other extreme, and ers encounter challenges every time interpreters were seen as machines, they provide their service. mechanically dispensing communica­ Responsible for ensuring that all par­ tion. To day, Gillies adds, interpreters arc ties have equal access to communica­ trying to discover a comfortable middle tion, the interpreter must convey the ground. mood and intent of the message as well "There's a fine line," she says, asthe information. "between effectively getting the mes­ "The interpreter has to convey the sage across and becoming an equal message physically, mentally, and lin­ participant." guistically;' Rizzolo says. Good interpreters, though, don't Interpreting for a religion course one usually cross that line, she adds. Most fall afternoon, Barrett interpreted an are aware of the ethics of the situation as average of about 150 words per minute. well as the differentcultures involved in Not only did he interpret a class discus­ communication between hearing and sion about what it would take to prove hearing-impaired persons. that God existed, he also interpreted the Most important, however, good inter­ nuances of communication. Barrett in­ preters have a strong command of En­ dicated a question with raised eyebrows glish and sign language. and hands held out to his side, a state­ "If they don't have good skills," Gillies ment with a nod of his head, humor with says, "they have nothing to build on. The a smile or chuckle, sarcasm with a shrug attitude of an interpreter is also impor­ of his shoulders, emphasis by leaning tant. Deaf consumers often tell us that Michael Ri=olo forward and with exaggerated move­ attitude is more important than lan­ ments, and disbelief with wide eyes. guage skills.

18 N11D R>OJS • Winter/Spring 1988 \'alley Region Registry of Interpreters Fo,- interpreters. "all tbe the Deaf. 11'0rl1/'s" stage"1>01111/d for fr1Rock COl/l'E')'S 11ctn•ss Other interpreters hattlc burnout by \11sa111/ou•ards 11wssc1ge to concentrating on professional develop­ m1 .V171) u11die11ce during ment or other interests. Freeman, like ber /')86 1frit some 50 of her DIS colleagues, also interprets on a freelance hasis for the lnt<.:rpr<.:tcr Referral Service (IRS), a community-based service that is part of the Rochester Center for Ind<.:pend<.:nt Living. Last year, 160 "contract" interpreters through the IRS provided people in th<.:

As part of her service outside the Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager, who flew Institute, she has for the past three years around the world nonstop last spring in interpreted gospel music performed a craft called Voyager, when he inter­ during her church choir's fall concert. preted for them during their presenta­ "A lot of people in the black commu­ tion at the University of Rochester. nity," she says, "have no <.:xposure to "It was a real thrill to he on stage with deafness. Their experiences with deaf­ them;' he says. ness are limited, so I do some consumer "Interpreting," says Randleman, "is education. I tell them how to get in­ the only job I've ever had that I wanted volved in interpreting, where to find to make into a career-in terms of the services in the community, and where satisfaction I get from it ;md the growth they can take sign Ian1,>uage courses if and development I sec in myself. they're interested. I let the children "I'll stay in interpreting," she adds, know that interpreting is a career "until I no longer feel challenged, and I option." don't sec that happening in the near ln addition tO burnout, physical dis­ future." Colleen Freeman abilitics also can be an occupational hazard. Carpal tunnel syndrome, inflam­ > Roch<.::.tcr community with .30,000 mation of the carpal tunnel nerve in the hours of service. The IRS, established by wrist, is most common to people in a New York State agency in 1981, is the fields where frequent use of the hands only local organization designed "to and arms is required. Secretaries, provide interpreting services for people bakers, and interpreters, for example, who want to communicate but don't arc most susccptihle to the disability. know how," says Rod 'fnomson, former While physical ailments such as carpal IRS coordinator and past DIS staff tunnel s-yndromc, which is treated by member. rest or surgery, certainly are a concern "We decided to go with a simple for those affected,they are not currently mandate," he adds, "and do the best we a widespread problem at RIT could with that." DlS has tried to minimize the poten­ In addition to serving people in the tial for physical ailments, Rizzolo says, Rochester community, IRS also benefits by instituting a 25-hour interpreting DIS interpreters who contract there in week, a required rest period between ways other than a source of extra assignments, and a limit ofrwo consecu­ income. tive interpreting hours. "Interpreting local theater produc­ Despite the potential hazards, inter­ tions for IRS," Freeman says, ··offers me preters find satisfaction in their jobs for th<.: opportunity to further develop my a variety of reasons. skills, challenges me to convey con­ Many enjoy the diversity. cepts, and helps balance the acad<.:mic "Every 10 weeks, my schedule int<.:rprcting I do:· changes;' Freeman says. In addition to interpreting a few hours Interpreters also arc exposed to a va­ a week for IRS, Randleman also does riety of interesting people, both within Rod Tbomson some "consumer education." and outside the profession. Barrett met

NT7D FOCUS• \Vinter/Spring 1988 19 A Yearin

"On the seventhday you shallcease from labor" ( Exodus 34:21)After a b<.'c:tic work by Ann Kanter lH>e.k, l)imUl Pryntz relaxesin the buoyant u·aters of the Dead Sea.

kibbutz wedding is nothing like wrote a proposal for researching the use The threesome was met at Tel Aviv's the traditional Jewish ceremony, of computers in educ.,ition. Thisincluded Ben Gurion Airport by Pryntz's cousins, A according to Diana Pryntz, assis­ a nationwide computer survey of who live in Kfar Saba, about one hour tant professor in NTID's Business/ teachers' attitudes toward computer from Tel Aviv. They stayed with the fam­ Computer ScienceSupport Department, education as well as of resources avail­ ily long enough to find their way around who recently returned from a year's able at Israeli schools with programs for and rent a nearby apartment. study and research in Israel. deaf students. Once settled into what would be "All 200 kibbutz residents, children On July 28, 1986, Pryntz, along with their home for the next year, Pryntz included, were invited to the ceremony her husband, Brian Nadworny, and began work with the Ministry of Educa­ as well as to the reception," she says. Peewee, the 55-pound mixed hreed tion. At Tel Aviv University, she made "Most of the children lined up in two dog who serves as her "hearing ear," presentations to students in the Hearing­ rows to create an aisle for the bride and boarded an El-Al plane at Kennedy Inter­ Impairment Education Program, helped groom, while others carried the bridal national Airport for the IO-hour flight to set up a speech training software pack­ veil. The children also performed a Tel Aviv. age, and discussed value clarification dance and honored the bride and groom Nadworny had left his position as and other deaf education issues. with handmade gifts. Adult members computer consultant with Eastman She made similar presentations to put on a Ibis is Tour Life-type show, Kodak Company in Rochester and ar­ groups such as Shema, an organization recalling highlights of the couple's ranged to work as a consultant with an that works with preschool deaf children courtship." Israeli firm. and their parents. She also worked with Pryntz's attendance at the wedding was a fringe benefit of her trip to Israel-the culmination of a dream she's nurtured since 1978. At that time, as a candidate for a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from RITs College of Applied Science and Technology, she was encouraged by Associate Professor of Data Processing Paul Taylor, then chairperson of NTID's Computer Science/Engineering Support Team, to apply for a Rotary Club scholarship that would have earned her a year's study in Israel. Although she did not win the scholar­ ship, a seed was planted in her mind, a seed that finally reached fruition eight years later. Thus, in 1986, at the age of 29, her dream came true. Even afterthe passage of so much time, however, the dream was realized only after thorough investigation and planning. To prepare for the work she would do, Pryntz conducted an extended cor­ respondence with Israeli educators of Atjourney's end Pryntz in Jx,,-officcat NT1D. deaf students. Based on her findings, she

20 NilD !UaJS • Winter/Spring 1988 individual educators of deaf people, and also are advised on how to communi­ and the beach resort of Eilat. They also through contacts with two deaf social cate with and raise their deaf youngsters. visited sites in Beersheva, Haifa,Jaffa, Tel clubs, she questioned deaf individuals Deaf Israelis, whether children or Aviv, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea, the themselves. adults, were not familiar with hearing­ lowest point on earth. In addition, she servedas a consultant car dogs before the arrival of Pryntz and Once, when she heard that there was on support services such as interpret­ PeeWee. There was great interest, there­ a large, modern supermarket on the ing, rutoring, and notetaking-services fore, when Pryntz demonstrated Pee­ outskirts of Tel Aviv, Pryntz decided to for which NTID is known and which are Wee's skills to members of a deaf club investigate, in hopes of finding a larger nonexistent in Israel. and to participants at a conferenceon a selection of food than was available One result of Pryntz's study showed variety of guide animals. She also gave locally. After a half hour's drive, she was that deaf Israelis are interested in com­ lessons in training a hearing-ear dog to disappointed to discover row upon row puter literacy. But although Israeli edu­ individual members of the deaf of identical merchandise. cators have computers, only recently community. 'Illus, despite the thrill of exploring have they developed programs for using Israel's culture and castles, Pryntz was them to teach deaf students. glad to return to the comforts of home Based on her research and data col­ in Rochester. Born in Chicago, she grew lection, Pryntz will write a report to the up in the Bronx, New York, and moved Israeli Ministry of Education and to Tel to Rochester when she enrolled at RIT Aviv University, where it may be used as a in 1975. In 1979, she received her guide to update computer education of bachelor's degree in Computer Science, deaf students. and in 1983, received her master of sci­ Because Israel is a young nation, every­ ence degree in Instructional Technol­ thing in the field of education for deaf ogy from RIT students is a continuing experiment, She met Nadworny in 1981 in an and many of the techniques are bor­ Israeli folk dance group at Rochester's rowed from the United States and Jewish Community Center. Pryntz England. thought "Brian looked nice," and Of Israel's day schools for deaf pupils, approached him. Pryntz says, "Some use total communi­ The irony of the situation was that but cation, while others provide oral envi­ a few minutes before, out of curiosity, ronments. Many are up-to-date in their Nadworny had asked a woman to whom knowledge of teaching theories, but he was talking, who happened to be they're not involved in deaf culture, as studying sign language, to teach him to we are in this country. Because of that, spell his name. Thus, when Pryntz they're less understanding of the signifi­ approached, he introduced himself by cant role that communication and deaf signing, "My name is Brian." culture play in education. Immersedin history Prylllzj)Oses n earJ en,sc,­ "I was so happy," recalls Pryntz. "I "Education for young deaf Israeli /em s Waili11g \Vall, helieredto be a rem11a11tof thought he was deaf. I began to sign at children, such as it is, is improving," says '0/0111011 :STemple a11d re1Je1-edl1_)•jet1•s tlS c, place my normal speed until I realized that he Pryntz. "But there's no university for ofpil grimage, lame11tatio11. a11d prayer. didn't understand:' deaf students-not evena high school­ Subsequently, she taught him sign so the youngsters are all mainstreamed, language, and three years later, on a and there are no tutors or notetakers. She showed how she trained Pee Wee beautifulJuly day, they were married in a Consequently, except for the exception­ to alert her to many sounds, such as a Rochester park by a rabbi who con­ ally bright ones who would succeed ringing doorbell and telephone, alarm ducted the ceremony in a combination anywhere, few deaf students continue clock, and microwave oven. She de­ of Hebrew and English sign language their education beyond grade school." scribed training him to attend to his and voice. Pryntz thinks much of this will change. personal needs on command, thus en­ Since their return from Israel, Nad­ "The younger teachers of deaf chil­ abling hin1 to remain with her in the worny has been working on the thesis dren have higher expectations than their plane's cabin during the long flight from for his master's program in Computer predecessors;· she says, "so they will Rochester to Israel. Science, while also performing the role accomplish more. In the past, teachers The novelty of a hearing-car dog at­ of househusband. He and Pryntz enjoy thought that deaf students had no tracted so much attention, in fact, that sharing care for Avi, their son born in chance at success, and often, that be­ Pryntz was featured in Mariv, a leading December. came a self-fulfillingprophecy." Israeli newspaper. As Pryntz looks back on her trip to One area in which Israel seems to be In her free time, Pryntz and her hus­ Israel, she is happy in the belief that "I ahead of the United States is the early band toured the historic countryside, serve as living proof that a profoundly diagnosis of children with disabilities. visiting various sites near the Kinneret deaf person can succeed in the world of Israeli children with hearing impair­ ( Sea of Galilee); Belvoir, a 12th-century hearing professionals." ments usually are diagnosed by the end crusader's castle; archeological ruins of of their first year. the Roman theater of Beth She'an, re­ > Thus, the education of deaf Israeli puted to be one of the larger cities of the children, whether they are trained orally Roman Empire in 200 A.O.; the sixth­ or in sign language, begins early. Parents century Beth Alpha Synagogue, known for its beautifully preservedmosaic floor;

N'flD FOCUS• Winter/Spring 1988 21 *All*

IIERICINby Lynne Bohlman

ladimir "Wally" Harmasch may have a Russian name and heritage, but his job philos­ Wophy bears a close resemblance to the good ol' American work ethic. Hard-working, conscientious, and eager to please, Harmasch is a senior laboratory technician in the Polyure­ thane Division of Mobay Corporation, a Bayer U.SA., Inc. company that manu­ facturespolyurethane chemical, animal health, and plastic and rubber products, as weU as dyes and pigments, agricultur­ al chemicals, fibers, coatings, and resins. One of 1,300 employees at Mobay's corporate headquarters outside Pitts­ burgh, Pennsylvania, Harmasch's job in­ volves testing the physical properties­ stre ngth, compressive deflection, dimensional stability, and thermal con­ ductivity-of rigid and flexible foams used for insulation and in automobiles, respectively. In a laboratory filled with machines Family ties 7be1/annasdJ family: Wladimir; Carla, and daughters, Vicky and Amy that squeeze and stretch the polyure­ thane products, ovens that bake the samples, and cold boxes that age them Technology program. He is remembered technical writing, and obtain a co-op at sub-zero temperatures, Harmasch fondly by members of the Science/ position at Eastman Kodak Company. enjoys the routine of his job-cutting, Engineering Support staff because his As a laboratory technician at Kodak in measuring, calculating, and analyzing. success helped pave the way for other 1973, Harmasch tested film for "Wally's a good technician," says his deaf students. cleanliness. supervisor, William Bartels. "He does a The Chemical Technology program, "I was able to improve my skills and whale of a job." which since has been discontinued, was gain experience;· Harmasch recalls. "I Getting and doing a good job have good for deaf students, says Gail Binder, was impressed to see how well my NTID always been important to Harmasch, associate professor in the Science/ training had prepared me." which is why he came to NTID. Engineering Support Department, be­ It was at Kodak that Hannasch proved Aftergraduating in 1969 fromthe Illi­ cause it was a "hands-on course of study to himself he could make it in the work­ nois Schoolfor the Deaf in Jacksonville, that gave students a highly specialized ing world. Until then, he hadn't been which he attended from kindergarten skill. sure. through 12th grade, Harmasch spent 18 "Many NTID students who partici­ Although Kodak offered him a full­ months at Gallaudet University in Wash­ pated in the program went on to suc­ time position, Harmasch declined so ington, D.C. cessful careers," Binder says. "Wally was that he could find work in Pittsburgh­ In 1971, however, he switched to the first of many." his wife's hometown. In addition to the NTID at RIT. "I wanted to learn the skills Binder, along with other support staff associate degree he earned in 1975, that would give me the best job," he says. members, helped Harmasch, who relies Harmasch also left NTID with the Hannasch became a pioneer at NTID on sign language, receive support ser­ woman he would marry. as the first deaf student to graduate from vices, get through language-based theo­ Even before coming to the Institute, the College of Science's Chemical retical courses such as physics and 1-larmasch had his eyes on Carla Chris-

22 N17DFOOJS • Winter/Spring 1988 !I------topher, a 1973 Visual Communication/ They dated throughout Harmasch's "Who knows?" Harmasch ponders. Art graduate. When he wasconsidering four years at NTID and were married "Gorbachev says he's going to open transferring, a high school friend who after he graduated. They now have two things up. Maybe we'll visit there soon." also attended NTID showed him an daughters: Vicky, 9, and Amy, 5. Both Harmasch's parents came to the NTID Student/Faculty/Staff directory. girls are hearing. United States after World War II. They Harrnaschpointed out Christopher's pic­ "I realize I have a difficult time com­ met in Austria, where the Nazis had ture and asked who she was. His friend municating with my children;' Harmasch resettled them fromRussia. Hannasch's assured him she was "a nice girl." When says, adding, "I'm glad they're hearing. Ukrainian father survived the Great Ha.rmasch arrived at NTID, his friend They'll have a lot of goodopportunities , Famine controlled by the Red Army introduced the two. more so perhaps than do deaf people." which had, when he was a young boy, taken over the family farm and later sent him to work in Siberia. Harmasch was born in Austria and came with his parents to this country about a year later. It's unclear whether he was born deaf or became deaf later. His mother has told him that shortly aftercoming to the United States, he was attacked by a dog, fell and hit his head, and was deafened as a result. "I don't know," Harmasch says doubt­ fully. "I think I was born deaf." Growing up in Peoria, Illinois, in a household where Ukrainian and Rus­ sian, but not English or sign language, were used, often was lonely and frustrating. Harmasch remembers being taught how to pronounce words in speech class. "My teacher said I was pronouncing the words properly, but when I went home and asked for 'water,' " Harmasch says, "my parents didn't know what I wanted. Until then, I didn't realize they were speaking a different language." Although he does not use spoken lan­ guage, communication with his co­ workers is no problem, says Harmasch. He taught them fingerspelling, "and;' he The children understand that their quips, "I didn't charge them anything." parents are deaf, he says. Amy tells hear­ A Mobay employee since 1976, Har­ ing people who attempt to talk to her masch has worked in the physical test­ father, "He can't hear you." Sometimes ing department for seven years and has though, the girls, especially Vicky, seem received three promotions. As a senior a little uncomfortable about that. laboratory technician, he now holds one At a recent open house at school, her of the higher-rated technician positions. father says, "Vicky was a bit shy about Harmasch credits his success in the interpreting [between her parents and workplace to his college experience. teacher]. I could tell by her face-but "I needed that education;' he says. later she loosened up." "Without my NTID background, I don't One of the Harmasch family's favorite think I'd have the job I have now." activities is traveling. Harmasch has videotapes and pictures of the family at > Disney World; Washington, O.C.; and Hershey, Pennsylvania. A place Harmasch would like to visit, but hasn't yet, is the Soviet Union. His Charting success 7bp, /lannascb looks overa parents are Russian, and he has relatives J>rinto11tof test res11lts:

N11D FOCUS• Winter/Spring 198823 ed Memories by Vincent Dollard

Memories a11d dreams Lou A1111 Walke,; authorof A Lossfor Words, delir-ers the keynote addressat the second annual Children of Deaf Adults Conference held at N71D. ou Ann Walker insists that the "My heart froze. "It's complicated," she says. "It's about heroine's mantle she wears doesn't In the dim light of street/amps, I family, how families have to look at each quite fit. Author of the critically signed to her what I'd overheard. 'Mom, other as individuals." L he said he lovesyou.' A Loss for Words 1 acclaimed memoir A Loss for Words: took 2 h years of The Story of Deafness in a Family, In the country, leaving the lamps actual writing. In her prologue, Walker Walker has touched the lives of thou­ behind,it was too darkto see any more recalls typing the same pages over and sands of hearing children of deaf adults. hand signs. Mom turnedback around, over again. In addition, her book has opened a new clasping her hands in her lap. She sat It was as if, in the writing, the words world to hearing people who have little with her head bent, contemplating had to come through myfingers for me or no exposure to deafness. something in those hands.I turnedmy to understandthem, just as the mean­ Walker, however,is quick to point out face to the window, hopingshe wouldn't ing had to come throughmy fingersin that her book is a personal family turn around again and catch the signing. memoir, not meant to speak for all hear­ glimmer of tears wellingup in my eyes. During her research, which was ing children of deaf adults. So much had been lost." funded by a Rockefeller Foundation "My book," she says, "is a carefully That moment had a lasting impact on Humanities Grant awarded in 1983, distilled memoir which combines vi­ Walker and servedto represent much of Walker dug up notes she had written to gnettes with interview and research what she had learned about deafness herself as a teenager. She says she'd techniques that I have learned as a and about her parents. always dreamed of being a writer, journalist." It also illustrates Walker's sensibilities though as a youngster, she told her Walker, 34, was the keynote speaker as a writer and journalist. She is true to friends that she wanted to be a teacher. at the second annual Children of Deaf her craft, her story,and her family. She is "In a small town;· she says, "there are Adults (CODA) Conference, held able to describe a moment or an event some professions you just don't tell your August 21-23, at NTIO. During the con­ and impart to it a deeper meaning with a friends about." ference, she spoke of her experiences style that recalls E.B. White-without Walker says that when she showed growing up with deaf parents and how verbiage, yet warm and gentle in tone. the first draft to her parents, their main her life has changed since the publica­ Her intention was not simply to tell concern was forthe feelings of others in tion of her book Last year. her family's story,but to provide insight the family. While at first, they were "Being a hearing child of deaf parents into deaf culture, the delicate balance reluctant to have their private Lives is a delicate position;' she says. "I feel it between deafness and the hearing world, become, literally, an open book, her keenly now. I wrote about both the pain­ and the wealth of love and support she parents consented, saying that it might ful and positive things that happened in received from her family. do some good for others. our family." "I've seen plenty of families where "I had no intention of pointing a fin­ Walker notes that the catalyst for her there was more communication and ger," she says. "I simply and gently book was a brief moment one Christ­ less love," she says. wanted to show how things are." mas, which she now refers to as the "If writing is communicating, then In spite of the pains Walker takes to "Christmas of Missed Connections." that's why I wrote this book. This was a emphasize that her story is about her Her grandfather, a tight-lipped man cathartic experience forme." family, she oftenhears comments from who had never learned sign language, Walker notes that digging up old other hearing children of deaf adults took her mother aside during a family stories and events-often funny, some­ about how true to life her book is. gathering and told her, as clearly as he times painful-was a difficult process. "It's amazing how many shared char­ could, that he loved her, that he always However, while carefully juxtaposing acteristics exist among hearing children had, and that he was very proud of her. memories and events, she was able to of deaf adults," says Walker. "I think On the ride home that night, her mother come to terms with her childhood and much of it comes from the logistics of turned around and asked, "What was with many of the memories she wrote sign language. In the book, I looked at Grandpa saying in the kitchen?" about. sign language and its affect on my life­ Walker's words state simply and its poetry and how it made me feel." directly the impact of the question. L 24 N7TDFOG.JS• Winter/Spring 1988 A note of encouragement Walker signs copies of her acclaimed memoir, uriting a note to each person. "There are portions of her book that all of us can relate to, .. saysone conference partidpant. "fh>rbook 111as a altalyst that helped uscome toxetlx>r."

Walker, like many hearing children of says Stangarone. "The feedback that we have reduced the hearing child's re­ deaf adults, is a certified interpreter and, received was positive. For many,this was sponsibility to facilitatecommunication. before the success of A Loss for Words, the first time they were able to socialize However, there always will be interpret­ supplemented her writing income with with other CODA-;." ing situations, and ocher kids will make interpreting jobs. Aside from the opportunity to share fun of deaf parents; people will continue She feels that hearing children of deaf experiences, Stangarone says that this to stare." adults have much to offerboth the hear­ conference provided the spark for the O'Brien says that Walker's book put ing and deaf worlds. As a bridge between establishment of smaller, statewide "in black and white what many of us feel. two cultures, they possess an intimate CODA groups. He points out that the There are portions of her book that a.11of knowledge of deafnessthat can be used organization itself is struggling for iden­ us can relate to." by educators, social workers, and deaf tity and direction. She notes that A Loss for Wordsalso people themselves. "CODAs want to take stock of what sparked interest frompsychologists and This philosophy is part of the reason they've experienced and find common psychiatrists regarding the emotional that COOA exists. Millie Brother, a hear­ ground," he says. "Then we can deter­ impact of deafness and of living in two ing child of deaf parents, formed the mine our direction." cultures. organization in her home state of Cali­ Possible directions include providing "There's been little research in that fornia primarily as a way for hearing scholarships for young CODAs, becom­ area;' O'Brien says. "It's just now begin­ children of deaf adults co socialize and ing an information resource for deaf ning to come into focus." share their experiences. education, and conducting demographic Such research will serveco help future The first national conference took research on the CODA organization generations of hearing children of deaf place in Fremont, California, in 1986. itself to survey ages, incomes, and adults in much the same way that lne 1987 conference at TID attracted professions. Walker's memoir has helped this approximately 75 people from 19 states, Elizabeth O'Brien, a fellow associate generation. Canada, and Belgium. professor of English and CODA, says that "Lou Ann's book created a turning James Stangarone, associate professor since deaf adults now enjoy greater par­ point for CODAs;' says O'Brien. "It was of English in TIO's Technical and ticipation in society than they did 20 the catalyst that helped us come together Integrative Communication Studies De­ years ago, their hearing children are not and begin to deal with significant issues partment and himself a hearing child of relied upon as heavily. in our lives." deaf parents, notes that this conference "Deaf parents today are much less was different in structure and content. dependent on their hearing children," ) "TI1is meeting was smaller and con­ she says. "Resources such as closed cap­ sisted of many small group discussions;' tioning and professional interpreters

N11D FOCUS• Winter/Spring 1988 25 Mitch Bilker: ONE OF A PAIR by Ann Kanter itcheU "Mitch" and Lawrence In the short time that he has been at "Larry"Bilker speak warmly of RIT,Bilker already has been elected vice M their close relationship as twin president of programming for the Hillel brothers, but after attending the same Society and floor representative for the junior and senior high schools, they Ellingson Tower A Residence Hall. He swore they'd attend separate colleges. also has signed up to participate in Stu­ They do, but little did the 19-year-old dents Against Drunk Driving and intra­ brothers from Marple-Newtown, Penn­ mural bowling. sylvania, guess at the time that they He tried out for the RIT Bowling would both end up in Rochester, New Team and didn't make it, but judging by York, at colleges barely 10 minutes past performance, he probably will do apart. Larry is a student at the University so before long. of Rochester ( U of R) and Mitch at RIT The first time he ran for high school Larry, an engineering major, made his class treasurer, he didn't win either, but choice first; and Mitch, who is hearing that didn't signal defeat forBilker. impaired, had been seriously consider­ "Persistence is Mitch's most outstand­ ing two eastern Pennsylvania area col­ ing quality;' says John Nagle, Bilker's leges when he first learned about the high school guidance counselor. In support services availableat RIT through Bilker's own words, "It's better to try NTID. Quickly switching gears, he and and fail, thannot to try at all. What have his father came to the campus on Vete­ you got to lose:-" rans Day 1986, to sit in on classes and Much ofBilker's attitude may be attrib­ see what life at NTID was like. uted to the emotional climate in which "The college impressed us," says At home away from home Proudly sportinghis he and his brother and their 16-year-old Michael Bilker, the twins' father, who R17jackel,Milch Bilkerposes outside the College sister, Lori, grew up. It provided a sup­ estimates that "NTID probably has the Union. portive, nourishing environment for the best program in the country for a stu­ three children of Jacqueline and Michael dent with a hearing impairment." He Bilker, a junior high school math teacher speaks enthusiastically about "the atti­ and accountant, respectively. tude of the administrators and faculty "We always treated Mitch just like his and staffmembers, all of whom demon­ Bilker, a first-year student in RITs Col­ brother and sister," says his father, strated their interest in helping students lege of Business, is specializing in Busi­ adding that the one time he might have reach their maximum potential." ness Administration, with a concentra­ been extra protective was when Mitch Jacqueline Bilker says she was further tion in Accounting. He is delighted with was playing Little League baseball. impressed by her son's description of the interpreters, tutors, and notetakers The brothers started out playing at feeling at ease in his classes. that are available to him through NTID. the lowest level; Bilker senior was a "That's important to us;' she says. A notable achiever in high school, coach and later became a manager. In "Mitch feels he belongs, his roommates Bilker was in the top quintile of his class, the beginning, Mitch and Larry both are great, he's found a home away from was elected to the National Honor were players on the team. home. He's fortunate to be at NTID with Society, and was chosen Newtown When it was time to move up to the all its wonderfulfacilities and people to Square Rotary Club Student of the middle level,the boys' fatherdidn't want help him succeed. That makes us feel Month. He also was senior class trea­ Mitch to continue as a regular, because happy and confident." surer; senior editor of Wbat'.5 Happen­ he's blind in one eye. Since he's a right­ Bilker is delighted at the opportunity ing, a newsletter for hearing-impaired handed batter, and his left eye is bad, he to learnsign language and to practice it students; and a member of the student would have had to look directly at the with his two roommates, one of whom council, as well as of various academic, pitcher. grew up in a strictly manual tradition. athletic, and special interest clubs. "He tried batting left-handed," says Although Bilker was raised in an oral In May 1987, he received an award Michael Bilker, "and it didn't work out. environment, his mother is happy with from the Alexander Graham Bell Asso­ So instead of playing, he helped out the experience he's getting. ciation for the Deaf for outstanding coaching first base. He understood." "Learning sign language is like learn­ achievement in work in a hearing­ Although many hearing parents find ing a foreign language," she says. "And impaired environment. The award was their child's deafness difficultto accept, he's having a wonderful opportunity to given, he says, because of his contribu­ the Bilkers did not. live with it." tions as editor of WhatsHappening.

26 N71D FOCUS • Winter/Spring 1988 "When the boys were toddlers, the family doctor suspected that Mitch might have a minimal brain dysfunc­ tion;' recalls his mother. "Larry had begun to speak earlier than Mitch," she continues, "but at the time we weren't concerned, because we'd heard that one twin often does things before the other." Despite the fact that the twins had been born seven weeks early and had received oxygen-at that time a cus­ tomary treatment for premature babies, but one that sometimes caused blind­ ness or deafness-the possibility of Mitch having a brain dysfunction never made sense to Jacqueline Bilker. None­ theless, once the suspicion had been aroused, she was vastly relieved when tests revealed that his only disabilities were deafness and an almost complete loss of vision in one eye. Whats the score? Mitch and Lany Hilkerenjoy a brother(ygame of bowling at tbe RJTalleys. "At least we knew he could be helped;' she says. "That was all we cared about." As soon as his deafness was diag­ In his junior year of high school, when Because his love for working with nosed, Bilker was fitted with a hearing Mitch joined a fund-raising committee numbers made him think he'd enjoy aid and enrolled in intensive speech to run a computer dating service, Larry being an accountant like his father, therapy classes. contributed a specially created com­ Bilker wanted to "test the waters." Dur­ "At first, I hated the hearing aids;' he puter program. The brothers' joint ven­ ing tax season, accounting firms always recalls. "I thought they looked silly, and I ture produced Sl ,500 and $2,000 in have an extra load of work, so from couldn't understand why I had to have their junior and senior years, December 1986 through May 1987, them when Larry didn't. But my parents respectively. Bilker arranged to spend severalmonths explained how they would help me During the summer after his high working Saturdays at the Exton, Penn­ hear, and eventuallyI got used to them." school graduation, Bilker worked as a sylvania, accounting firm where his From second through fourth grades, tennis counselor at a day camp for 7- to father is a partner. Bilker attended special classes provided 12-year-olds, which included five deaf As an accounting clerk, he did filing by the Delaware County Intermediate campers in its enrollment of 800. and general office work, as well as com­ Unit for hearing-impaired students. "l made it a point to talk to those puter inputting on a network of per­ During this time, he also was partially kids," says Bilker. "l wanted to encour­ sonal computers. At times, he helped mainstreamed at various public and pri­ age them in terms of their potential I the certified public accountants ( CPAs) vate schools. By fifth grade, he was guess eventhe idea of a hearing-impaired analyze their clients' balance sheets. He enrolled into an entirely mainstreamed counselor at a camp forhearing kids had enjoyed the work and the atmosphere, setting within the Marple-Newtown to be a hopeful message for them." which strengthened his desire to be­ SchoolDistrict. A desire to help others is just one of come a CPA. "The transition was difficult;'he says. the traits shared by the Bilker brothers. Bilker plans to graduate from RIT in "The pace was faster, and in addition, Larry gained special attention when he May 1992, and would like to work either everyone talked much faster." agreed to spend two hours per week for with an accounting fim1 or in the ac­ Although he says it took more than a 10 weeks teaching a group of high counting department of a large company. year to adjust to the new environment, school teachers to use computerized In his spare time, he likes to listen to he also admits that his grades were good speech synthesizers as learningtools for his tape collection, which includes fromthe beginning and that his teachers students with disabilities. selections from Billy Joel, Genesis, and were surprised at how much he knew. "Many people have a fear of comput­ Bruce Springsteen. Socially, Larry w.i.s a big help, intro­ ers," he says. "By giving them this hands­ Another pastime is writing poetry and ducing his brother to his own friends on exposure, they became adept and "proverbs." In the latter category, one of and showing him the ropes in his new were able to conquer their fears." his most recent is "Always point your surroundings. In his later years of high Mitch and Larrylike many of the same feet in the right direction, and your life school, Bilker often found himself in a activities, but each has his own person­ will follow." position to tutor hearing students. ality, according to their mother, who "It gives me a feeling of satisfaction to says, "For example, they both were > help others do well," he says. "But I active in the drama club, but Mitch likes didn't help by giving them the answers­ to perform, while Larry enjoys doing I made them tell me:· behind-the-scenes work."

NnD FOQJS • Winter/Spring 1988 27 in� e Clou� by Lynne Bohlman

ike the barnstorming pilot Douglas "Wrong Way'' Corrigan, L Stephanie Cloutier has a passion for flying and anything related to air­ planes. However, unlike the famous flier, who earnedhis nickname in 1938 when he filed a flight plan from New York to Los Angeles but flew instead to Ireland, Cloutier's path is clear and direct. "She's a woman with definite goals;' says Warren Goldmann, her Career Op­ portunities advisor. "She has a knowl­ edge of self and a good idea of what she wants to do with her life:' Cloutier's goals include earning her private pilot's license and becoming an aeronautics engineer-an ambition she is workjng to fulfill as a second-year stu­ dent in NTID's Industrial DraftingTech­ nology program and as a co-op student this past summer in the drafting de­ partment of L S. Starrett Company in Athol, Massachusetts. ,;z Her career path has not always been Computer- and teacher-aided designSecomtyearstudent Stephanie Cloutier stmgglesto umler­ so certain, however. stand theinstmctwns ofJx.,r teacher Eder Benati, assistant professorof Industrial Technologies. After graduating in 1984 from Arizo­ na's Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, As a child growing up in Old Stur­ mother, to visit her fatherand other fam­ where she was valedictorian and presi­ bridge Village, Massachusetts, a beauti­ ily members in Massachusetts. dent of the student council and her ful and popular site for campers and "I love the way flying feels;' she says. junior and senior classes, Cloutier tourists, Cloutier spent hours each "Lookjng out the window, I'm always entered the general education program weekend watching her older brothers inspired by the beauty God has created. at Gallaudet University in Washington, work on cars and her father service out­ "I often feel that I'm flying the plane D.C. She withdrew twice because she door equipment, including lawn mow­ myself. I'm fascinated by the way that was not satisfied with her academic ers, campers, boats, and Cloutier'sfavor­ airplanes work." program and felt a lack of enthusiasm ite, snowmobiles. After ensuring herself that drafting for the extracurricular offerings. "Stephanie wasvery curious, and she was a good fieldfor the future,and that The following fall, Cloutier enrolled seemed to catch on quickly;' says her in it she could design car and airplane in the Medical Laboratory Technology father, Armand. "She understood how engine parts, Cloutier incorporated program at Phoenix College. That lasted things worked more than other kids; she another childhood enthusiasm-draw­ three months. just seemed to have a feel for things ing-and signed up for the Industrial "I did well;' she says, "but I realized mechanical." Drafting program at Gateway Commu­ that I didn't want to work with blood Probably Cloutier's favoritemechani­ nity College ( formerly Maricopa Tech­ everyday of my life." cal "thing" is the airplane. As a child, she nical Community College) in Phoenix. By returning to childhood interests, traveled frequently by plane to family She "fell in love" with the program. Cloutier, who was born deaf because of vacation spots. After her parents were "It's fascinating to me;' she says, "to rubella, finally discovered the field that divorced in 1975, she flew from draw different mechanical parts, and I wasright for her. Phoenix, where she lived with her like to work with science and math. Feet on t e Groun 28 N17D FOa.JS• Winter/Spring 1988 When I draw, it makes me think that I'm "I refused;' Cloutier says, "because successful. when I grewup in anoral environment, "I just made the determination to do '1 lovethe way flying I thought it would be better than learn­ it;' she adds, "and my mother supports ing sign language. And I was afraidevery­ that. Whatever I have decided to study, fee/s . ...I'm always one would make fun of me when I my mother says 'Go for it.'" signed, but no one did." Raising Cloutier, reports her mother, inspi,redby the beauty Indeed, many, including President Sandra Snow, was sometimes a tug-of. Ronald Reagan, came to respect Clou­ war between a mother's need to protect Godhas created." tier forher academic achievements. her child and a daughter's desire for One spring morning, Cloutier arrived independence. early at school as usual and found her "I was overprotective," says Snow, principal waiting outside. He asked her "and yet I was pushing her to do what to accompany him to his office. she wanted. I wasalways willing to help "I thought I was in big trouble," her push and push and push.'' Cloutier says. After two semesters at Maricopa, But if she was, then why was Osborn Cloutier transferred to NTID because it smiling? offeredmore advancedmathematics and "What's going on?" Cloutier asked. science courses and because she knew "Would you like to meet the Presi­ that the program included a cooperative dent?" Osborn answered a question work experience (co-op). with a question. Actually, Industrial Drafting Te chnol­ "Are you kidding?" ogy, a three-year, associate-degree level "No, I'm serious." program, requires two co-ops. Cloutier On May 10, 1984 ( Cloutier remem­ completed her first last summer at L S. bers the date because 10 is her favorite Starrett Company, the country's largest number and 1984 is the year she gradu­ manufacturer of hand measuring tools ated), Cloutier represented all Arizona andprecision instruments. high school students at a ceremony Located offRoute 2 in the hilly town honoring outstanding students from all of Athol, the manufacturing company 50 states. Later that same day at another produces more than 3,000 different ceremony, she received fromReagan the tools and instruments. Presidential Academic Fitness Award. Cloutier worked in a room located up "I was happy to receive the award and narrow, winding stairs in an old, but meet the President;' Cloutier says, "and well-equipped and maintained factory A designing woman Goutierzvorks at a draft· I was surprised that God planned that ing table. building on the MiUers River. She was for me." one of two women among 25 draftersin God plays an important role in her the department. She redrewold designs, life. Cloutier is secretary and treasurer made drawings from sketches, and of the RIT Baptist Student Union and is changed the dimensions in some an active member of the Metropolitan designs. Baptist Church in Rochester. While in "Stephanie found that not everything think she studies too much sometimes Athol, she traveled two hours one way to is as she learned it in school," says and forgets there's a life to live." Manchester, Connecticut, every week to Harold Bacon, drafting supervisor. "She Cloutier does like to keep busy. be part of a deaf congregation. oftensaid to me in the early days, 'That's "I hate to stay home;' she says. "I think it's important for everybody not how I learned it in college.' She This summer, Cloutier kept busy visit­ to learnGod's Word," Cloutier explains, found out that every company has its ing family members and friendsin near­ "and I had a lot of energy and motivation own way of doing things." by towns, being the only woman on the to be part of a deafministry." Working in Athol offeredCloutier the company softball team, and participat­ Cloutier isn't worried about earning opportunity to return to the New En­ ing in a deaf Baptist congregation. the nickname "Wrong Way." Whether gland she loved as a child- the foursea­ She also was busy when she was a she's in a plane or firmlyon the ground, sons, the flowers, and the history. Dur­ high school student at the Phoenix Day she's certain that she'U always find the ing her co-op, Cloutier rented a room in School for the Deaf, where, says her right direction. a home across the street fromthe junior principal James Osborn, now principal "God will tell me," Cloutier says. "He high school. There, she shared quarters of the Colorado Schoolfor the Deaf and will open my eyes so that I can see the with Barbara Linker, a nurse, and two of Blind, she stood out not so much forher right way." Linker's children. academic skills, although she had good "I don't think Stephanie realizes how capabilities, but for "her great desire to ) dynamic she is," says Linker. "I hope she achieve." continues to open up to people and When she first entered the school, keeps growing. Cloutier sufferedculture shock because "Sometimes," Linker adds, "she she had been raised oraUy and everyone becomes too wrapped up in her work. else used sign language. She has talked about the difficulty of "I refused to learn sign for two balancing a social life andschool work. I months; then I learned it and I liked it.

N11D FOa.JS• Winter/Spring 1988 29 job, Woolever made an appearance on campus. His initial contact was unpro­ ductive, but a friend working at the Institute told him of another opening, at TTD, and suggested that Woolever FOCUS On... speak with Frank Argento, now asso­ ciate professor of Ph oto/Media Technologies. Woolever simultaneously was being pursued by an advertising agency, but Argento made a convincing case for TIO. Clearly, it was a happy choice, for Wooleverhas been at the Institute for 15 ean years. by Emily AndreanoWoolever

here is something sweetly famil­ lefta void in company management sub­ iar about Dean Woolcver's talc of sequently filled by more conventional T how he grew to have an interest businessmen. Their preoccupation with in art and design. Woolever, art director turning a profit, in Woolever's opinion, in TID's Instructional Design and precipitated a run of inferior offerings Evaluation Department (ID&E), spent and put an end to the srudio's greatness. the arurday afternoons of his youth Second, and perhaps more important, crouched in a darkened movie theater was Woolcver's realization that his tn1e nestled in a small town on ew York's interest lay not in the area of animation, Basic Southern Tier. but in the fieldof graphic design. The town was Hornell, which at the A self-described indifferent student, Strategies time boasted a population of22 ,000 and he had been encouraged by his school­ four movie theaters from which to teacher mother to attend college, and Li ke many NTID employees, choose. Woo lever's choice was usually a did so at Syracuse University, where he Woolever is reluctant to portray himself film or cartoon generated by Walt Dis­ earned bachelor's and master offinearcs as a good Samaritan simply because his ney rudios. degrees in Advertising Design. work is for the benefitof deaf students. Other wunderkinder of his genera­ Facing the prospect of being drafted But he docs admit that he is "not an ad tion tell the same story. But what cap­ and sent to Vietnam upon graduation, agency person," and that his comfort rured Woolever's in1agination was not he chose to enlist fora hitch in the Air level at work derives at least in part from the familiar stories or the thought of Force instead, where he pulled four his sense that his effortsare "doing some making films himself, but rather the years of duty at the former Scwart Air good." notion that he too might create designs Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee, on the According to Manager of Special Proj­ as enchanting and evocative as those outskirts of Nashville. ects Thomas Castle, former associate populating the wide screen beforehim. His tour of duty in the military at an director of ID&E, "Dean's overall re­ By the time Woolever reached ado­ end, Woolever found work as a designer sponsibility at TIO is to facilitate the lescence, his fascination with Disney's for a Rochester printer, where he teaching of deaf students. IO&E investi­ art and artifice was full blown. He had worked for seven years. When job cut­ gates problems that teachers encounter amassed a startling collection of memo­ backs forced him to seek employment in the classroom, and Dean's role is to rabilia, beginning with movie posters elsewhere, he learned of an opening at apply his creative and artistic energies that he wheedled out of kindly theater Rff to helping solve them. owner and escalating co several of the Undaunted by a formrejection letter, "For example." he continues, "if stu­ now highly prized Disney production nor by the information that 800 applica­ dents aren't wearing hearing aids in the celluloids, or "eels," the individual draw­ tions had been filed for that particular classroom, and ic is determined that ings that, collectively, became the ani­ mated films. His high school yearbook prediction even envisioned hin1 toiling as an anima­ tor in the Disney studios, a not unlikely scenario considering that a lengthy cor­ respondence with the company had produced, on Woolever's 12th birthday, a telephone call from Walt Disney himself. I rowever, two forces combined to impel Woolever to seek a different di­ rection. First was Disney's death, which

30 N17D FOCUS• Winter/Spring 1988 they would derive more benefit from Sias is probably Woolever's closest peddler's cart to English children for a instruction if they die.I, Dean's job is to friend. penny during the 19th century.) As the work with an instructional developer to The two met through their wives, Benjamins' interest in antiques grew, so come up with ideas on how to improve who taught at the same elementary did their collection, and they turnedto the situation. The result in this case was school. Additionally, they are neighbors the Woolevers to sell items for which a curriculum that included a handsome whose children attend the same schools. they no longer had space. Eventually, set of self-instructional booklets [ de­ Coincidentally, after they had met, both Benjamin joined Woolever in business. signed by Woolever) that provides both found jobs at NTID, although Sias later As with Sias, theirs is both a personal basic understanding of hearing aids, and moved to CFAA. and professional friendship, although motivates students to use them." Sias characterizes Woolever, with Benjamin, at 36, is several years Woolev­ About Woolever,Castle says, "He's the whom he has worked in a consulting er's junior ( neither will say how many). best graphic designer I've ever met. business, as "one of the most talented "Dean," quips Benjamin, "is very Dean has the intelligence to understand graphic designers around. He could young for his age." abstract technical concepts, and the command any salary he chose," Sias con­ Another ID&E colleague who has confidence needed to attack the prob­ tinues, "but I think he enjoys doing work formed a special working relationship lems incurred in communicating these that is clearly beneficial and of some with Woolever is Artist Cathleen Chou, concepts to deaf learners. He goes social significance.He would walk many who began at NTID in 1981. beyond merely decorating the content." a mile to help a friend do a job, even if he "When I came here I was afraid of him The content to which Castle refers didn't really care to do it. His life at first," she remembers, "because he oftenis destined for classrooms at NTID abounds with good deeds." was the head designer. I was intimidated and for other schools for deaf students Woolever is involved in a second side because I felt as if I didn't know any­ around the country. Woolever's work business, with ID&E Photographer/ thing, so for a few months we didn't have has captured many national awards usu­ Cinematographer Mark Benjamin. Ben­ much to say to one another." ally reserved for art directors in leading jamin is another neighbor of Woolever. What broke the ice for Chou was advertising agencies. They live, in fact,on the same street, but being assigned to work with Woolever on a project. "We clicked immediately;' she says. "He seemed to be able to explain to me very clearly the kind of illustrations he needed for whatever design work he was doing without describing it to me very literally. When I would present him with the finishedproduct, he would tell me that it was even better than he imagined. It was the beginning of a beautiful working relationship and a perfectly wonderful friendship:' Clients of Woolever arc equally enthusiastic about his contributions. Dr. Judy Egelston-Dodd, a former instruc­ tional developer in ID&E now serving as director of the RIT/U niversity of Rochester Joint Educational Specialist Program, was a frequent client. Egelston-Dodd revealsthat she "knew Dean for years, but in the most super­ Signs ofhis times 7bis channin[< bandpaintedsign welcomes 1 Jisitors to Dean Wool�>r� dty home; ficial way. It was not;' she says, "until he oppositepage, Woote,,er designed the concept and logofor a series of booklets describing "Basic Strategies ..ji)r hearing-impairedpeople to use in l'IJ(.'1JN/aycnmmunicalion situations. Artist Cathleen was assigned to design a project of mine Chou contributedthe silhouette illustrations that represem tlx,se situations: going to a fast food that I discovered the depth of his per­ restaura11t;renting an apartment;jlying;uisiti11g the dentist; going to the hank; buying a car; 1 Jisiting sonality and his devotion to his family the post office: and dining out. and friends, religion, and work. He's a joy to work with, and brings out the best "Everyone likes to be a hero, a pio­ did not meet until they began working in all of us." neer," says Wookvcr. "I enjoy being in a together. For Woolever's part, he allows that field where, until recently, no one even "My wife and I had always enjoyed "they seem to like me here, so I guess thought about graphic design." history and antiques;' explains Benjamin, that's why I stay on;' and that the ID&E Several of Woolever's co-workers, "although we didn't know too much envirorunent is "set up so you can be who also count themselves as friends, about the latter. Dean taught me a great your best, so that's what I'm trying to echo the feeling that he would be dissat­ deal, by lending me books and introduc­ be." isfied with a life that revolved purely ing me to antique shows and museums." around the pursuit of money. Woolever and his wife Elizabeth, who > It is certainly the contention of James is now a librarian, had an antique busi­ Sias, associate professor of Industrial ness of their own, Catchpenny Antiques. Design at RIT's College of Fine and Ap­ ('Tbe name is drawn from the small plied Arts (CFAA). On or off campus, drawings of familiar objects sold from a

NT7D FOCUS• Winter/Spring 19H8 31 Come to the United States for 1\voof 1990's Most Important International Gatherings Important international chairperson of the Program gatherings of organizations Planning Committee. concerned with deaf people The first ICED was held in will be held in the United Paris, France, in 1878 with 27 States in 1990. delegates from Europe and Rochester will be the host one non-delegate from the city for the 1990 International United States attending. Atten­ Congress on Education of the dance over the years has con­ Deaf (ICED). It will be held tinued to rise and the scope of July 29-August 3. Co-hosts for participation and presentation the event are:NTID, Gallaudet necessitates interpreting and University, Rochester School translating into the many lan­ for the Deaf, University of guages of attendees. Transla­ Rochester Graduate School of tion for English, Spanish, Education and Human Devel­ German, French, and perhaps May Means Better Hearing and Speech Montb PresidentRonald Reagan opment, AJexander Graham Japanese will be provided at and aclor Norn, Crosby are fealured in /be l9HH Beller Hearing and Speecb Mo11th campaign, u'hicb in May kicks off t11u,1io1w/ effort lu promote Bell Association for the Deaf, the 1990 Congress. In addi­ m11are11ess aboul gelling help for speeclJ and hearing problems. Reagan Conference of Educational tion, International Signs, lea med u>ilb '>:year-0/dJessica Riley uf New London, Conneclicul, for a Administrators Serving the American Sign Language, a posler produced by N71l)'s ln.s1n1c1ional Design and Hua/uation Depart. Deaf, Convention of American signed form of English, and 111e111. 1be Institutes I11s1rnc1io11al 7elCIJisio11 Department al.sogut "i1110 the Instructors of the Deaf, and oral interpreting will be avail­ acl" by prod11dng a JO.second p11blic sen,ice annuunc,,,mmt featuring comedian Crosby Bolh efforts will be clislribuletl 1mlionally Ot"l.!T'lhe 11e:x1 National Association of the able for deaf participants. se,ieral monlbs. and represenl N170's commitment to the Coundl for Better Deaf. The timing of the Congress Hearing alld Speech Molllb. Dr. William Castle, vice coincides with the Centennial president forGovernment Re­ International Convention of CNN Films NTID Research Will Receives 'Grand Tour' lations, RIT, and director of the Alexander Graham Bell Cable News Network (CNN) NTID, will serve as secretary Association for the Deaf, was at NTID in September to general for the Congress. Dr. which will be held in Wash­ film the aerodynamics and Ross Stuckless, director of ington, D.C., from July 24-28, voice box testing conducted NTID's Integrative Research 1990. at NTID by Dr. Robert White­ Department, will serve as head, chairperson of the Com­ munication Research Depart­ ment, and Dr. Dale Metz, Communication Research associate. By studying the air­ flow on the normal biome­ chanical processes that take place during the production of speech, the researchers Madeleine Will, assistant hope to gain a better under­ secretary for Special Educa­ standing of the oral character­ tion and Rehabilitative Ser­ istics of deaf people. The seg­ vices for the U.S. Department ment, which was captioned of Education, toured TID by NTID, aired several times facilities December 11. She in November. was accompanied by Dr. Wil­ liam Castle, director of NTIO Mowl Represents NTID and vice president for Govern­ Last September, Gary Mow!, ment Relations for RIT; Dr. Support Service Education James OeCaro, dean; Dr. Jack chairperson, represented Clarcq, vice president for 20-Year Celebratio11Jor ,\TTD and NTD For 20years, N71D basprouided NTID at the 28th Annual Con­ Technical Assistance Pro­ poslsecundaryeducaliOll to deaf s1Ude111s. Fur all equal number<>/years, ference of the National Coun­ grams; and Wendell Thomp­ !he Naliunal 11Jealre of the Deaf (,\'TV) baspru1v.m lbat deafpeople can cil for the Deaf in Johannes­ son, assistant to the director. become professio11a/ actors. As a celebration of /be comhinatio11. N71D burg, SouthAfrica. His invited Will visited NTID's state-of­ alumni Charles Baird, Adriall Blue, Elena Rlue, Micbac/ l.amitola. Pen")' Co11ll')i and Cbarles Stntppmmm perfonnedal N71D November 14. in papers were a series on NTID the-art Computer Aided De­ NTV 'sproduclioll ufThe Oybbuk. The pla y is a reuiml of a Euro/)eallfolk Interpreting Services and the sign Lab, the TIO Theatre, /alefirs/ perfonnedby N11) in 19�4.Joillillg N71D alumni in /be per. Educational Interpreting and the English Language r fonna11ce 11"->re}obll t:isnet; Sandi filches, leu•is .\Jekin, EdtPard Porler, program. Learning Lab. Calbleen Ridtlll.!); and Allf�)' Vtis11ick.

32 N71D FOQJS • Winter/Spring 1988 Dear Friends of NTID, It is gratifying to see NTID facuit y members taking advan­ tage of the RIT International Faculty ExchangeScholar Pro­ gram and spreading the mes­ sage of deaf education to other areas of the world. The faculty members you read about in this issue of NTID Focus are but two of approximately30 who have participated in this program since it was estab­ lished five years ago. We are particularly proud of this faculty exchangeprogram, for it promotes professional devel­ opment among our most important resource-our teachers. /tr(/� M. Richard Rose President I l T. Rochester Institute of Technology co l!:.ftd National Technical Institute for the Deaf One Lomb Memorial Drive Post OfficeBox 9887 Rochester, NY 14623-0887

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

STID student Stephanie Cloutier has hif!.bflying dreams. p. 28

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