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United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin Speaks in American Sign Language: The Deaf Services Program

United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin has provided employment services to persons with disabilities since 1991, when it merged with Vocational Education Alternatives. It provides many of these services through a contract with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), an agency within the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. UCP has taken pride in securing successful placements in employment when other providers have not been able to accomplish this.

We were offered an opportunity to design and implement a program for persons who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and often present special challenges to employment services providers. The program would have to be built around employment specialists who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is the communication system developed by persons in the Deaf community. It is quite different than the literal signing of English language communication. A great deal of time was spent researching and structuring the program so that it would be able to accomplish what other vendors had been unable to do. One of the discoveries made after the program started was that more staff time was required than anticipated. The communication necessary for developing job readiness skills can take longer for some participants.

In 2002 UCP-SEW was awarded a contract from the Wisconsin DVR to provide these employment services to persons who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. It is tailored for persons who primarily depend on ASL for communication. It includes persons who may also have other physical or cognitive challenges. One of the employment specialists, who has been with the program from its beginning, is herself Deaf. Liz Konkel and Lori Duvernell are the professionals who staff this program. They are both connected to and are respected by members of the community who communicate using ASL as their primary or only language. (They have both assisted in the creation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance of Greater Milwaukee, Inc.)

The UCP Deaf Services program works with an average of 36 persons during the course of a month. In the first six months of 2004, we have successfully placed nine persons in employment. The program offers an accessible visual (native) environment for our consumers. In the course of providing employment services, these professionals become role models. They have an exceptional understanding of the consumers’ needs.

We believe that the program works especially well in addressing the employment needs of persons who are Deaf, primarily because we can communicate with them in their natural language without using an interpreter, i.e., a third party. This is truly an accessible environment for them. They find it easy to identify with a staff person who can speak as they do and someone who understands their background and experiences. It is also very beneficial to have this program placed within a larger employment program which enables the professionals to network effectively and sometimes get easier access to employers who have welcomed other consumers we have assisted.

In addition to job placement services, career classes, and benefit counseling, job coaching is often provided as well. These employment specialists make Deaf awareness presentations to potential employers and others in the community, upon request. Although many of the services are offered to persons at various locations in the community, the presence of this program within the offices of UCP has given the others who work here a much greater awareness and appreciation of these consumers.

We believe that our mission is strengthened by embracing services for a group of people who require special understanding and approach. There are a number of staff persons who have acquired varying degrees of signing skills and others who want to do the same.

It has been most interesting watching many employers learn and grow in their own teaching techniques and style with their new employees. Often the non-native language (i.e., English speaking) supervisors initially doubt that they will be effective, but they turn out to be the best trainers and they find their success a source of great pride. It is gratifying to watch employers who are willing to embrace employees with a different language and culture.

Consumers in the program grow through the process of teaching one another. They become mentors and leaders who show the way to others. This is part of our vision for the future of the program. Although it is relatively new, we believe that we will be able to build on the successes we have already seen in this program. We see more Deaf leaders working for us in this program or becoming a leader in their workplace. We are working to develop a computer training program taught by persons who themselves use American Sign Language as their natural way of communicating. We are proud to say that this very special employment services program is a part of United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin.

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