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Deaf students excel in internships, jobs - The Frederick News-Post Online
The need for more employers to give deaf students a chance at getting a job cannot be overstated.
That was the message Thursday at a recognition of local businesses participating in the Maryland School for the Deaf's Work to Learn program.
"This is a wonderful, wonderful school -- one of the top schools for the deaf in the nation and we need more employers to give these students an opportunity for work experience," said Sharon Hannaby, Frederick Memorial Hospital's director of volunteer services.
MSD staff held an appreciation reception for the six local companies that offered the students jobs in the school's program, made possible by a $149,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education and the Division of Rehabilitation Services.
Work to Learn is designed to place students in community businesses or agencies to gain work experience.
Hannaby said she jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the program.
"Sometimes employers are afraid of the communication piece, but the students aren't afraid. That's how they live and they make you feel comfortable," she said. "It's not a problem to them."
Alex Olson has been working in the hospital's mailroom since January. A second student will begin work at the hospital next week, said Jennifer Weeks, Work to Learn Transition project coordinator.
"I hope to get a full-time job in the mailroom, and to go on to college and get a degree," Olson said through an interpreter.
Olson said he likes art, computer and history and wants to pursue graphics studies in college.
Randy Bowen, warehouse manager at Petersen's Carpeting and Flooring, received a certificate of thanks on behalf of his company from the school for hiring Joshua Bailey, who graduates later this month.
"It was a great opportunity for Joshua to learn a trade he will keep the rest of his life," he said. "He will be getting a job near his home in Annapolis, and that's the whole purpose of this program. We love to be a steppingstone for students to go on."
Bailey's winning personality landed Petersen's Carpeting a job, Bowen said. "We gained a customer because of him, so it's been helpful to us and the school. I would do it again. At the same time, it's a little bit harder."
Frederick Memorial Hospital's print shop and mailroom coordinator, Lewis Payne, also praised Olson's work ethic.
"It's been a learning curve, but he's very eager to learn and easy to teach," he said. "He's always looking for something else to do. For myself, it's been a pleasure having someone that eager to work. The more time we spend together, the better we can communicate."
Payne is trying to improve his deaf communication skills through one of the hospital's classes for employees.
The program is always looking for employers who will hire students, Weeks said.
Some employers pay the students; others don't. If an employer doesn't pay the student, the Department of Rehabilitative Services provides a stipend of about $5 an hour. Positions are part time and don't require a lot of hours.
Other businesses honored Thursday were the Giant Food in Kingsbrook Crossing Shopping Center; Renaissance Spa; C. Burr Artz Public Library; and Family Smile dental office.
Karen Love Haines, a rehabilitation technical specialist, said the program's results are what the State Department of Education hoped to achieve.
"This is wonderful. This is a great partnership with the school," she said.
The need for more employers to give deaf students a chance at getting a job cannot be overstated.
That was the message Thursday at a recognition of local businesses participating in the Maryland School for the Deaf's Work to Learn program.
"This is a wonderful, wonderful school -- one of the top schools for the deaf in the nation and we need more employers to give these students an opportunity for work experience," said Sharon Hannaby, Frederick Memorial Hospital's director of volunteer services.
MSD staff held an appreciation reception for the six local companies that offered the students jobs in the school's program, made possible by a $149,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education and the Division of Rehabilitation Services.
Work to Learn is designed to place students in community businesses or agencies to gain work experience.
Hannaby said she jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the program.
"Sometimes employers are afraid of the communication piece, but the students aren't afraid. That's how they live and they make you feel comfortable," she said. "It's not a problem to them."
Alex Olson has been working in the hospital's mailroom since January. A second student will begin work at the hospital next week, said Jennifer Weeks, Work to Learn Transition project coordinator.
"I hope to get a full-time job in the mailroom, and to go on to college and get a degree," Olson said through an interpreter.
Olson said he likes art, computer and history and wants to pursue graphics studies in college.
Randy Bowen, warehouse manager at Petersen's Carpeting and Flooring, received a certificate of thanks on behalf of his company from the school for hiring Joshua Bailey, who graduates later this month.
"It was a great opportunity for Joshua to learn a trade he will keep the rest of his life," he said. "He will be getting a job near his home in Annapolis, and that's the whole purpose of this program. We love to be a steppingstone for students to go on."
Bailey's winning personality landed Petersen's Carpeting a job, Bowen said. "We gained a customer because of him, so it's been helpful to us and the school. I would do it again. At the same time, it's a little bit harder."
Frederick Memorial Hospital's print shop and mailroom coordinator, Lewis Payne, also praised Olson's work ethic.
"It's been a learning curve, but he's very eager to learn and easy to teach," he said. "He's always looking for something else to do. For myself, it's been a pleasure having someone that eager to work. The more time we spend together, the better we can communicate."
Payne is trying to improve his deaf communication skills through one of the hospital's classes for employees.
The program is always looking for employers who will hire students, Weeks said.
Some employers pay the students; others don't. If an employer doesn't pay the student, the Department of Rehabilitative Services provides a stipend of about $5 an hour. Positions are part time and don't require a lot of hours.
Other businesses honored Thursday were the Giant Food in Kingsbrook Crossing Shopping Center; Renaissance Spa; C. Burr Artz Public Library; and Family Smile dental office.
Karen Love Haines, a rehabilitation technical specialist, said the program's results are what the State Department of Education hoped to achieve.
"This is wonderful. This is a great partnership with the school," she said.