Mad Hatter Page 2

Program Covers a Whole Gamut of Areas

The program involves a complete relearning of the ways to find employment. The course is divided between eight weeks in the classroom learning the theories, and four weeks of on-site work experience putting the theory to use.

"We covered a whole gamut of areas," Dottie says. "The students put together a proper resume, learned how to handle an interview, and we talked about payrol| deductions, unemployment insurance cover- age, and unions."

"Even technological change was discussed and the way this was going to affect the types of jobs people, not just the deaf, will have in the future."

But the program was not an easy one.

Deaf people have their own views of them- selves which will often stand in the way of finding a job, says Dottie.

"For instance, in one of the earlier classes, | asked the students if a deaf person could ever become an astronaut."

"Most of them either shook their heads or shrugged their shoulders," she says. "That's probably because there has never been a deaf astronaut before."

Communication Problems

Another problem is in communicating with people who can hear, and the fault for this probably is the responsibility of the deaf person, Dottie says.

One explanation is that the sign language most commonly used, ASL, does not follow the same grammatical structure as English. Deaf people almost have to think in another language before they can communicate with a hearing person, Dottie says.

"We came up with a sign that helped get rid of that self-derogatory image deaf

ee

people have."

Dottie fans her fingers with her thumbs in her ears and then runs her thumbs toward her mouth.

"That means 'deaf, why not?!'," says Dottie.

DOUGLAS COLLEGE NEWS SERVICES

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

EUGENE HRUSHOWY

Acting Director of Social Services & Allied Health

“Caught in the Act” —