24th Annual Deaf Culture Tea, September 17, 2015

The 24th Annual Deaf Culture Tea took place September 17, 2015, in the Hall of Flags.  The Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened recognized several community members with awards for their dedication and work within the Deaf community.

Terry Morrell, Director of the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened and Jeanne Paquette, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor

The event began with opening remarks from the Division’s Director, Terry Morrell.  Terry welcomed approximately 120 people to the Tea.  Jeanne Paquette, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor also welcomed the audience.  

Jeanne Paquette, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor

We were thrilled to have Christine “Coco” Roschaert as our keynote speaker.  Coco was born Deaf with Usher Syndrome in Canada.  She graduated from Gallaudet University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and now works as an international advocate for Deafblind rights.  She is also a motivational speaker about Deafblind issues which include her personal life stories.  She has done over 200 presentations around the world.  She gave an AWESOME and INSPIRING keynote speech. 

Christine “Coco” Roschaert, Keynote Speaker

There were many examples of communication used at the Tea. Some examples included: American Sign Language (ASL), tactile ASL, voice-over interpretation/support service providers and assistive listening devices.

Frank Burbank with Deb Myers, tactile interpreter

Delicious refreshments were provided by Richard Desjardins, operator of the Cross Café, located at the Cross State Office Building. The Cross Café is part of the Business Enterprise Program of the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI), also part of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services.

The annual awards were given out by Conrad Strack, Chair and Sitara Sheikh, Vice-Chair, Christy Callahan, Kate Strack, and Terry Morrell, all members of the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened. This year’s award recipients and their accomplishments are highlighted in this newsletter.

Annual Awards

Left to right: Taylor Gagnon, Cathy Lushman, Julie Novack, John Dunleavy and Karla Madore

Clifton F. Rodgers Award - John Dunleavy
A Lifetime Achievement Award

The award is presented to an individual who has worked in or with the Deaf community for many years. It is given in recognition of a “lifetime of achievement.” 

John Dunleavy began teaching computer classes to Deaf adults in Maine in January of 2001.  He moved to Maine from Boston at the beginning of September of that year, to teach full-time.  9/11 changed that, along with much else, and funds for those computer classes soon evaporated, though not before John had begun meeting Deaf people around the state.

Dennis Fitzgibbons and Steve Tremblay of Alpha One then brought John into Independent Living as a Deaf services advocate, which kept him happily busy for more than a dozen years, during which he taught a number of classes (including computers again!), worked with a great many people, including Jonathan Connick, Jan DeVinney, John Shattuck, Dr. Judy Shepard-Kegl; entities including the Division of Deafness, the University of Southern Maine, the Maine Statewide Independent Living Council; and organizations including the Maine Deaf Senior Citizens, the Men's Breakfast Group, and Deaf Women of Maine.  He also got to travel through much of Maine and to meet a great number of people, Deaf, Hearing and Hard-of-Hearing.

After leaving Alpha One in early 2013, John went to work for the Maine Center on Deafness as a Civil Rights advocate.  Several months later, upon the departure of Elissa Moran, he became interim director of MCD, where he planned to stay for several years.  That changed when his wife, Brenda Schertz, relocated to Rochester, NY, in late August of 2014.  John joined Brenda at the end of April, 2015, and says he's happy but he misses Maine.

This award is named for Clifton F. Rodgers, a life-long resident of Maine. He attended the Maine School for the Deaf and lived in Belfast for more than thirty years with his wife Dorothy. Cliff was a member of the Division of Deafness Advisory Council for many years and also worked for the Division of Deafness (DoD) as a Rehabilitation Assistant. 

Quotes describing him include: “He made an indelible impression on everyone he came in contact with, for his style always created good will and warm feelings,” “His knowledge of Maine and its Deaf Culture were immense,” and “He passed through this world making it a better place.”

This award is unique in that nominations for the award must be made by Commission members. The award is given to an individual in recognition for outstanding service in a professional or voluntary capacity to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in Maine.

Promoting American Sign Language, Deaf Culture, and Deaf People Award - Cathy Lushman

Cathy Lushman has an undergraduate degree in Deaf education from the University of Gallaudet University at Washington, DC and a Master's degree in Deaf Education from Western of Maryland College. She has worked at schools for the deaf in several states, specializing in early childhood education and elementary. She has worked for Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH) for over 19 years as a teacher of the Deaf for deaf and hard-of-hearing children ages 3 through 5 years and their families. Cathy has been Head Teacher for five years with Judy Segal at MECDHH. She has been responsible for Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) for 13 years and American Sign Language (ASL) Assessments from 1996 to the present, ASL literacy from 1996 to the present and an ASL instructor at the University of Southern Maine for seven years.

Outstanding Citizenship Award - Karla R. Madore

This award is given to a person who is a leader in the Deaf community.

Karla R. Madore is a great leader for the Deaf senior citizens group and has served as their president. She works hard to keep the Deaf senior citizens group up and running.

She was born and grew up in Easton, ME. She graduated from Governor Baxter for the Deaf and married Ronald Madore in 1978. She currently lives in Buxton, Maine and has three grown daughters and five grandchildren.

She is a member of International Catholic Deaf Association (ICDA), Maine Deaf Senior Citizens (MDSC), and New England Deaf Senior Citizens, Inc. (NEDSC). She is a former member of Maine Alumni Association for the Deaf (MAAD) and was on the committee for the 135th anniversary. Recently she became a member of Maine Association of the Deaf, Inc. (MeAD).

She was secretary of ICDA for 15 years and treasurer for two years, secretary/treasurer of MAAD for two years, currently and past president of MDSC for eight years and currently the chairperson for the New England Deaf Senior Citizens, Inc. 6th Biennial Conference which will be held in April 2016.

Citizenship Youth Award - Taylor Gagnon

This award is given to a student who is a leader in school and the Deaf community.

Taylor Gagnon has been the role model ever since she arrived at Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. She is never afraid to speak her mind and has a great personality. She has always been very serious in school and worked hard on the Academic Bowl. When she was in 7th grade, there was a citizen’s project and Taylor led her team to win first place with her topic, "The Rights as a Deaf Citizen", and gave a presentation explaining the poster her team developed together.

Taylor is recognized for her leadership. She is currently a sophomore at Portland High School and the only Deaf student who is mainstreamed in all classes in the last few years. Taylor is also involved with Governor Baxter School for the Deaf sports: soccer, basketball. She has school spirit!

Taylor is very persistent with her work and constantly fights to be on top of everything with school and sports. We would like to recognize Taylor Gagnon and congratulate her on receiving this award! 

Ginny Hewes Advocate for the Needs of the Deaf Community Award - Julie Novack

This award is given to a person or organization that advocates for the needs of Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in Maine.

Julie Novack attended the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf beginning at age 4.5 until graduation in 1987.  After graduation, she attended Gallaudet University for a short time before she returned to Maine and followed her photography passion and joined the Konica Photo Company for 10 years.

In 1997, Terry Morrell encouraged Julie to work at Goodwill Industries Deaf Services.  After 10 years and multiple hats as staff and Team Leader for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, Julie became Program Manager.

Concurrently, Julie has taught American Sign Language at University of Southern Maine (USM), University of Maine Augusta (UMA), Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and private tutoring.

In 2007, Julie joined Lutheran Social Services (now Ascentria Care Alliance) as an Assistant Manager, again promoted to Manager for residential homes for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.

In late of 2014, Julie pursued her dream of advocating for Deaf people in the State of Maine and accepted a position at the Maine Center on Deafness as a Civil Rights & Employment Advocate. As a non-profit agency, dependent on fundraising, Julie was instrumental in planning and organizing the Trashion Show soliciting donations to assure all participants were recognized.  She also coordinated the Maine Center on Deafness annual Conference at Colby College in Waterville, ME.

In addition to her employment history, Julie has been actively involved in volunteering and coordinating the annual Deaf Culture Festival held every September on Mackworth Island.

In the past, Julie directed Camp Sign-A-Watha, a camp for Deaf adults with intellectual disabilities to experience life without barriers.  All communication is native to the consumer.  Activities included:  crafts & arts, boating, hiking, fishing, bonfires and over-nights, etc.

Julie's passion for the Deaf community in her home state is inspiring, uplifting and encouraging.  Julie empowers all people to be the best they can be.

Julie is a full-time mother of two beautiful children and lives in Southern Maine.

Julie Novack works hard to advocate for the needs of the Deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened. She is also working on the annual Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing conference.

She’s a strong ally for Deaf people with developmental disabilities. She continues to contribute so much to the Deaf community.

The award is named after Ginny Hewes, who was known as the “I Love You” (in American Sign Language) Lady of Saco. Mother to a Deaf daughter, Ginny became a tireless advocate for not only her own daughter, but for all Deaf children. As a result of her personal advocacy, the Deaf Services Coordinator position was established at the (then) Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, which has, in turn, resulted in specialty signing group homes, culturally competent case management services, linguistically competent mental health counseling services, and the largest source of employment for culturally Deaf signing adults in Maine—social work. Her reach has extended far beyond the needs of her own daughter, beyond even Deaf children, to make a positive impact on all Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Late-Deafened Mainers.

Special Commendation Award - Maine Deaf Senior Citizens

Maine Deaf Senior Citizens (MDSC)

This award is given to an individual or agency whose activities in and with the Deaf community deserve recognition.

Maine Deaf Senior Citizens (MDSC) was founded in 1992 with the help and interest for three long years from William Nye and James Snow. June Carrier helped to find the community hall in Westbrook.

MDSC meets bi-weekly on Tuesday at the Millbrook Estate Community Hall in Westbrook from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bingo and card games are played at 10:30 a.m. and lunch is at noon. The first Tuesday of the month is potluck and the third Tuesday is lunch on your own. 

MDSC attends the New England Deaf Senior Citizens, Inc. (NEDSC) general meeting twice a year.

MDSC has been working on fundraising and planning for the NEDSC conference, which they will host in 2016. They have been meeting once every month since April 2014.

The Department of Labor is an equal opportunity provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.