• Director's Report
• Jr. National Association of the Deaf Region One Conference in Maine
• Enjoy an Interview with Darleen Hutchins

Director's Report

Terry Morrell, Director Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened

It may only be May but it's a good time to start thinking of nominations for the Annual Deaf Culture Tea Awards. Information will be available soon on how and where to nominate. We look forward to the nominations and seeing you at our Annual Deaf Culture Tea Awards on September 21, 2017, 2-4 PM at the Hall of Flags in Augusta.”

This year Maine had the opportunity to host the Jr. National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Region One Conference April 7-9, 2017. It was a very successful event and I had the opportunity to attend workshops and other activities. It was great to see the students engaged in workshops, socializing and other activities. Please see the article below from Darleen Hutchins and Marisa Zastrow about the event.

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) staff were here in Maine April 10-14, 2017 for monitoring of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. During the week, there were opportunities to highlight new collaborations that are benefiting DVR clients who are Deaf and hard of hearing. Two Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf (RCD) participated in a session on “Pre-Employment Transition Services” for students and shared information on the Maine Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student’s Guide to Transition. RSA was very pleased to learn about this helpful guide that assists students to prepare for life after high school by addressing topics such as preparing for work, the ADA, self-advocacy and when to apply for VR services. The RCD’s also highlighted the collaborative work with Maine Educational Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH) to provide the Transition Career Exploration Workshop (TCEW) and other transition activities for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

In another session on “Innovative Practices”, I shared how DVR collaborated with the Maine Center on Deafness (now Disability Rights Maine / Deaf Services) to develop a Deaf-friendly Career Exploration Workshop (CEW) curriculum – and the positive response from Deaf clients to inclusion of more visual components and role-playing. 

We hope you enjoy reading Maine-Lines! 

Jr. National Association of the Deaf Region One Conference in Maine

Written by Darleen Hutchins and Marisa Zastrow

Students attending the Jr. National Association of the Deaf Region One Conference at the Maine Educational Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing on Mackworth Island in Falmouth.

Students from Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Marie Philip School and Rhode Island School for the Deaf attended the Jr. National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Region One Conference hosted in Maine the weekend of April 7-9, 2017 at Mackworth Island.

The theme of the conference this year was “Connections”. The idea was to help students understand that everything is connected. Connections are found everywhere in concepts, relationships, events, issues, and ideas. There were three focal points of talking about connections. These were: self-advocacy, leadership and innovation. 

Far to front: Terry Morrell, Sitara Sheikh, unknown and Allie Rice, NAD Youth Ambassador Program coordinator.

In self-advocacy, the workshop focused on bullying. Leadership focused on understanding the different types of leadership, and innovation gave light to the De’VIA movement (Deaf art). Allie Rice, the Youth Ambassador Program coordinator from National Association of the Deaf, was in attendance as a keynote speaker. Her presentation wrapped up the entire conference and talked about using these new skills to prevent and deal with cyberbullying. 

Students fist-bumping in a circle with colorful bracelets.

Emma, a junior from John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor commented, "The Jr. NAD Region One Conference helped me grow in several ways. In the Deaf community I'm not as self-conscious and I feel that I can be a leader and be myself at the same time. Several of the workshops at the conference helped me to do this even more."

Students who attended the conference engaged in a teamwork activity using only mini marshmallows and toothpicks to build a bridge that had to support the weight of books. If their bridge failed, their team had to explain why they thought it had failed. Victoria Locicero, a sophomore from Topsham High School, expressed that, “The bridge activity was my favorite, it was a good team building activity and I made new friends from other schools” This activity helped promote critical thinking and problem solving skills, very necessary skills for these students future.

Bridges students made out of toothpicks and mini marshmallows.

This conference was a collaboration with University of Southern Maine’s (USM) American Sign Language Interpreting Program. The goal was to provide an opportunity for student interpreters to practice their skills in a safe place. Eight students participated in the weekend’s events. Opportunities included interpreting in the kitchen with Deaf staff and students, who were working on their culinary skills, “mirror” interpreting for keynote presentations and workshops, and a tour of the museum to learn the history of the island and the Maine Deaf community. After a weekend of developing and strengthening their skills, the USM students left the island with true connections to a greater community. The experience the collaboration provided was incredibly unique and nothing that a classroom environment could provide. The aspiring interpreting students departed for home with a feeling of welcoming and thankfulness.  

The weekend provided a much needed social event for Maine’s Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. They enjoyed the walk around the island, the pet cemetery and the museum. Madison, a senior from Bangor High School, said, “It was awesome! I met new people and got to mingle with friends.”

The collaboration of Maine Association of the Deaf, Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, University of Southern Maine’s American Sign Language Interpreting program, Disability Rights Maine and numerous visits from the Maine Deaf community and staff of the above mentioned, provided a very successful and wonderful weekend for our Deaf and hard-of-hearing students at the Jr. NAD Region One Conference.

Special thanks to: Terry Morrell, Allie Rice, Michelle Ames, Kristine Gile and Regan Thibodeau for the wonderful workshops and presentations!

Enjoy an Interview with Darleen Hutchins

Darleen Hutchins

Could you share with us what your family life was like as a child?

I grew up in Oxford County. In the town I lived in, I was the only Deaf child. I had two analog hearing aids at the age of two. I was able to function quite well until the 3rd grade. It was then that I became painfully aware that I was different from my peers. I also started noticing that I was left out quite often in my family events. I was not able to keep up with the quick conversations that were happening. I have experience isolation. I was also very loved and supported by my family when I decided to leave home to attend Maine Educational Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH). A decision that brought us closer. My family does not know American Sign Language (ASL); they do try their best to use what little they do know. Unfortunately ASL classes were not available as they are now.

What mode of communication did you use as a child? 

My first language was English and I was oral; I started learning ASL at 14 years old and I believe that saved my life! I am now a Bi-modal/Bi-lingual person. I love language! Because I learned ASL, it helped my English and because my English got better, my ASL flourished. I enjoy playing with languages and it is even more fun that I can do it with two languages.

Where did you go to school?

I attended high school at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Portland Arts & Technology High School. I graduated from Southern Maine Community College and University of Southern Maine (USM). I have a Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in Liberal Arts, with a minor in Leadership.

What is your family life like now?

My partner is Daniel Winship; he is an artist and we have two wicked cool kids. Dylan (hearing) is 13 years old and takes pride in being taller than me. He is into Circus Maine where he is in an intermediate class for tumbling; he also loves being out and about on his scooter. Danielle (Deaf) is 9 years old and she has been dubbed my mini me. She loves swimming and identifies currently as a mermaid, she is also taking karate. Both of my kids are Bi-modal/Bi-lingual and love to play with their languages. As a family we have many great adventures. We love science, art and the outdoors.  

Have you always lived in Maine?

I am a Maine native. I spent two years in California and four years in Florida. I always find myself heading back to Maine. I am here to stay.

What kind of work have you done? 

I have worked at Hannaford and Walmart as a cashier. I have worked at MECDHH on and off since the year 2000. I have been an educational technician, a substitute, Jr. NAD advisor, worked in a Maine public school as an educational technician, taught ASL through USM. Taught Visual Gesturalization and was a peer support coordinator under Disability Rights Maine (DRM). I was a community educator, taught ASL to the community, public schools and a charter school in Florida, I have worked literacy camps, summer schools, Camp Invention as an instructor, been a parent guide under Hands and Voices, and a mom. I volunteer quite a bit as well. I am co-chair of the Deaf Culture Festival and Deaf Awareness Week, founder of ASL LIVE! Maine Association for the Deaf, and various projects around the community.

As a deaf professional what would be your proudest accomplishments? 

My students. When they grow up and come back to have discussions with me about the world. When they become more independent. When their language grows. When I can see them accomplish difficult things. When I catch them being kind human beings. My students, I love them all as I love my kids and only want the best for them.

Where do you work? 

I proudly work at MECDHH/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (GBSD) Portland High School Program!

What do you do? 

I am an Educational Technician III. I work with students in the classroom and assist the teacher. I am also the Jr. NAD advisor.

What population do you work with? 

I work with a variety of Deaf/hard-of-hearing students from preschool to college.

What are some of your successes? 

Helping Deaf/hard-of-hearing students find their inner power, working with Deaf students who come from other countries that have no language, and being able to work with a wide variety of students in the K-12 grades.

I took the time recently to reflect back on the past 25 years of my life. I looked through Facebook and was given a box of old photos from my mom. Within these memories I realized how rich my life is. I did not have a difficult childhood; I was loved and had two of the best parents ever. I once asked my mom “What do you think I would be like if I were hearing?” My mom said “you would not be you, and I do not want you to be hearing because then you would not be who you are today.” She really is a remarkable woman.

It wasn’t just my deafness that contributed; I had difficult moments that helped me become who I am today. I made mistakes, took on too much, I suffer from chronic depression, I have been a victim, I have been vulnerable, I have been oppressed, I have been pushed down and had my heart broken. It seems dark, but I have also experienced the learning from mistakes, learning to say no and to let it go, I deal with the ups and downs of depression, overcome being a victim and forgiving, became stronger, stood up to oppressors, gotten up and mended my heart so that I could love again. I stood in the light as I experienced my Deafhood journey and found my way as a human being whose gift is to teach.

I hope that whoever reads this will remember even in the darkest of times, there is light no matter how small it shines.

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