Role Models Build Dreams

What do you want to be when you grow up?  For deaf and hard of hearing children, role models are an important first step in showing the way.

Chicago Hearing Society’s ARMED program
(Adult Role Models in Education of the Deaf) introduces successful deaf and hard of hearing adults to elementary and secondary school students through classroom presentations. During the 2007-2008 school year, 22 different presenters made 68 presentations to a total of 1,173 students throughout the Chicago area.

“Some of our role model volunteers are deaf adults who sign, some have cochlear implants and use spoken language, a couple of our volunteers are deaf and also have low vision,” notes June
Prusak, CHS Youth Program Manager.  “The
students are interested in learning about a
variety of jobs, so I have recruited a chef, an
environmental scientist, an author, a photographer, people from all walks of life.  Some of our volunteers are from out-of-state but make time to see the students during visits to Chicago.

“It’s always interesting to see what questions the kids will ask,” adds June.  “They will ask the volunteers how they communicate with their co-workers.  That’s a good opportunity to talk about how technology like email, video relay and pagers are used on the job.”

No one’s dreams should be limited by their ability to hear.  ARMED volunteers make sure deaf and hard of hearing children dream big.

Teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students who would like to schedule an ARMED presentation may contact June Prusak at jprusak@anixter.org