Iam.... - Illinois Department of Human Services

Iam....
one of the guys
Jose
Valenzuela
an Autobody
Technician
DRS provides specialized
services to people with
hearing loss, including
individuals who are deaf,
hard of hearing, late
deafened or deafblind.
Our highly trained
Rehabilitation Counselors for
the Deaf (RCDs) assist
customers and individuals
with varying degrees of
hearing loss to achieve their
goals in the areas of
employment, education, and
independent living by
providing counseling and
guidance, assistance with
training and technology,
information and referral, and
job placement services and
follow up.
The Services for Deaf and
Hard of Hearing Unit (SDHH)
provides technical assistance
to counselors and
community partners. SDHH
has staff with expertise in
deafblindness, hard of
hearing issues and
employment issues related
to hearing loss. SDHH staff
serve as resources to
professionals, state agencies,
community organizations
and the public. SDHH
co-sponsors Deaf Awareness
Day to recognize the
contributions of the Deaf
community.
■ 29 Rehabilitation
Counselors for the Deaf
(RCDs) provided
specialized services
throughout the state in
FY 2009.
■ In FY 2009, 2,987 deaf,
hard of hearing, late
deafened and deafblind
customers received VR
services.
■ 437 customers obtained
competitive employment
with the assistance of
RCDs in FY 2009.
■ In FY 2009, the average
hourly wage of a deaf,
hard of hearing, late
deafened or deafblind
individual was $11.55
an hour.
■ Customers entering
competitive employment
through services provided
by RCDs worked an
average of 32.2 hours per
week in FY 2009.
■ 45 percent of customers
entering competitive
employment in FY 2009
received employerprovided
health insurance.
The sound of an impact wrench ratchets in the
background. A hammer pounds out a dent in a
Pontiac Grand Am. It’s a wonder how anyone
can even hear him or herself think! But for
Jose Valenzuela and the staff at Gay’s Body
Shop, Inc., in Ottawa, Illinois, communication
is crystal clear.
From his first day of work/study experience at
Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD), Jose Valenzuela
was interested in autobody. “I really liked working
with tools and watching cars being painted,” he says.
After graduation from ISD, his Rehabilitation Counselor
for the Deaf (RCD), Paul Breidenbach, worked with
him to secure employment as a car detailer. Jose
knew, however, that he had bigger goals in mind: a
home of his own and a family to fill it. Therefore,
taking a second job to gain more experience, even
temporarily, would get him closer to his goal. It was
then that he was introduced to the people at Gay’s Body
Shop, Inc.
As luck would have it, Gay’s needed full-time help. Owner, Grant Crockett, states, “It
didn’t bother us at all to know Jose was deaf. We just knew we would have to work
smarter in order for communication to be effective.” The result: many staff
volunteered to take sign language courses in order to communicate effectively with
Jose. And, as it turned out, those sign language skills came in handy in
communicating with each other over the din at the shop. Jose sums it all up by
saying, “Being one of the guys is one of the best benefits of all.”
I am: a homeowner, a family man, an autobody technician, and one of the guys.
“I always knew Jose would be successful if provided the
right opportunities. Good job, Jose. ISD is very proud of you…
I know I am.” Paul Breidenbach
September
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
7: ICED Meeting
8: ICC Meeting
9: Southland Transition Planning Committee
15: ICDD Meeting and ICDD Executive Committee Meeting
17: ICRE-R Advisory Council Meeting
22: Deaf Awareness Day
20 - 26 Deaf Awareness Week
27 - 28 Transition Leadership Academy