DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

About Me...

 

 

 

 This is the tag I put on my bag over 6 years ago to distinguish it from the other transcribers.

Little did I know at that time how prophetic it was.

 

 

 

 

 

The path that has brought me to this point in my life where I have been a student once again has been full of unexpected turns, several obstacles and amazing people. I have always had the desire to assist, educate, and advocate for others. Looking back, my story really started with Cindy, a young girl who was Deaf. She was 5, I was 13 and her temporary babysitter for a few weeks that summer.  Her parents told me “She can’t hear. Just do the best you can.” Her older brother made no attempt to communicate with her either, but I did. The sad fact is 88% of hearing parents of a Deaf child do not learn sign language(1). Being the child of educators myself, a child who spent her time playing school, I was determined to find a way to communicate with Cindy and I did. We made up our own signed language. We used the written word and objects, pictures, and drawings so that we could play and so that I could attend to her needs and fix her favorite foods. I have never forgotten Cindy.

 

I set off for college wanting to continue on to law school, believing I could make a real difference in that arena. By the end of my third semester, I was married, working full time for a law firm, and taking night classes. Disillusioned with the legal field, dreams of law school faded, and the focus became on just finishing college. While being a stay-at-home mother with two sons, I volunteered teaching English to non-English speaking children, leading a Boy Scout troop, advocating for children as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), and helping in my sons’ classrooms, always looking for a way to meet, interact and assist others and further my education as we moved to six different states in a period of 18 years.

 

Needing to reenter the work force, I was hired by the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) six years ago and trained as a TypeWell Transcriptionist to serve Deaf/Hard of Hearing students with real-time transcription. It was through this occupation I finally found my passion and I feel like I get to continue what I started with Cindy all those years ago. A Deaf student once told me, "Communication is everything". Being able to facilitate communication is one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of a student’s journey through higher education as I have continued my own. The additional links on the left, Justine and Vanessa, are students I have transcribed for at UNK. These students, my coworkers and family refer to me as "Becky". My name is Angelina Rebecca, "Becky" for short. I wanted to showcase some of the students I have had the pleasure of working with due to the national unemployment rate for individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing being close to 75%. They are paving the way for change.

 

Currently, I supervise the transcription process while still providing transcription to students and I assist in fulfilling a variety of accommodation requests.  I am a member of AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) and WINAHEAD (Western Iowa and Nebraska Association on Higher Education and Disability).

 

As I finish the Master’s in Disability Studies program, I feel as though it is perhaps time to explore some new paths where I can apply all that I have learned. The years of repetitive motion have taken their toll, yet my passion for helping individuals with disabilities, especially those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, has not wavered. I am not sure where I am headed with this new-found wealth of knowledge, experience, and skill.  I just hope that there is as much joy in this next journey.

 

Sources:

(1) Why Parents of Deaf Children Don't Learn Sign Language: http://bit.ly/21gOezO

(2) Deaf to Work. http://bit.ly/1L1Chds

 

 

 

 

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.