The eyes have it … when the ears do not

EDWARD MONCRIEF 9 a.m. PST December 6, 2015

Krystal Rios and Wayne Johnson at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC), located on Padre Drive, Salinas (Photo: Edward Moncrief/For The Salinas Californian)

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Krystal Rios is listening with her eyes, dark olive eyes; eyes sometimes joyful, sometimes questioning but always listening. She hears her co-worker, Wayne Johnson, through her eyes. Although everyone in the room speaks English, Johnson is translating for me to help me with my deficit; I don’t speak American Sign Language (ASL).

Krystal is telling me about her past. She was born in Salinas and has lived here her whole life. She graduated from North Salinas High. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University Northridge. She majored in the provision of services to the deaf. She is now the client services specialist for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC), located on Padre Drive.

Wayne Johnson is the organization’s services coordinator. As he verbalizes Krystal’s signing gestures, she indicates that her mother first brought her to this place when she was a student at Buena Vista Middle School. The latter, along with Toro Elementary and North Salinas High, supplemented her education throughout her school years with specialized classes.

As she grew older, however, her mother found that she needed a different kind of support; the kind of support that Krystal now provides to her clients.

Johnson, the Center’s only other employee, joined DHHSC 24 years ago.

“The agency was just a year old then so, in many ways, I’ve seen a lot of changes, he says. “On the other hand, we’re doing what we’ve always done. We’re the state-chartered provider of services for the deaf and hard of hearing in Monterey and San Benito counties. That’s what we do and that’s all we do; but, still, it’s not that simple.

“For one, we are a field office. The main office is located in Fresno with other additional offices in Merced and Visalia. DHHSC serves eight San Joaquin and Central Coast counties. So, there is the need to coordinate as far as programs, funding, and policies go.

“Then, too, our clients range from infants to 100 years of age. We respond to people who were born deaf and to those who are just realizing that their hearing is deteriorating; suddenly they can no longer understand what their granddaughter’s saying on the phone. That can be very alarming.

“Our primary funding comes from the state — well, from you and me. We all pay a few more cents on our phone bill to support organizations like ours and pay for the resources we provide in facilities and equipment that.”

Johnson points to a cabinet across the room. A rank of telephones sits on the shelf.

“Those machines over there, for example, are video phones. It’s a way to help people communicate, using ASL and modern video. We provide those at no charge.

“Another example I like to use: Some people hear better at higher tones than lower. For them, we have phones with tonal control. They can adjust the pitch of the caller’s voice up or down for greater clarity.”

Throughout our conversation, Johnson continues to sign each spoken word using ASL, thus ensuring that Krystal is not left out. I later learn that ASL was developed back in 1817 by the American School for the Deaf, located in Hartford, Conn., and the oldest school of its kind in the United States.

“You know,” Johnson says, “there’re lots of myths about the deaf. For example, ‘the deaf can lip-read.’ That is assumed to be the cure-all. The truth is lip-reading is not that helpful. Only about 30 percent of words are decipherable on the lips. And even then, you’re losing tone and inflection; subtleties that may change meaning significantly.

“Another one: People think, if I raise my voice, my dad will hear me. For those losing their hearing, it’s often not a matter of sound level. It’s a matter of sound distinction. We can lose the ability to hear the subtleties of speech itself.

“That’s a problem that I’m having as I grow older,” I say. Krystal nods sympathetically as Johnson continues his thought.

“Then, we get moms and dads who say, ‘I don’t want my child to learn ASL. I want her to learn to speak the way I speak.’ But the fact is, for some, ASL is the door to learning their parents’ native language. It sets a foundation to build on.”

Krystal comments with her hands: “I teach ASL to parents who have a deaf child so that they can communicate with their child, and brothers and sisters learn, too. I teach in the home one-on-one if need be; or we have ASL classes here. We’re starting a new class in January, eight weeks.”

“Can I attend?” I ask.

“Sure!” Krystal responds with a broad smile. “I’ll teach you!”

Johnson adds, “Everyone is welcome. It’s really a language-immersion class for one and half hours once a week, usually from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The next one starts Jan. 6. It’s just $35 for all eight sessions.

“You know,” he continues, “90 to 95 percent of children born deaf are born to hearing parents. Those parents have a lot to learn. In a family, a culture can grow up around a deaf child. That culture can be helpful or harmful. The more the parents know, the more they are going to be able to provide the needed support. It’s our job to help them prepare in ways that a school or other medical and social agencies cannot.

“The fact is, when it comes to learning how to communicate one’s needs, the child who starts young will have a happier life. It’s the same for those who experience loss of hearing when they’re older; the sooner they find support, the better.”

Krystal explains, “In addition to ASL, we teach independent living skills; again, sometimes in the office one-on-one or in the home. I’ll show you.”

She leaves for her office and returns with two laminated cards, one in English and one in Spanish.

“We give these to our clients.”

The card tells the reader that the holder is deaf. It offers ways to establish effective communication, such as using a pen and pad or calling for interpreting services. It also provides a summary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Johnson comments, “That card’s especially helpful if someone finds herself pulled over by a traffic cop.”

He continues, “Occasionally, we partner up with another non-profit or a public agency to carry out special projects. We received grants from foundations and private donors to focus on a particular issue for a given period such as outreach to seniors or reading enhancement for younger students. We may do a mass information campaign to make sure people know how to access the services they need.

“We’ve had our R.E.A.L. Program, meaning Reading, Enhancement, and Advanced Literacy. Harden and Monterey Peninsula Foundations funded it for a two-year period. We focused on the child and the parents and siblings working as a unit and devoting resources that will further develop and strengthen literacy and communication skills for the entire family.

“One of our most important on-going programs is advocacy, especially in the job market. People need to know their rights under the ADA. Unfortunately, myths about the deaf also find their way into the workplace. In most cases, if a person has the skills, education, and experience to do a job, there is no reason being deaf or hard of hearing should disqualify him or her. We like to say, ‘The only thing a deaf person can’t do is hear!’

“But employers will ask, ‘Is it safe?’ ‘Will I have to hire someone to interpret?’ ‘What about driving?’ These questions can be readily answered. Studies show that the driving records of the deaf are equal to or better than the general population.

“When you think about the potential for accidents in a factory, for example, the deaf are likely to be more aware of what is happening around them since they are apt to have fewer distractions.

People ask, ‘How will I communicate when they’re out and about?’ I say, ‘Text them.’

“Some accommodation may be necessary in some jobs, especially in the early training period. And we do provide interpreters to meet a specific need but not full time.

“Our hope as advocates for the deaf is to show business owners the long-term benefits both to the job candidate and to the business itself.

“Of course, we have many examples of successful and stable job performance in a variety of settings from school to office and from factory to retail.

“I’ve been here a long time because I can see that DHHSC has a positive effect on people’s lives in many ways, from education to advocacy to the provision of technical equipment to skill development, and on it goes. In the end, we are basically problem solvers. We work toward equal access for the deaf through effective communication.

“Like anyone else, a person who’s deaf just wants the opportunity to succeed. They need a bit of support to level the playing field. That’s a large part of what we do here every day; improving the odds of success.”

As our conversation ends, Johnson hands me the organization’s brochures.

“Our logo shows the ASL sign for ‘connect,’ ” he says, pointing. “Two hands intertwined at the thumb and forefinger. That’s our call to action: ‘Connect, Inspire, Succeed.’ It’s a challenge to us and to our clients.”

Krystal casts her listening eyes my way.

“So,” she asks, “Are you going to sign up for my ASL Class?”

“Absolutely!” I respond.