KCDHH News

Open House a success,

much more in store for 2009

The past six weeks have been an extremely busy time at the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) and for the new Executive Director Liz Hill.

Events such as the Louisville Deaf Seniors Thanksgiving dinner, the Gallaudet-Clerc banquet and the recent Holiday Open House have given Hill an excellent opportunity to meet community members and gather input on issues dear to Kentucky’s deaf and hard of hearing constituency.

The Open House on Dec. 13 was very well-received; in fact, there is a possibility it could become an annual tradition. If this seems exciting, please take a moment to see what else the agency has in store for 2009 in the Executive Director’s Vlog

Deaf Since Birth, Delbert Caldwell Finds Work at Columbia Wal-Mart

By Paul B. Hayes on December 18,2008

Photo: Delbert Caldwell was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of working at a regular job when he was hired to work in the produce section at the new Columbia Wal-Mart Supercenter. (Photo by Paul B. Hayes)

When the new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Columbia earlier this fall, it provided job opportunities for more than 200 people.

With employment opportunities very limited in Adair County, there were a lot of folks grateful for the chance to get a job and be able to work close to home. And, none of them were more grateful that 44-year-old Delbert Caldwell.

The reason? Caldwell is deaf, and the job at Wal-Mart is the first “real” job that he’s ever had.

It’s not that Caldwell hasn’t wanted to work that has taken him so long to get a job. But finding a position for a deaf person in Adair County is very difficult to do, according to his sister, Sheila McClister.

“Delbert’s tried to get a job in the past, but wasn’t able to,” she explained. “He can’t just work anywhere, and it takes an employer who’s willing to put forth extra effort and time to work with a deaf person, and he was never able to find that right employer before.”

Deaf since birth, Caldwell attended the Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville, going all the way through grade school and high school, and graduating in 1984.

“We tried to help him find a job after he got out of high school and came back home, but he didn’t get one,” McClister noted. “Plus, Mother was very protective of him and didn’t want him going away, so he just lived here, working around the house.”

Caldwell was even married for a while, to a girl he met while attending KSD, but the marriage ended when she moved back to Georgia to be with her family.

So, for many years, Caldwell just went on with his life, sometimes without too much purpose. He drew a disability check, so he had money to live on, but he wanted more.

“I always prayed that I’d get a job,” Caldwell said in an interview in which his sister served as interpreter. “I wanted to be like a normal person, and go to work every day.”

Then, earlier this fall, two things happened. First, Caldwell got married again. He first met his wife, Dollie, while they were attending KSD, but had lost touch with her for many years before re-connecting via the Internet. Secondly, Caldwell put in his application for a position at the new Wal-Mart.

“He told them that he had just gotten married, and wanted to work to support his wife,” sister Sheila explained. Whether or not his getting married played a part in his getting a job isn’t known, but a short time later he received the news that he’d been waiting to here for a long time – Wal-Mart manager Danny Bragg told him that he’d been hired as an associate.

So, after undergoing training just like all the new Wal-Mart associates, Caldwell began his job, working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the produce section and helping stock shelves.

“I love my job,” Caldwell said. “It get’s a little cold at times (working in the produce cooler), and my knee hurts sometimes from having to be on my feet all night, but I still love it.”

(Caldwell has had to have one knee replaced, and is going to have to have the other one done too, but he says he’s going to hold off on the surgery as long as he possibly can because it doesn’t want to miss any work.)

Caldwell said that the thing he likes best about is job is his fellow associates he works with.

“I love the people I work with,” he said. “They’re always joking with me, plus they’re trying to learn sign language so we can talk more.”

While Caldwell is extremely excited and proud to be working at Wal-Mart, it’s not just a one-way street. Wal-Mart is proud to have him as an employee.

“Delbert is a real conscientious worker,” Wal-Mart assistant manager David Sharp noted. “He is very dedicated, stays focused, and is doing a real good job.”

Sharp said that sometimes it is a little more time consuming working and communicating with Caldwell, but it isn’t a problem.

“Most of the time, we’re able to communicate with him (verbally and through gestures), but if we have any trouble, we just write it out, and he’ll write his reply,” he said.

Sharp said that they’re glad that Wal-Mart has been able to provide a job for Caldwell.

“Delbert’s taken the opportunity and made the most of it,” he stated. “And, we couldn’t be happier with the way things have worked out.”

As for Caldwell, he says he welcomes the opportunity to show that deaf people can be “normal.”

“Most people (he works with) know I’m deaf,” he said. “But, it doesn’t matter if I’m deaf, I can still work.”

Job AD: KSD Job Position of Maintenance Section Supervisor

Maintenance Section Supervisor

Last Updated on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 5:01 AM

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Office of Special Instructional Services, Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) in Danville, Kentucky (Boyle County) has an opening for a Maintenance Section Supervisor.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for the daily supervision and evaluation of the KSD maintenance staff and the efficient and effective operation of the maintenance component of the school. Staff includes a HVAC technician, carpenter, plumber, grounds maintenance staff, and night security officer.

Responsible for staff assignments to maintenance requests and designing schedules.

Maintain staff time and attendance records and complete evaluation process on all eligible maintenance staff.

Responsible for the repairs and maintenance of 17 school buildings and the grounds of a 160-acre campus.

Responsible for repairs to furniture, locks, doors, windows, drywall, electrical equipment, etc.

Mow, trim, and maintain a quadrant of the KSD campus.

Supervise additions to buildings, rooms, and work on renovation of buildings.

Responsible for purchasing supplies and materials and maintaining an adequate inventory or supply of materials.

Assist with repairs and other projects as needed.

Perform other duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

High school graduate. Must have five (5) years of building maintenance, grounds maintenance, general trades, skilled trades, or mechanical maintenance experience.

SUBSTITUTION CLAUSE:

Experience in one of the above or related fields will substitute for the education on a year-for-year basis. Formal training in one of the above or related fields will substitute for the experience on a year-for-year basis.

Pay Grade: 13

Gross Monthly Salary Range: $2670.20-$3554.70

Position #: 51-540-52-05-03-01-001

Applicants and employees in this classification may be required to submit to a drug screening test and background check.

NOTE: TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE, applicants must complete an application via the Career Opportunities System (COS), meet the minimum requirements for the position, and must have passed the appropriate selection method or rank among the top five scores for the competitive register. Passing the appropriate selection method is not required for Internal Mobility applicants. Applicants must also self-nominate themselves via the Career Opportunities System to be considered for the position.

For further information concerning the application process, go to the following link: http://www.personnel.ky.gov/employment/

Inquiries concerning this position should be directed to: Rebecca Ogden, Division of Human Resources, 500 Mero Street, 16^th Floor Capital Plaza Tower, Frankfort, KY 40601 or at 502-564-3716 ext 4341. E-mail: Rebecca.Ogden@education.ky.gov

The closing date to apply for this position is December 27, 2008.

An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/D

For more information contact:

Rebecca Ogden
500 Mero Street, 16th Floor CPT
Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone: (502) 564-3716

Rebecca.Ogden@education.ky.gov

Job AD: Student Development Associate

Student Development Associate

Last Updated on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 5:01 AM

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Office of Special Instructional Services, Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) in Danville, Kentucky (Boyle County) has an opening for a Student Development Associate.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform beginning level duties in providing supervision and instruction to the students at KSD.

Supervise students during on and off-campus school sponsored events and activities.

Enforce and apply school policies as they relate to students.

Work with students to participate in daily activities, i.e., behavior, parental contacts, and instructional department contacts.

Maintain communication link with instructional program.

Participate in staffing/meetings as they relate to students.

Provide informal counseling and assist with literacy programs, homework, and study time.

Monitor student behavior and location

Maintain inventory of supplies for the student life area.

Maintain appropriate records relative to students and programs while respecting confidentiality in programs and communications.

Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

High school graduate.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to the previously described qualification, an employee in this classification must furnish to the agency’s appointing authority within twelve (12) months of appointment or entrance into this class, documentation that he/she possesses the Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) rating of “Survival” level.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

Prior knowledge of the American Sign Language (ASL)

Pay Grade: 8

**Gross Monthly Salary Range: $1381.80 – $1830.44

**This is a full-time ten-month position that does not perform duties during June and July. The annual salary is based on ten months and is calculated to be distributed throughout twelve months.

This is a second-shift position.

Position #: 51-540-52-05-01-02-010

Applicants and employees in this classification may be required to submit to a drug screening test and background check.

NOTE: BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE, applicants must complete an application via the Career Opportunities System (COS), meet the minimum requirements for the position, and must have passed the appropriate selection method or rank among the top five scores for the competitive register. Passing the appropriate selection method is not required for Internal Mobility applicants. Applicants must also self-nominate themselves via the Career Opportunities System to be considered for the position.

For further information concerning the application process, go to the following link: http://www.personnel.ky.gov/employment/

Inquiries concerning this position should be directed to: Rebecca Ogden, Division of Human Resources, 500 Mero Street, 16^th Floor Capital Plaza Tower, Frankfort, KY 40601 or at 502-564-3716 ext 4341. E-mail: Rebecca.Ogden@education.ky.gov

The closing date to apply for this position is December 27, 2008.

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/D

For more information contact:

Rebecca Ogden
500 Mero Street, 16th Floor CPT
Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone: (502) 564-3716

Rebecca.Ogden@education.ky.gov

Prep Basketball: North Hardin Christian 71, KSD 45

North Hardin Christian 71, Kentucky School for the Deaf 45 – At Radcliff, the Colonels (3-3) fell behind early and never recovered in a loss to North Hardin Christian.

Dustin Tipton had 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals while Jordan Ramser had 13 points, six boards and four steals. Travis Zornoza added 11 points and four assists for KSD.

The Colonels trailed 31-19 at the half, but North Hardin Christian went ahead 60-28 after three quarters. KSD turned the ball over 37 times.

“I was pleased with the way our team played without one of our starting guards, who sat out due to injury,” KSD coach Mike Yance said. “We need to work on defense and rebounding. It was a good experience for our inside players playing against their 6-6 big man. We were simply killed by NHC’s second chances. We were outsized.”