Congresswoman Louise Slaughter announces the formation of a Task Force to increase job opportunities in the health care profession for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

A task force has been created to increase job opportunities in the health care profession for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Thanks to congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-Fairport, NY), long time supporter of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and creator of the task force, greater awareness is making job opportunities possible for those with hearing loss.

The Task Force on Health Care Careers for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community consists of seventeen people from four nationally recognized centers. According to Slaughter, the task force hopes to overcome two major challenges- the shortage of health care specialists at all levels, and the limited number of career opportunities in health care for qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

The four centers involved- the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester General Health Systems, Gallaudet University in Washington, and the National Center on Deaf Health Research based at the University of Rochester Medical Center- will begin work this summer. Over the next 18 months they plan to develop short- and long-term recommendations for access, education, and social policy.

According to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), job opportunities have previously been limited due to the following incongruencies:

• self-perception by those with hearing loss and perception from the general population that the health care field is inappropriate for those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
• lack of representation by deaf and hard-of-hearing health care professionals who might better understand the needs of patients with hearing loss.

The goals of the Task Force include training students as health care technicians, professionals, and physicians. They also want to provide training to increase communication between physicians and patients. Additionally,their work may lead to an increase in career opportunities for students to become medical interpreters.

To read more about the Task Force on Health Care Careers for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community, check out NTID News.

Task Force members include:

Irene Leigh, Gallaudet University, Psychology (co-chair)
Rose Marie Toscano, NTID Liberal Studies (co-chair)
Kathy Arnos, Gallaudet University, Genetics Program
Gary Behm, NTID Engineering Studies
Nancy Chin, University of Rochester, Department of Community and Preventative Medicine
Richard Doolittle, RIT College of Science
Caroline Kobek-Pezzarossi, Gallaudet University, Psychology
Vivian Lewis, University of Rochester, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Daniel Lundberg, Gallaudet University, Chemistry
Raymond Merritt Jr, Gallaudet University, Biology
Kathleen Miraglia, NTID American Sign Language and Interpreter Education
Robert Pollard, University of Rochester, Psychology
Deidre Schlehofer, University of Rochester, National Center for Deaf Health Research
J. Matthew Searls, NTID Cultural and Creative Studies
David Snyder, Gallaudet University, Chemistry and Physics
Gloria Wilder, CORE Health
Donna VanHousen, Information Services

SOURCES: louise.slaughter.gov, NTID News