Tammy Frost was born and raised in the Peoria, Illinois area. She is 58 years old and currently lives in Mora, Minnesota. Tammy was born totally blind, but had hearing growing up. She attended public schools and graduated from her local high school. She attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education and a minor in History. As a young adult, Tammy began losing hearing, starting in her late twenties. “Thus far I have been able to be aided and use speech as my primary method of communication.”
Tammy’s first job out of college was working with developmentally disabled adults. She worked with them on social and speech skills. After that experience, she got a job teaching history, math and English skills to adults in a basic education program. She stayed in Michigan for two jobs after graduating from college. Later, Tammy moved to Chicago, Illinois were she worked as a social worker for five years, working with high school students preparing to transition into adult life. She shares, “I taught career and self determination skills to young adults.” After that chapter in Illinois, Tammy found herself moving to Minnesota where she got a job as a career counselor with a local school district. “I worked at the alternative learning program for students who did not fit into the traditional high school setting.” She then added to her employment toolkit by obtaining her insurance license and worked as an insurance agent, primarily doing service work and not sales. Her latest employment journey takes her to today where she is currently working with a homeopath. “I answer her telephone and schedule appointments and give information and referrals.”
Tammy has also authored a children's book entitled "Fay and the Rainy Day.” She is currently working on other books in the series. “I enjoy helping people no matter the work I am doing. I have enjoyed writing my children's books to share my faith and love of animals with others. I am inspired by good writing and by those who help others.”
She shares some challenges at work with hearing people. “I have learned to really listen and use my aided hearing to work with them so that we understand one another.”
Tammy shares the following advice: “Work hard, ask questions, let people know what you need, help people understand your situation and be willing to understand theirs.”
Outside of work, Tammy enjoys spending time with her husband, reading, writing, knitting, my pets and gardening. She and her husband have several cats, dogs, cockatiel birds and chickens. They also have a lot of flowering shrubs that Tammy takes care of. She and her husband also enjoy traveling and just spending time together.
In parting, she shares a thought she is experiencing: “I worry about losing more hearing and having to rely on communication equipment and tactile sign and finger spelling. I love communicating with others and already find struggles with communication just with my total blindness and limited hearing.”
The #CanDoAnything campaign showcases people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing at work, giving them an opportunity to share what they do at their jobs and explain how communication access works for them. This campaign shows what our community can do, which is anything!
[Image description: Tammy smiles as she holds up a children’s picture book, with its pages splayed open showing the illustrations inside.]
Photo credit: Kanabec County Times
