[Video opens with an animated slide with blue and green blocks moving onto a white background, which transitions to a white slide, with the logo for the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing on top, and the logo for the Minnesota Employment and Economic Development Vocational Rehabilitation Services logo on bottom. Video transitions to new slide, showing “CanDoAnything Panel Interviews: Deaf Community Members”. Animated blocks of green and blue slide into a white background with text: “The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the panelists and moderator and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the state of Minnesota.” Video transitions an animated pattern of blue and teal shapes that transitions to a video to show Elise Knopf, who is signing.]
>> Elise: Hello, and good morning! My name is Elise Knopf and I work for Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR). I’m thrilled to partner today with the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. Through this partnership, we have hosted several panels where Deaf professionals have shared their stories about their work and employment journeys and their experiences handling accommodations in the workplace. Today, we are thrilled to present a panel, and to tie it in with the #CanDoAnything campaign spearheaded by the Commission. Now, on a personal note, I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and Iowa, went to college in Iowa, followed by Gallaudet for graduate school. Now I've been working in Vocational Rehabilitation services since 2012, and prior to that, I had a diverse work experience. I’m excited to present the panel today and learn more about these individuals so allow me to introduce the panelists. First, we have Jessica Kennedy.
[Elise gestures to the side, and video transitions to Jessica Kennedy. She signs.]
>> Jessica: Hello and thank you for inviting me!
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Thank you, good morning, and next we have David Uzzell.
[Video cuts to David Uzzell, who signs.]
>> David: Hello everyone, good morning.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: And last, but not least, we have Bri Herold.
[Video cuts to Bri Herold, she signs.]
>> Bri: Hello and good morning.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Thank you all so much for giving your time to this. I know the students will benefit from watching your stories and experiences. You all were once students yourselves. Me too. I’m curious about how to help the students find their passions, learn more about themselves, as they analyze who they are and how they can contribute to society and determine their future employment goals. Would you mind backing up and allow us to learn a bit more about where you went to high school? Jessica?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: Yes. My experience is a bit different as I was born a CODA, and was mainstreamed at a private Catholic school, but during high school, my hearing deteriorated to the point where I became fully Deaf.
[Video cuts to Elise.]
>> Elise: Thank you for sharing. Next, David?
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Sure. I grew up in Chicago, Illinois and I was mainstreamed and that was all the way through high school.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Okay. Bri?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: I grew up mainstreamed, really, I was the only deaf student in the school district until 10th grade when I transferred to Metro Deaf School in St. Paul.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Wow! What diverse experiences with high school! We are aware of the variety of options, some Deaf students attend schools for the deaf while others are mainstreamed, others are the single Deaf student in the entire school. Some are home schooled as well. There’s a diverse range of communication modes as well. Think back about your experiences with high school, can you share a bit with us about what support you had? Was there someone you looked up to? Friends, family who helped guide you through your journeys of deciding what to do?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I laughed because for me, it wasn’t a straightforward journey. It was not linear. After graduating from high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I started out with going to community college where I got my associate degree, and transferred to the University of Minnesota where I was still deciding on what I wanted to do. Still didn’t know so I talked with several friends and family about it. I had a few friends who themselves were older and more experienced. So that journey of how to graduate school on time, and then balance life and studies was challenging, and I was able to learn through their experience.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Good. Thank you. David?
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Yeah, great question. Back in high school, I considered becoming a teacher or a lawyer, and then I went to Gallaudet University and during that period of my life, I didn’t really have a sense of direction about what I wanted to do. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and post-graduation, I searched for a job for several months. A good friend of mine had just been hired at a restaurant and offered me a job. I couldn't say no to that. I figured I would do that for a couple of years, and pay my bills until I figured out what I wanted to do next. Whether that was graduate school or something else? But I liked it and just jumped into that profession for the next ten years. During that time, I worked in fine dining, even at the White House. It took me to Sweden too. Eventually I became the manager of a Deaf-owned restaurant in Washington DC, named Mozzeria. Then the coronavirus hit and I started up a business that focuses on tutoring Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in K-12 settings through Continuing Adult Education programs. We did that online. Now I work for the state of Minnesota.
[Video cuts to Elise.]
>> Elise: Wow, what a diverse experience you have had. Your journey was not a straight shot but a meandering path, and I think that is true for all of you - one never knows exactly what you all want to do after high school. High school is when one starts learning about themselves. Next, we have Bri.
[Video cuts to Bri.}
>> Bri: Back in high school, I had no idea of what I wanted to do. I remember stressing out about that. I made a list of all the possible majors I could pursue at Gallaudet. I just decided to pick one and hope it was the right choice. Even so, that decision-making was stressful. I spent four years through graduation with the same major. I did not change majors at all, and after graduation, I realized I chose the wrong major. But that’s okay. I ended up finding my own way after that. Now I like where I am now. It’s OK to change your mind - you don’t have to decide right now.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: That’s a good point, one does not need to decide right now. The important thing is to have someone there that one can talk with, who can help with navigating through that decision-making process. Oh, Bri, did you want to add something?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: Yes. In high school, those who supported me were the teachers at the deaf school because they went through the same experience themselves. I was able to ask about their experiences in college, how they decided on their jobs, etc. Just be curious and find out more information about people around you and their experiences. Then when entering college, it’s finding the balance between having fun and learning, getting to know your professors, and networking with people outside school as well. Meeting deaf people who are already working in the field that you want to work in. Ask them what it is like and see if you are indeed interested in that field. Ask them how they got there and follow their steps.
[Video cuts to Elise.]
>> Elise: I appreciate that you were able to ask folks and having that as a resource to learn more about your choices. Did either of you want to add more? Or do you have someone who helped you think about your career choices?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I’d like to add this. After I graduated from college, I thought about going into law school. Thought about it, and I knew it would be a huge investment to make. However, I was in a great situation because I had an uncle, and while I lived here in Minnesota, he lived in Wisconsin. He just happened to have a neighbor who was a deaf judge. I mean, wow, what are the odds of that happening? The only deaf judge, and he arranged for me to drive over and have coffee with this gentle and friendly man, as I listened to his advice regarding his experiences, the challenges, the barriers, strategies that were used. I learned a great deal. It was a wonderful discussion.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Yes, it is vital to make those kinds of human connections, find someone to ask about their experiences, someone you feel safe with. David? Would you like to add something?
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Yeah. When I was working as a chef, I was able to ask my boss, the chef, and my co-workers about their experiences anytime, like if I was having a bad day? What do I do? Or if I become a manager, how do I make those difficult decisions? Or those times when I am doubting myself? So I would just ask them for advice. Same with the start-up business, I utilized my access with Deaf entrepreneurs and the resources and their knowledge. I took notes and learned from them the best I could.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: I know the students might feel unsure of where to start or how to even ask someone, but they're learning that it’s OK to ask someone. Everyone starts somewhere. Yes?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I’d like to go ahead. I think people do enjoy talking about themselves. It’s the truth. They probably appreciate the fact that someone is asking them!
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Yeah. And to add to that. Feel free to ask your teachers, your parents, friends, and so on. They might know someone who is in the field that you are thinking of. You never know who they might know.
[Video cuts back to Elise, who is nodding and smiling.]
>> Elise: Well, maybe they’re not thinking of that specific field, but they might know of someone who can guide them into another field and to somewhere. Like all of you. You all had non-linear journeys of discovery to arrive to the point where you all are today. As to where you’re working now, how did you get there? Why did you choose that specific job?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: Right now, I’m a lawyer. There was not one thing, not only one cause. I think it was a combination of things that led me here. There was much self-assessment, listening, watching for clues. A lot of things directed me to this path. For me, this is the right path. This is my purpose. Be open minded and listen to the people, the things that are happening in your life. There’s introspection. Take quiet time to listen for what motivates and inspires you. It’s an opportunity to find your passion in life.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Thank you. Yes, David?
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Well, I got to where I am today, and right now, I work for the state of Minnesota. A side note, I moved here to Minnesota last year, and I also chose to change my career, and that’s OK. What you decide to do now does not mean you have to stick with it for the rest of your life. It’s OK to decide to change your path in life. Figure out what you need to arrive at that new next point in your life. So how did I get here? I looked online on the state of Minnesota website and saw an opportunity that appealed to me, so I seized the opportunity and applied for it, and that led to an interview and I got hired.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: That’s wonderful. Bri?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: I’m still working as a data engineer for the New York Times. How I arrived there is a long story, but the nutshell version is that I started out as a biology major, working for the National Institute of Health (NIH), in the wet lab. I truly did enjoy doing that but after three years there, I realized that I wanted to do something different. I enrolled in graduate school and revamped my skills in computer science and graduated. Yet I changed my decision again and went back to school to become a data analyst. That led to me working for a company in San Francisco, and I changed my mind, and now I work for the New York Times. How I ended up there is through my network where I talked with other Deaf people who work in computer science. I asked them what type of work they were doing, what it was like for them in that environment. The reason I chose this type of work was because it was a remote position. I can communicate with my co-workers through the Slack app. I can use virtual remote interpreters online, so it was more accessible for me. Much easier to see everyone on screen rather than look around back and forth in a live meeting room face to face. I also enjoyed the work itself - that’s important too.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: I know that you have mentioned keeping an open mind, using different resources to help through it - would you mind sharing the accommodations that you use - what type of accommodations do you use and why?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: During law school, it was a very English-heavy communication norm, where language itself is critical with legal-related terminology used. During that time, I used CART captioning. After graduation and entry into the workplace, my preferences changed to using ASL interpreters due to a more personalized touch, especially for in-person interactions. But I did not utilize interpreters as much as I wish I had. Looking back, I wish that I had used interpreters more often. I wish that I had advocated more for full time designated interpreters. Instead, I was more willing to lipread and put the burden on myself. I wish I had advocated more for myself. But now I work for CSD, Communication Services for the Deaf, in a remote position, and the entire outreach team is deaf or hard of hearing. I now use sign language as my main mode of communication at work and utilize Zoom and Slack platforms to communicate with my team. The accessibility there is different, so much easier. Now I do not really need accommodations in the traditional sense anymore.
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: It’s good to see the changes over time regarding accommodations, depending on what your needs are and the work environment. David?
]Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Sure. That’s a great question. While I was working as a cook, I remember using written communication and lipreading and eventually I realized that it wasn’t working out for me. I started to ask for text-based communication for clarification and understanding. Lipreading led to frequent misunderstandings and that took a toll on our communication. I taught my coworkers some sign for simple work-related instructions to ease that barrier a bit. In my current work with the state of Minnesota, I use a variety of accommodations. For example, in face-to face interactions, I use interpreters and captioning for team meetings. Also I cannot emphasize enough that it is critical to have a stable and consistent team who can be more aware of your communication needs. That has improved my experience for the better.
[Video cuts back to Elise, she nods in understanding.]
>> Elise: Bri?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: Right now, at my work, I have been using ASL interpreters during all of my meetings. I’m Deaf and do not use speech, so I keep the microphone turned off and watch both the AI captioning and the interpreter, who is pinned on the screen. That way I can watch all three including the speaker and get a full picture of what’s happening during the online meeting. I do meet with the interpreters on my own time to create a list of terminology used in my field because my workplace has specific terminology we use. These terminologies may not have a sign equivalent, so we must create our own. I work with the interpreters to create those signs or agree to spell them out, which leads to effective communication at my workplace. Also, when we meet in person, I do use interpreters as well, but I use my phone to text back and forth with the person, as well as using Slack to communicate with team members who are working remotely. Slack is an app where workers can communicate directly with their team using text-based communication. Today’s technology is rather nice to have!
[Video cuts back to Elise.]
>> Elise: Oh, I agree that today’s technology is nice! Wish we had captioning and such like back when I was just starting in college instead of relying on lipreading and reading books, trying to keep up. It is wonderful to have even more accessibility tools to use today, more now than ever. Any of you want to add any more information?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: At my current job, I use two ASL interpreters who rotate every 15 minutes or so. I also work remotely so all my meetings are online through Zoom. I can pin the interpreters on my screen so I can watch them and the speaker at the same time as well as reading the captions below. This helps me when I am speaking about something, I can check the captioning to ensure the interpreters are voicing for me well and using correct terminology. Using both interpreters and captioning can help one understand the context better. I also use Slack, which is a messaging app where I can send direct texts to my coworkers, so that’s really nice to have. It’s very accessible that way.
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I have to ask - for your meetings, do you use the same two interpreters, or do they switch them out each meeting? I know they switch out every 15 minutes, but are they the same interpreters for all meetings?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: That’s a great question, I started my current job about five months ago, so I had to contract with a new interpreting agency. They’re still working on building my interpreting team. Right now, I work with fifteen interpreters who rotate, so I can figure out which ones are a good match for me and put them in my preferred interpreter pool. So out of those fifteen, I have four that I try to request as often as I can, but it all depends on their availability.
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I’m curious for David, if you work for a Deaf-centric employer like in the past, having Deaf role models who you look up and learn from, how does one find them and how does that work out?
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Well, that’s a good question. One of my role models while I was a cook, was a chef that I had worked with. Whenever I had a particular situation, I felt free to just nudge them and ask for their input. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s vital to advocate for oneself and share the resources and accommodations that you need to be the best possible student, the best possible employee, and to work with each other to make that possible.
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I think what’s needed is advocacy education. Educate your boss, especially about your needs, why you need those, etc. Sometimes they do need help with finding where accommodations are or how to make arrangements. So be prepared to educate others, be your own advocate as well.
[Video cuts to Elise.]
>> Elise: Well, that brings us to the spot where we think about how to add to our toolboxes - tips, resources for students, ideas for them to consider. Do you all have something to help them as they travel through life and what it entails? Bri?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: One tip that I’d like to share is to seek a peer group that shares the same interest that you do. For example, if you’re interested in engineering, there’s a group called Deaf Pros. There’s about four hundred people in that group. You can reach out to them and ask, ‘Hey, there this situation with a hearing coworker, and what would you do?’ They can share insight on how to handle that kind of situation or just to hang out. It can be lonely in a hearing-centric environment. It’s nice to have the kind of group that one can go home to.
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I found a professional group consisting of Deaf lawyers and legal professionals from all over the country. I think there’s maybe two hundred members total. Maybe fifty of them are lawyers. But there's a diversity of communication and identity in that group so it’s very nice to have a common ground that we share, just like you do with the Slack communication group, asking how to approach things. This group is similar. Having that peer support truly does make a difference.
[Video returns to Elise.]
>> Elise: You know, thinking about it, there’s really no right way or wrong way, but what’s right for you. Figuring out that individual journey, making decisions, and sometimes looking back and thinking on decisions that didn’t turn out well and what we can learn from those. There are lessons to be learned, and sometimes they are difficult ones. Do you have any that you’d like to share?
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I think it’s important to spend some time with yourself, with no distractions, be able to unplug from the world and to sit and do a self-analysis, thinking about where you want to go next in life, what your future might look like, etc. Then plan that out starting today. For me, that was helpful to figure out what I wanted to do and how to get to this point. What might things look like in ten years? It’s important to find a good balanced life, enjoy life and studying and the work that you do.
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: That’s something that’s easy to say but very hard to do. If you can find that balance, then it’s all good. Your future will be solid.
[Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: I think you both might have had this experience too but, in many fields, we still see many barriers and you want to look for someone who’s already been through it and ask about their experiences but sometimes there’s no one to ask. Continue to break those barriers down. Take the risk. Try it yourself, do not regret it. It’s possible in five or ten years, you will regret not trying it. I’m encouraging you all to try and break those barriers. Do you two share the same thought?
[Video cuts to Bri.]
>> Bri: Similar thoughts yes, but also two thoughts about that. My experience has been that when I was in high school and college because the Deaf community is close-knit and supportive of each other, telling each other, “Go ahead, do your best! You can do that!” To a Deaf student, that can come off as feeling pressured into doing something that they do not really want to do. For example, I was pressured into going to medical school to get a PhD. They said I was smart, and I could do it, but I questioned if it really was what I wanted. It can be hard for young students to separate what others want of me, and what I want for myself. So do that self-analysis and figure out what you actually want for yourself.
[Video cuts to Elise.]
>> Elise: I love that thought, the separation of what is wanted of you, and what you want to do. It does take time to figure that out. Okay. Any final words of advice? Ideas? Yes?
[Video cuts to David.]
>> David: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
]Video cuts to Jessica.]
>> Jessica: Don’t be afraid to fail.
[Video returns to Elise.]
>> Elise: These are words of wisdom, indeed. Wonderful. Thank you so much for your time. Your feedback, your stories, testimonials. I know the students will really benefit from watching what you’ve shared. We work with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) where we provide services for students. For example, counseling guidance, career exploration, job tours, mentoring. I mean, these are additional ways the students can learn about the options that are out there for them, and through this panel - just being able to do things differently. The Commission also has a wealth of resources as well for students to utilize, and the National Deaf Center has resources for students as well. Especially today when there are more and more deaf individuals who are going out and being seen. We’re not afraid to share their stories. We appreciate your time today. We will have a list of resources available that will be shared at the end of this video. Thank you for watching and we hope you enjoyed it.
[Video transitions to a white slide with dark text showing a list of resources. New slide shows additional text: “The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & hard of Hearing and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Vocational Rehabilitation Services thank Panelists: Jessica Kennedy, David Uzzell, and Brienna Herold; Interpreters: David Evans, Patty Gordon, Erica Alley, and Yoshiko Chino; Keystone interpreting Solutions for video production.” The KIS logo is on the bottom right corner.]
All participants approved their content before release.
