{"id":30485,"date":"2015-04-09T17:33:09","date_gmt":"2015-04-09T22:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=30485"},"modified":"2015-04-09T17:33:09","modified_gmt":"2015-04-09T22:33:09","slug":"its-just-the-right-thing-to-do-tcc-sign-language-grad-volunteers-for-family-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/04\/09\/its-just-the-right-thing-to-do-tcc-sign-language-grad-volunteers-for-family-in-need\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It\u2019s just the right thing to do:\u2019 TCC sign language grad volunteers for family in need"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018It\u2019s just the right thing to do:\u2019 TCC sign language grad volunteers for <\/strong>family in need<\/strong><\/p>\n

January 28, 2015<\/p>\n

By Alexis Patterson<\/p>\n

\"ErinFor Erin Casey, free time is hard to find. Since graduating from Tarrant County College in 2012 with her associate degree in American Sign Language interpreting, she has bridged the gap between hearing and deaf individuals in schools, emergency rooms, graduations, conferences and more. She also mentors TCC\u2019s interpreting students and is preparing to return to the classroom as an adjunct instructor. But one mother\u2019s wish prompted Erin to embrace a huge, new responsibility.<\/p>\n

Tracey has a two-year-old son who has endured difficulties with his ears and hearing since birth. Samuel\u2019s inability to hear properly led to speech problems, and Tracey became desperate to communicate with her son.<\/p>\n

\u201cSamuel gets so frustrated not being able to tell me what he wants or needs,\u201d she says. \u201cHe just falls down and cries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tracey taught Samuel a few signs from a book and realized the potential for sign language to change their lives. She wrote to the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show about her dream to learn sign language. Erin\u2019s friend works for the radio program\u2014and when Erin heard about Tracey and Samuel, she didn\u2019t hesitate to volunteer.<\/p>\n

\u201cTracey is so anxious to learn sign language, and that is just amazing,\u201d Erin says. \u201cUnfortunately, not all parents are like that. Samuel\u2019s life will drastically change. He\u2019ll be a different kid within a couple of months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin and Tracey arranged for three months of private lessons. As Tracey learns, she will teach Samuel.<\/p>\n

\u201cSign language will give me the ability to communicate with Samuel and my son the ability to communicate with others,\u201d says Tracey. \u201cErin has given my family a gift I will forever cherish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin\u2019s generosity doesn\u2019t surprise Sammie Sheppard, TCC\u2019s Sign Language Interpreting Program coordinator.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is one of the hardest workers I know and one of the most caring people I know,\u201d says Sheppard. \u201cErin has always been one to lift others up and give back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin maintained her positive attitude despite serious personal challenges that threatened to derail her education and career. During college, Erin shared one car with her mother and brother, and the family practically lived out of it. Money was very tight, and Erin didn\u2019t see how she could finish the interpreting program.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin was a very talented student with so much ahead of her. There was no way I was going to see her leave the program,\u201d says Sheppard. \u201cWe started to work on ways to get her transportation and other assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin returned to class, but in her final semester, her hands began tingling and going numb\u2014a serious concern for anyone and especially for a sign language interpreter. Shortly after graduation, Erin was hospitalized and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only did she come back from this,\u201d says Sheppard, \u201cshe roared back, determined she would not be defeated by MS.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin took charge of her health, going on a diet and exercise program and losing more than 100 pounds. She also passed her state certification for sign language interpreting and took on a full-time job. Today she is an advanced-level interpreter. Sheppard believes Erin\u2019s experiences will make her an excellent sign language instructor, for college students and for Tracey.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin knows what it\u2019s like to go through a very challenging program with additional personal challenges and come out on top,\u201d says Sheppard. \u201cWe are proud to count her among TCC alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Erin, volunteering her time for Tracey is a way to show gratitude for the blessings in her own life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d been looking for a way to give back, and Tracey\u2019s story touched my heart,\u201d says Erin. \u201cI don\u2019t need recognition for this. It\u2019s just the right thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/sites.tccd.edu\/tccbuzz\/2015\/01\/28\/its-just-the-right-thing-to-do-tcc-sign-language-grad-volunteers-for-family-in-need\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2018It\u2019s just the right thing to do:\u2019 TCC sign language grad volunteers for family in need January 28, 2015 By Alexis Patterson For Erin Casey, free time is hard to find. Since graduating from Tarrant County College in 2012 with…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[23416,4621,11526,23417,1671,3633,1138,1848],"class_list":["post-30485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-alexis-patterson","tag-article","tag-erin-casey","tag-kidd-kraddick-morning-show","tag-sammie-sheppard","tag-sign-language-interpreting-program","tag-tarrant-county-college","tag-tcc"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-7VH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43090,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2022\/06\/17\/tcc-slip-job-opening-opportunity\/","url_meta":{"origin":30485,"position":0},"title":"TCC SLIP Job Opening Opportunity","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 17, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"TCC SLIP Job Opening Opportunity Tarrant County College Sign Language Interpreting Program is seeking a Full-Time ASL\/English Interpreting Instructor. 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