EDUCATION <\/p>\n
Deaf students, instructor learn plenty in auto repair class <\/p>\n
Don Twomey says it’s easy to work with the teens at School for the
\nDeaf. <\/p>\n
By Claire Osborn <\/p>\n
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF <\/p>\n
Monday, April 07, 2008 <\/p>\n
Don Twomey, 47, could barely keep up with his students as they
\nfiercely blasted the rust off a 1977 El Camino with sanders. Trotting
\namong eight teenagers who have hearing loss, Twomey showed them how to
\nrun their hands along the car’s body to locate dents and then how to
\nsmooth the bumps with plastic filler. <\/p>\n
Since January, he has been the volunteer teacher for an auto repair
\nclass in a garage at the Texas School for the Deaf. <\/p>\n
“It’s kind of refreshing,” said Twomey, who owns Twomey Auto Works, a
\nbody repair shop on South Congress Avenue. “These kids help each other
\na lot more than other people I’ve worked with. They are smart and
\nintuitive.” <\/p>\n
The school is across the street from Twomey’s shop. Working with the
\nschool, Twomey said, is an “easy fit.” <\/p>\n
One of his employees is deaf and began working for him 10 years ago
\nafter graduating from the school, Twomey said. <\/p>\n
“I have learned a lot from him,” he said. <\/p>\n
Because of Twomey’s proximity to the school and his experience
\nworking with an employee who has hearing loss, the school asked him to
\nteach the class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, said Claire Bugen, the
\nschool’s superintendent. <\/p>\n
Bugen said Twomey has a wonderful style with the students. <\/p>\n
“He is easygoing, uses humor and is not afraid to give his beginning
\nsign language a try,” Bugen said. “Often the class interpreter
\nindicates she has nothing to do because he does so well with the
\nstudents.” <\/p>\n
Twomey said he has learned a few words in sign language. <\/p>\n
“I’ve learned how to say ‘old,’ ‘crazy,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘bad,’ ” he
\nsaid, grinning. <\/p>\n
His eight students, speaking through interpreter Theresa Goodnight
\nduring one of their classes last week, had nothing but praise for
\nTwomey. <\/p>\n
“He doesn’t sit back,” said Kevin Ruffin, an 18-year-old who said he
\nplans to be a football coach. “He gets very involved. It’s like he’s
\none of us.” <\/p>\n
Though Twomey doesn’t know sign language, it’s not a problem because
\nhe teaches much of the class through gestures, Ruffin said. <\/p>\n
“He’s not as strict as some of our other teachers,” said 19-year-old
\nChase Billings, who said he enrolled in the class because his mother
\nwants him to learn how to fix her car, which was recently involved in
\na wreck. <\/p>\n
Emmanuel Trevino, a 17-year-old who wants to get a job at an auto
\nbody repair shop, said he wants to share what he has learned from
\nTwomey with his family. <\/p>\n
“This is my number one favorite class,” he said. <\/p>\n
Rocky Gillam, 17, said he has been able to fix the dents in a Dodge
\npickup. <\/p>\n
Twomey said the skills he is teaching the students, including
\npainting and polishing a car, are just an introduction to the auto
\nrepair business. Twomey has provided the car and his own tools for the
\nclass. <\/p>\n
Eventually, the students will repaint the vehicle, which has flat
\ntires and an engine that does not work, and enter it into a car show
\nat the school in the fall. <\/p>\n
Twomey said teaching the class gives him a break from his business,
\nwhere the phones are constantly ringing. <\/p>\n
“It’s good therapy for me,” he said. <\/p>\n
cosborn@statesman.com
\n; 445-3871 <\/p>\n
Link:
\nhttp:\/\/www.statesman.com\/news\/content\/news\/stories\/local\/04\/07\/0407deaf.html<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
BETTER IP RELAY – EVERYWHERE! i711.com makes all your relay calls better.
\nBetter web calls. Better wireless calls. Better AIM calls. Why settle for
\nordinary IP relay? Go beyond! Try http:\/\/www.i711.com for free today!<\/p>\n
NEW! Try out our Deaf Network of Texas Calendar! Go to
\nhttp:\/\/calendar.deafnetwork.com <\/p>\n
NOTE: deafnetwork.com does not endorse any of the products, vendors,
\nconsultants, or documentation referenced in this message or. Any mention of
\nvendors, products, or services is for informational purposes only.<\/p>\n
Powered by http:\/\/www.CrazyWebHosting.com<\/p>\n
If you do not want to receive any more newsletters,
\nhttp:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/list\/?p=unsubscribe&uid=23e6b0ac27edebd2b6f52f1354859234<\/p>\n
To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit
\nhttp:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/list\/?p=preferences&uid=23e6b0ac27edebd2b6f52f1354859234
\nForward a Message to Someone
\nhttp:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/list\/?p=forward&uid=23e6b0ac27edebd2b6f52f1354859234&mid=1452<\/p>\n
—
\nPowered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com —<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
EDUCATION Deaf students, instructor learn plenty in auto repair class Don Twomey says it’s easy to work with the teens at School for the Deaf. By Claire Osborn AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Monday, April 07, 2008 Don Twomey, 47, could barely keep…<\/p>\n