Pontiac non-profit hires specialist to help those who are deaf

Oakland Family Services of Pontiac is establishing a new deaf specialist staff position, funded by Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, it was announced Wednesday. Social worker Kathleen Mitchell has been hired by the private, non-profit, human services agency to assume the role of deaf specialist. Born deaf, with two deaf parents, Mitchell learned to communicate using sign language. “Deaf individuals should have direct access to culturally linguistically appropriate service providers who are skilled in American Sign Language,” said Mitchell, who will provide outpatient therapy to those who are deaf.

Special writer Jerry Wolffe is the writer-in-residence and advocate-at-large at the Macomb-Oakland Center. He can be reached at 586 263-8950.