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.
