Last year, we met Shawna, a deaf community member who was in an unhealthy and unsafe position, looking for a way out. Shawna was living in a rural area with no reliable transportation. With assistance from Katie, a Self-Sufficiency Coordinator who knows American Sign Language, Shawna was able to move into a safer, more walkable, and central location in her county. She was also able to find a job at a local coffee shop that could accommodate her needs. Shawna has become friends with a few of her coworkers, providing her with socialization that she had not previously had.
Last year, Shawna was getting her food from a convenience store because it was the only place within walking distance of her home. Now that Katie has helped her get set up with Rabbit Transit, she is able to get food to cook from the local grocery stores. She is also able to go to doctor appointments for her medical checkups.
Shawna also has new safety tools in place at her home, such as a visual doorbell, a smoke alarm, a visual phone, hearing aids, and more. With this and her new job, Shawna is now considered fully self-sufficient and has graduated from our program.
There will still be some obstacles to overcome, such as navigating changes in social programs and getting mental health support. Now that she has the skills and abilities that she learned with Katie, Shawna will be able to face these obstacles as she continues to make a better life for herself.
