Deafness Not An Issue For Recent CNA Graduate Nikkea Dixon
Recent CNA graduate Nikkea Dixon proudly displays her certificate.
When Nikkea Dixon signed up to take the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course at A-B Tech, some members of the department were concerned she would not be able to complete the course successfully because Dixon is deaf.
The concern was not ill placed. It was difficult for Dixon. It took two full sessions to earn her certificate, but she did it. "We were just thrilled," said Instructor Judy Earley, R.N.
Dixon had sign language interpreters in the classroom and at the clinical site, which required special permission due to patient confidentiality. She also had a note taker in the classroom for assistance.
"It took coordinating and help from her family, Vocational Rehabilitation, the CNA program, interpreters and A-B Tech to make it work," said Annie Clingenpeel, the college's Disabilities Services Coordinator/Counselor.
The first time Dixon went through the course she missed passing by four points. So she took the course again. "I knew I would pass," she said.
"It began as a hard class, but I challenged myself with this class. I am surprised that I already passed the test and the state exam," Dixon said. "It really was a hard challenge, but I studied as hard as I could and I made it."
"My family was very, very proud and very excited," she said. Her daughters, Precious, who's almost 3, and Nevaeh, 1, are even learning sign language themselves.
According to Chris Lang, coordinator of Health Occupations, Dixon is the first deaf student to earn CNA certification at A-B Tech, and perhaps even in Western North Carolina. "She has the most profound deafness. We've had others with various stages of deafness," she said.
Dixon had the same classroom and clinical instructor for the sake of continuity. "She had signing interpreters that were there to sign as I lectured," Earley said. "Anything that I needed to say to her, they would also sign." Often in lab, Dixon would be required to perform a task to demonstrate her abilities and Earley would need to communicate that to her.
"In clinical, the interpreter was with her all the time. If we went into a room to do a procedure for a patient, the interpreter was there, too," Earley said. "It worked better than I thought it would. With patients that are alert, she should be able to sign to them that it's time to take a bath or whatever she needs to do. "
Judy Shults, Dixon's former Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, was one of her interpreters in the classroom and in the clinical setting. "It was a wonderful experience for me. When I was her counselor, we went to the Employment Security Commission and found a job that was working with elderly people in a private home," Shults said.
Dixon had said she wanted to help others so she interviewed and got the job. She decided she liked what she was doing and wanted to become a CNA.
"What made me want to take CNA courses is I really love working with elderly people, and to bond with them, it is necessary for them to be loved and touched," Dixon said.
One of the more difficult aspects of the course work for Dixon was the terminology. "A lot of these words were very new to her, like hysterectomy. She hadn't heard of it before," Shults said. "It was more of learning experience for her than for a person without a hearing impairment."
Once Dixon had her certification, she went to find a job. She was turned down at three facilities because of her hearing loss. Then she applied at Bayada Nurses. "I was hired very quickly. They were very open to me and we solved all barriers of my deafness. It was a smooth transition," Dixon said.
"I really love this job already. They are friendly people and the work is flexible. I love elderly people, and they want to learn sign language, also," she said. Her next goal is to become a registered nurse.
"She has a really special touch in the care that she does. She is real compassionate, very caring, and very alert, applying what she learned in classroom to clinical settings. It was a joy to have her in class and to see her complete the course," Earley said.
Teens Working At A-B Tech Through Youth Development Program
Jessica Ray types information for Compensatory Education as part of her summer work experience through the Youth Development Program. Ray was one of four teens working on the A-B Tech campus during the eight-week program.
The City of Asheville and Mountain Area Joblink Career Center have partnered to provide a Youth Development Program (YDP) for 55 area youth. The program is a paid summer work and training opportunity for teens 14-17 at 32 worksites in the city.
Four teens are working on the A-B Tech campus for the eight-week program. Jessica Ray, 14, is assisting in Compensatory Education with data entry and filing. "She is incredibly helpful for us," said Tom Rash, coordinator of Compensatory Education. Jessica has also been doing other tasks such as shredding, laminating and filing.
"It helps us get things done that we've been wanting to do for a long time. We've been able to get so much done this summer," said Rash. "She is an excellent worker. She is conscientious, responsible and very pleasant to be around. It's been a great experience for everyone involved."
"I like being here and helping people," said Jessica. "Everyone is so nice."
Brittany Ray, Jessica's sister, is working at the A-B Tech Child Care Center, spending a few weeks in each classroom. "She is, in a sense, being a teacher's assistant. She assists with planning and carrying out the plans," said Center Director Beth Westmoreland.
"She has been a great help. The kids really love her. She is a mature young lady and we are going to be sad to see her go," Westmoreland said.
The YDP involves five days of training, including a day with the City of Asheville. The teens went through the same orientation city workers go through on the topics of workplace violence, harassment and blood-borne pathogens.
"In an effort to make this experience as true to adult life as possible, the students have an application deadline, an interview and a drug test, if offered the job. They will have evaluations, warnings with coaching to succeed, and will lose jobs if performance is lacking. Expectations are high," said Kristi Reed of Mountain Area Joblink Career Center and coordinator for YDP.
"We are so fortunate to have a wonderful community of organizations and trainers who are coming together to provide workplace readiness training. Asheville City Departments and non-profit organizations make it happen by providing the work opportunities and supervision," Reed said.
Sherika Vance and Aron Hollum work for Randy Rose, Associate Director of Plant Operations. Aron works on the grounds and helps with set ups and moves. "He helps out weed-eating, and also helps moving surplus," Rose said.
Sherika cleans windows, sweeps floors and dusts in the Elm, Sycamore and Laurel buildings. "She is a shy, sweet girl," Rose said.
Alma Fisher, Instructor/Job Developer, assisted by providing training on the last day of the program with the Sole Survivor course where students step into the shoes of employers to decide whom they would hire.
TechConnect Kids in Action
TechConnect Students Dan Rice and Brandy Knox spoon cookie dough onto baking sheets, during a session with Vince Donatelli, Hospitality Education instructor. They also went to the machining shop with Larry Boyd, chair of Machining and Welding, and made paperweights. Gigi Derballa, chair of Developmental Studies, Honors, First-Year Seminar, gave them First-Year Seminar activities. Shaun Tate, chair of the Allied Dental Programs, had them complete an X-Ray project her beginning dental students do.
During the second week of TechConnect, students drop an egg from the Victoria Road pedestrian bridge. The students were divided into teams and were responsible for designing a way of protecting an egg from breaking during a drop onto a target. They were required to invent a company name and slogan to go with their service.