Birgit Klima flashes her “million dollar smile” while working at her first job in the kitchen of the Parkside Intermediate Care Home. •, Citizen photo by Dave Milne 10 — THE CITIZEN, Prince George — Friday, November 15,1985 Budding cook copes with lack of hearing by BEV CHRISTENSEN Staff reporter If enthusiasm, determination and good training capped off by a pleasant personality and a “million dollar smile” were what it took to get a job, Birgit Klima would always be employed. But Birgit has a hidden handicap: She can’t hear. Thanks to the assistance of the sign language interpreters available in School District 57 and at the College of new Caledonia, that hasn’t deterred her from completing high school and a 10-month cook’s training course at the college. When she graduated from the CNC course she was given an award for being the most improved student. One of the goals of the college program was to gradually decrease the service of the interpreter so, when she gained employment, she would be able to work without one, says Fran Gee, coordinator of special education at CNC. After she completed the course, the next step was to find a job so she could get some experience. Again, she needed help. This time it was in the form of Canada Manpower’s work experience program through which she was hired to work for six months in the kitchen at Parkside Intermediate Care Home. During this time Canada Manpower pays her wages. Her supervisor at Parkside, Jean Schening, says, despite the fact Birgit is working there without an interpreter, she is learning to cope. “She does some lip-reading and has learned to say a few words,” she said. “She’s very pleasant, has that million dollar smile and the residents like her,” Schening added. But, unfortunately, that’s not going to be enough to get her a permanent job at the home because it’s important for cooks to be able to discuss menus with residents and some of the residents have had difficulty adapting to Birgit’s inability to speak, Schening said. Deaf people like Birgit, who have been deaf since they were very young, often never learn to speak or, if they do speak, it is usually in a monotone because they’ve never heard spoken language. At the end of December, she’ll be looking for a full-time job. But she’s optimistic, with a good recommendation from the intermediate care home, someone else will overlook her handicap and give her an opportunity to show she can adapt to the working conditions in their kitchen. Reduce if overweight. ■ ■ *1 Vt HU »tl> HtltAI/l U UHIM KIUMJW B.C. Heart Foundation 3 PROTECTION SERVICES... ONE GREAT PRICE! Ziebart RUST PROTECTION penetrates and seals all critical rust-prone areas. 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For out-of-town shoppers, complimentary Shuttle Bus Service from The Holiday Inn, Simon Fraser Inn, and the Coast Inn of the North every Friday and Saturday starting Nov. 16th/85. Christmas Shopping Hours Starting Dec. 2nd/85. 564-TIPS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE? TAKE A LOOK AT Nissan DLX 4X4 NISSAN 4X4 Ask about Nissan's “Added Security Plan!' NISSAN IMPERIAL NISSAN 563-0581 Westwood & Massey Drive DLN 7947 Grant spurs services College of New Caledonia’s services to deaf students took a giant leap forward this year when a $56,000 provincial government grant allowed them to hire their first full-time, sign language interpretor. The money for a full-time interpreter came from a $161,000 fund established by the provincial government to pay the salaries of intepeters for hearing impaired students attending post-secondary institutions in B.C. In CNC’s case, the money will be used to pay the salary of Irene West, who attends lectures with the two hearing impaired students registered at CNC this semester. As many as five deaf or partially-deaf students are expected to be attending the college by January. When Birgit Klima attended the college she relied on the help of a part-time interpreter. The college now has 127 students with special needs, including mentally, physically, hearing and visually-impaired students, some with learning disabilities and others who suffer from controlled forms of mental illness. Michael Hill, director of adult special education at CNC, says the college now has one of the programs outside the Lower Mainland for meeting the post-secondary education needs of handicapped adults. gS CIlhVJIEI |S SltM’HiltS y anonymity & cash rewards u Solve a crime... RE - ELECT DEZELL X ALDERMAN Paid lor by the committe to re-elect Cliff Dezell POLICE IN POLITICS: 'NO' VICTORIA (CP) — Police are becoming too involved in politics, out-going Victoria Mayor Peter Pollen says. Pollen, attending his last meeting of the police board as chairman this week, said there has been “a vigorous entry into politics” by police members. Pollen, leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative party, said police members have gone to the downtown business association complaining about understaffing, and made statements to the media. One of his opponents in the 1981 mayoralty election had a campaign picture taken beside a police motorcycle, he said. • r “It’s very serious when police become part of political cam- 1 paigns and enter into the general politics of law enforcement,” Pollen said. Pollen, who will not be seek- •' ing re-election in the coming ; mayoralty race, said there is a ' historic separation of church and state, and also law enforcement and politics. 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