On June 24, Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf held a commencement ceremony for six proud graduates, all of whom have bright futures ahead of them. From here, the graduates will attend college or enjoy fulfilling employment opportunities. No matter what the future holds, all are ready for new adventures after high school.

The event, attended by family, friends and staff members, began with the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem and an invocation by Rev. Charles Froehlich, who said, “Thank you to all teachers and those who have helped the graduates on this journey.” Dr. Mark Prowatzke, Executive Director of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, greeted graduates and guests with a meaningful welcome speech, where he displayed a PowerPoint slide of a stone path with intricate detailing. “These stones represent different people,” he said. “And when you build your path, it requires a great deal of hard work as each of you has a different set of worthy goals.”

Next, the Class of 2011 valedictorian, Lisa Maliyil, noted that anything is possible, and dreams are worth pursuing. “I am proud to be Deaf. I live a full and happy life,” said Lisa. “At times it has been difficult for me, and I have struggled, but that is part of life and being human. We are all the same…we are all people. Even though we may not be perfect, always remember that you can do it. Trust in yourself and have faith. Think positively and with an open mind.”

Class of 1985 alum, Vincent Romanelli, also spoke to guests. Romanelli, who now works for Mill Neck Services for Deaf Adults, reflected on his own time at Mill Neck Manor and offered advice to the senior class. “Graduates, always remember to have a vision of what you want to do in the future. Get motivated and take it upon yourself to have goals. With this vision, you will have a great future. Never give up…never stop…this is just the beginning. Congratulations to all of you…you can do it!” he said.

Several students then received scholarships and awards, presented by various members of the Mill Neck administration and special guests. Assistant Superintendent Francine Atlas Bogdanoff, who distributed some of the awards, said to the graduates, “I’m honored to be at this ceremony. This is a great occasion for all of you. Everyone worked so hard to get to this day.”

During a farewell address, student Doris Palacios said, “On behalf of the class of 2011 and myself, I would like to thank all our teachers and staff who encouraged us to be successful and who helped us achieve our goals. A special thank you to all our families who supported us through the years; your efforts, time and love will always be remembered. Thanks for the beautiful memories!”

The class of 2011, comprised of six superstars, then received diplomas from Dr. Prowatzke, Principal Kathleen Kerzner and Mill Neck Manor Board of Trustees President Rudolph H. Auslander. The ceremony culminated with parting advice from Kerzner and a thoughtful benediction from Rev. Froehlich. “Keep a sense of pride with you forever because it will lead to success,” said Kerzner. “I know you will be successful because you wowed me with your personal achievements here at school. Although when you leave here this chapter will be closed, in my book, this chapter will always be remembered.”

The 2011 Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf Graduates

Rabya Feroz
Rabya has attended Mill Neck Manor for one year and counts a recent Disability Awareness Day among her favorite school activities. She has participated in Mill Neck’s Giving Back Program by teaching sign language in the community, as well as in the school’s Internship Program where she volunteered in the campus accounting office. After graduation, Rabya will return to her native Pakistan to further her education. She received the James McCarthy Memorial Award for community service and the Mill Neck Services award for perseverance.

Lisa Maliyil
Attending the school since 1998, the valedictorian was honored to be an integral member of the Academic Bowl and Junior National Association of the Deaf (NAD). Lisa also interned with an elementary classroom, and was so positively influenced by the experience, that she hopes to become a teacher. She will attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT/NTID) this fall. Lisa received the Mill Neck Manor Alumni Association Eunice P. Weidner Memorial Scholarship and the Nassau Educators federal Credit Union Scholarship for academics, as well as the Melvin W. Luebke Memorial Scholarship for college bound students.

Doris Milagro Argueta Palacios Often spotted participating in a number of enriching school activities, the hard working Doris is most looking forward to finding a rewarding job after high school. A member of Mill Neck Manor’s Work-Study and Internship Programs through the school’s Capstone course (prepares work or college-bound students for life after high school), she has enjoyed volunteer positions in the school kitchen as a sous chef and in a kindergarten/first grade classroom as an assistant. The graduate received the Brian Sosnowski Memorial Award for the most responsible worker.

Christopher Aguilar Ribeiro Chris joined Mill Neck in 1996 and has participated in the swimming, basketball, soccer, track and Academic Bowl teams. His favorite subjects are math and science and he has enjoyed roles in the Junior NAD, yearbook committee and in the school’s broadcasting elective, 323 News. This year, Chris also interned for an elementary class and worked in a community pet store. The athletic senior will attend RIT/NTID this fall, where he plans to study a number of fields, including architecture and culinary and fine arts. He received the Maryse Chrispin Scholarship from Friends of Montfort, Inc. and the Melvin W. Luebke Memorial Scholarship for college bound students.

Johan Stiven Sanchez Mechanical engineer-in-the-making Johan enjoyed an internship this school year in Mill Neck’s Office of Advancement, where he assisted with mailings, organizational duties and errands. Attending the school since 2004, Johan says he’ll miss his friends now that he’s graduated, but he’s looking forward to beginning college courses at NTID/RIT this fall. He received the Marcia Lynn Petering Award for school spirit and the Melvin W. Luebke Memorial Scholarship for college bound students.

Van Derrick Taylor The sports and academic star has played for Mill Neck’s soccer, basketball and track teams, enjoyed his math and science classes the most out of the whole curriculum, and took additional classes at South Huntington High School. Van will attend RIT/NTID in the fall, where he’ll pursue auto mechanics and/or culinary arts, and then continue on at Universal Technical Institute in Pennsylvania for supplementary studies. He received the Mill Neck Manor Educational Association Award for leadership, the Rotary Club (Eastwoods School) Award for good citizenship and the Melvin W. Luebke Memorial Scholarship for college bound students.

Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf is part of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, a not-for-profit group dedicated to serving Deaf and hard of hearing individuals through educational, vocational and spiritual programs and services. For more information about any of its programs, please call (516) 922-4100

Through Mill Neck Foundation, a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (LFD) has launched a Bible Story Project. Using a combination of written language, art work and illustrated sign language, the goal of the endeavor is to aid hearing and Deaf children to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. In addition to American Sign Language (ASL), the Bible Stories will be translated into other written and sign languages, such as Chinese, Spanish and Russian.

“Jesus Blesses the Children,” the first of 12 stories to be developed and distributed world-wide, has been completed. Other titles include “The First Christmas,” “The First Easter,” “Jesus Heals a Deaf Man,” “A Book of Prayers,” “Noah and the Flood,” “Baby Moses,” “Daniel and the Lions,” “The Three Men in a Fiery Furnace,” “Samuel and God’s Call,” “Jesus and the Blind Man,” and “Feeding 5,000.”

A translation team developed the ASL translations for the stories and is also working on activity companion materials to include story reviews, catechetical instruction and children’s Christian songs and prayers.

Mill Neck Foundation’s Director of Deaf Ministry and translation team leader, Rev. S. R. Schumacher, says he is excited about this specialized project. “As I discussed the project with different individuals through the development process, it was rather difficult for them to grasp the whole idea because of its uniqueness. In the same way, as our team initially met to define and develop the process, we discovered that it was so different from any other that any of us had ever worked on before. Bringing in the various team members, with their God-given gifts and talents, is what makes this project also unique and exciting.”

LFD hopes to reach a variety of family and educational sources through the provision of the stories “whether it’s a family composed of hearing and Deaf members or a Sunday school class of hearing and Deaf students,” said Rev. Schumacher. “Our intent is to address as many situations as possible in order to bring the Good News of Jesus to them.”

Rev. Schumacher speaks from the heart about the overall message of the Bible Stories. “These books will help parents and teachers in fulfilling God’s directive to teach His Word and message of salvation to children so that they might confess with the Samaritans after they, themselves, heard the words of Jesus: ‘And many more believed because of His word. They said to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world (John 4:41, 42 ESV).”

As children and families read the stories, Rev. Schumacher hopes that they would come to know and believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. “John brings this message ever so dearly and clearly in relation to the purpose of God’s written Word, as he writes in his first epistle: ‘and this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life,’ (1 John 5:11-13 ESV).”

The 12 Bible Stories feature stunning paintings and illustrations by a local design studio. “The pictures portray portions of the stories through imagery, and illustrations of a signer are telling the stories in a language of words conveyed through the use of hands and physical expressions with the face and body. Our desire is to help people of all ages, both hearing and Deaf, to visualize the Word of God in a way that is understandably appealing through artistic illustrations, as well as through sign language,” explained Rev. Schumacher.

LFD’s mission, to enhance the life of the Deaf through Christ, is being fully met by this rewarding project. “We strive to design and develop projects and programs that support ministries in proclaiming the saving message of Christ to the Deaf around the globe,” said Rev. Schumacher. “The Bible Stories are examples of our effort to carry out this mission to the Deaf by translating them into other written languages and their country’s complimenting Sign Language,” he added.

Through the Bible Stories, LFD aims to evangelize and educate the Deaf in many parts of the world. “We envision the books being used in classroom settings, catechetical lessons or even for the benefit of reading skills. Their use could also be in the education and evangelism of Deaf adults who have never heard the Word of God, and/or in Vacation Bible, Sunday and parochial schools,” said Rev. Schumacher.

“Jesus Blesses the Children,” and in the near future the next 11 stories, are available at a minimal cost. For more information about titles and languages, comments, or to order copies, please call 1-800-264-0622. Visit www.millneck.org often for updates on the availability of future stories.

Lutheran Friends of the Deaf provides support for educational and evangelistic outreach to Deaf people of all ages throughout the United States and world. Mill Neck Foundation and Lutheran Friends of the Deaf are part of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, a not-for-profit group dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are Deaf, or who have other special needs, through excellence in individually designed educational, vocational or spiritual programs and services. For more information, please call 1-800-264-0662.

In conjunction with Mill Neck Foundation, Inc., the World Wide Hearing Foundation (WWH) will hold their 2011 annual general meeting at the historic Mill Neck Manor House beginning April 27. According to WWH Chairman, Brother Andrew L. de Carpentier, the mission of WWH is to promote and enable better hearing worldwide through the provision of affordable hearing aids and services. About thirty countries from around the world will be represented, including such countries as Brazil, China, Jordan and Canada.

Mill Neck Foundation, Inc., a recognized service organization of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, is part of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, a not-for-profit group dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are Deaf, or who have other special needs, through excellence in individually designed educational, vocational or spiritual programs and services. For more information, please call 1-800-264-0662.

Photo:
Brother Andrew stands in the chapel of the historic Mill Neck Manor House, the location of the World Wide Hearing 2011 annual general meeting. Representatives from about thirty countries are expected to attend the meeting.

Mill Neck Audiology Relates with Family Members

It’s not just your grandparent’s condition anymore… these days, hearing loss is becoming more prevalent in younger generations. What with the slew of new gadgets available and the hearing hazards associated with the environment and work sites, today’s generation of hearing impaired individuals has changed considerably. The Better Hearing Institute says that hearing loss has doubled in the last 20 years, and estimates that by 2025, over 40 million people will be affected. Alarming numbers aside, one aspect of hearing loss hasn’t changed: the emotional impact of hearing loss on family members and friends.

While a hearing loss diagnosis is certainly traumatic for many, loved ones bear the brunt of the less-talked about emotional impact on family. Tanya Linzalone, Director of the Mildred and Frank Feinberg Community Center for Hearing Health at Mill Neck Audiology, says the level of frustration for relatives of a person suffering from hearing loss is wide-ranging.

“A parent that finds out about their child’s hearing impairment may feel guilty - did they do something wrong or not notice it soon enough? In other situations, family members may become aggravated if a loved one continuously misses out on conversations, experiences social withdrawal and/or is in denial and refuses to seek help. Or, a child may endure the tremendous burden of becoming ‘the hearing adult’ in a family if a parent is troubled over an undiagnosed loss and procrastinates about options,” said Linzalone. To facilitate the process of addressing a hearing loss, Linzalone always suggests that a loved one or friend accompany a person to an evaluation, an approach that enables both the caretaker and person suffering to deal with the situation and learn how to better it together. “Loved ones may even take the first step and make the evaluation appointment,” she recommends.

Linzalone and her staff are well-versed in the area of the repercussions of family members dealing with loved ones suffering with undiagnosed hearing loss. Many times, she says such a loss remains unsettled because the person may not want to spend money for hearing aids on themselves, but she stresses that there are options for all.

“At Mill Neck Audiology, we strive for the best solution based on lifestyle. Whether our suggestion is hearing aids, or more affordable Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs - strobe lights signaling phone and doorbell rings, vibrating alarm clocks; telephone amplifiers; cordless stereo headphones; vibrating baby monitors, etc.), we can also help families with simple house and relationship conduct. For instance, how you communicate now, as opposed to years ago, will have to change. Additionally, being upfront with third parties about your loss, who may otherwise incorrectly think you are anti-social or unintelligent - basically saying, ‘I’m really sorry, but I’m having trouble hearing you. Please speak louder,’ will stop this from happening.” Mill Neck Audiology wholeheartedly welcomes new clients. Linzalone shares, “We’ve seen dramatic changes in our clients from their first evaluations to now.” In addition to dispensing hearing aids and ALDs, and providing amplification adjustments, the center features separate, state-of-the-art adult and pediatric testing areas and offers a number of unique and sought-after services that may not be readily available elsewhere. Clients report that realistic expectations, a relaxed atmosphere and considerate and caring staff members help ease any initial anxiety about taking the first step towards better hearing health.

Linzalone says that at Mill Neck Audiology, “we know that hearing aids and ALDs will not erase hearing issues, but they certainly help. The whole purpose of getting them is better quality of life – that’s our goal for our clients. Those concerned with cost may want to think about the emotional impact their hearing loss has on loved ones. An investment such as this that you make for yourself is actually an investment for family members and friends. Taking steps to better your hearing improves their quality of life as well,” she said. Mill Neck Audiology now accepts all major insurances. If you or someone you know is experiencing hearing difficulties, please call Mill Neck Audiology at (516) 922-4100, ext. 258. Make an appointment today! For tips on how to prevent hearing loss, visit the Mill Neck website at http://millneck.org/did_you_know/did_you_know.html. Resources are also available for family members experiencing the emotional impact of hearing loss, as well as loved with hearing impairments. The Hearing Loss Association of America provides information, education, advocacy and support. For more information, visit http://www.hearingloss.org/.

In addition to Mill Neck Audiology, the Mill Neck Family of Organizations includes Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, established in 1951 to help Deaf children unlock their potential through quality education, Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center, Mill Neck Foundation, Inc., Mill Neck Services for Deaf Adults and Mill Neck Interpreter Service. For more information about any of these programs, please call (516) 922-4100 or visit http://www.millneck.org.

...the Mill Neck Interpreter Service Way

Think about it…anyone’s typical day may include work, meetings, social events, school activities and/or appointments. For a Deaf or hard-of-hearing person, engaging in these activities may require the assistance of a sign language interpreter. Those in need of interpreters turn to Mill Neck Interpreter Service (MNIS), an agency with over 18 years experience in the field. The Importance of Hiring Professional Interpreters
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, MNIS provides professional interpreters throughout Long Island and the New York Metropolitan Area for any situation requiring communication between Deaf and hearing people. Interpreters work in a wide variety of settings, including medical, mental health, legal, business, educational, government, non-profit, independent living centers, conferences and workshops, worship and entertainment. MNIS matches each assignment in specific settings, carefully choosing interpreters based on education, knowledge, background and experience. “Other agencies tend to be mechanistic, whereas we truly know our interpreters and the assignments received. We offer more personal, professional service in an expeditious manner at a reasonable rate,” said Loretta Murray, Director of Mill Neck Services. When arriving for an assignment, says Judith Rackovitch, MNIS Supervisor and Interpreter, “we are always well-prepared.”
No matter the type of situation, MNIS provides highly trained interpreters who are able to communicate in a variety of modes. In addition to the above-mentioned settings, assignments have been as diverse as women’s groups, therapy sessions and creative performances. To meet the needs of the ever-evolving profession, MNIS often hosts workshops with accompanying continuing education units (CEUs) and ensures that their interpreters are well-educated and up to date on the standards and procedures of the field. “As technology changes, so does the lingo,” says Heather Rossi, MNIS Operations Manager. “And because technology changes, any language, really, will grow and advance. Sign language is no different,” explained Rackovitch.

The Right Stuff

Businesses, schools and other organizations are encouraged to contact MNIS, not only because of the skilled sign language interpreters available, but also because the agency can educate and advocate regarding how to use sign language interpreting in a professional environment. “Our staff is able to provide updates on all the necessary laws, requirements and benefits of using an interpreter,” said Rossi. No matter what, Murray advises, “Those in need should hire interpreters whose skills have been assessed by a professional or certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).”

Testimonials
MNIS has received rave reviews from clients.

• “I am extremely pleased with MNIS. All interpreters I have encountered have done an excellent job. Mill Neck has always worked hard to find a qualified interpreter, sometimes on short notice, and has always been willing and able to accommodate my client's needs.”
  • “The interpreter you provided was intent on getting the consumer to understand what was being communicated. I look forward to future assignments.”
  • “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and praise for the interpreter's professionalism and communication skills. She is a pleasure to work with and is an asset to your company.”
  • Facilitating Communication and Meeting Needs
  Over the years, Rackovitch, a sibling of a deaf adult (SODA), has seen a great deal of disparity within the sign language profession and vowed long ago to change it. She said, “At MNIS, we can make a change for the better for the businesses who hire interpreters and for the Deaf community.” Rossi, a child of a deaf adult (CODA) shared, “I became involved in this field because I wanted to support the communication access between members of the Deaf community and hearing people and I will do whatever I can to uphold the professionalism of sign language interpreting.”

Contact Us Today
Are you in need of a sign language interpreter? Contact Mill Neck Interpreter Service at 516-512-6222, ext. 1, between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. For emergencies and after hours requests, call 1-800-235-2594. For an interpreter request form, or for more information, visit http://www.millneck.org/services/interpreting/interpreting.html. Mill Neck Interpreter Service, located at 501 S. Broadway in Hicksville, NY, is a division of Mill Neck Services for Deaf Adults. Both are part of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, a not-for-profit group dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are Deaf, or who have other special needs, through excellence in individually designed educational, vocational or spiritual programs and services. For more information, please call (516) 922-4100 or visit www.millneck.org.

...Prepare to Transition ECC, Family Reminisces on Journey

The assignment is to make an abstract picture during a workshop. One by one, using fine and gross motor skills and sensory input, a trio of four-year-olds creates beautiful art. The first laughs happily, the second grins playfully and the third has a twinkle in her eye amid girly giggles. All take on the project with gusto, interacting and chatting with classmates along the way. These are the Santana triplets, and they simply love preschool. Faith, Grace and Joy attend the Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center (ECC), where all three are members of the integrated program, a class for both children with special needs and their typically developing peers. The sisters and best friends began the ECC journey in three different classrooms with a variety of special needs, but today, they are ambitious and successful preschoolers who have met a series of related goals. The triplets, often spotted in matching outfits, will graduate in August and transition into kindergarten in their home district. Christine and Ruben Santana didn’t have to search very long when it came time to look for the most suitable program for their girls. Christine’s mother, Terry Schanel, was on staff at the campus kitchen before becoming an elementary school secretary, back in the days when the school was located at the Mill Neck Manor House (today, both Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf and the Early Childhood Center are located in other areas of the campus). A part of their family history, the Santanas were also married in the Manor House sunken garden.

It was with these fond memories that the Santanas placed their triplets in the program at three years old. Since then, the girls have made remarkable progress. “The Santana triplets have been achieving and mastering goals since they arrived at the ECC. Each year in the program has been undeniably successful. They started in three separate classes, and now they are all in the integrated class. Our program has given the girls opportunities to socialize and engage with other kids and expand their social horizons,” shared Principal Suellyn Giserman.

Recounting the early days of the placement, Christine says the ECC was the only choice for her girls. “We quickly found out that there were no other options. Because my mom worked here, we already knew how good the program was. The staff helped all three girls be more confident, and today, they are speaking so well. The ECC pointed me in the right direction about appropriate therapies, and if I ever noticed something, they never had a problem hearing me out and addressing any behavioral issues. Thanks to the ECC, all three girls will attend regular kindergarten and only one will have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan).” Giserman can’t say enough about the Santana’s vital role in their children’s education. She explained, “The Santanas have been amazing sources of support to the program. Christine always had the spirit, and she’ll do anything to facilitate the triplets’ progress. The family works to reinforce skills at home, and as a result, that has helped move the girls along from their original placements to the integrated class. They’ve not only made wonderful academic progress, but they are truly pleasant and well-behaved little girls.”

Why the dedication? “As parents who really know our children the best, we need to advocate for them,” said Christine. “I would recommend the ECC to other parents without hesitation! It’s the only place as far as I’m concerned. The staff acknowledges my feelings and helps me work through them. I think some parents may see special needs as stigmas, but they aren’t. You just have to figure out how to teach your child differently.” And so the Santanas saw the need to place their triplets in the ECC program as less of a challenge and more of a way to do just that: teach them differently. When Faith, who Christine describes as sassy, began, she was speaking poorly, but soon became so successful that she immediately moved into the integrated class. “She’s the ‘mother’ of the triplets, always making sure her sisters are ok. She’s a 40-year-old wrapped in a four-year-old body!” said Christine.

The most sensitive of the triplets, Grace had speech apraxia and is still delayed, but her original ECC teacher made all the difference. Grace is now a successful student in the integrated class, having moved on from her original placement in a smaller class over the summer.

Joy, the youngest triplet, and a spunky, independent tomboy, at one point had separation anxiety, but her teacher completely turned her around. “Now she doesn’t want to come home!” jokes Christine. While all three girls are presently enrolled in the integrated class, they still benefit from services to help them continue on the path to success. Currently, all the girls receive speech therapy, while Grace and Joy also receive occupational therapy.

ECC staff members, across the board, say working with the triplets is a privilege. When they graduate in August, Giserman says she will not only miss the girls, but the entire family. “They are such a pleasure to work with, and they make our jobs so gratifying. Everyone here feels the same way - and we really have the parents to thank for the girls’ progress, because in large part, their successful journey through preschool is to the credit of the family.” As graduation nears, Christine is already preparing the triplets for the transition to kindergarten. She feels they are ready, but she knows the girls will miss their friends and teachers. “The ECC is like a second family. I feel THAT comfortable. The triplets will miss the routine. It’s a regimented program, and because of it, they’ve learned so much! I recently took one of the girls to see their new kindergarten, and she said, ‘Nice mom, but let’s go back to the ECC!’ They really love it there. I hope they bring good memories from the ECC with them and build on what they’ve learned. I am confident they will excel in the future,” said Christine. Founded in 1991, the Early Childhood Center provides early and intensive assistance to children, ages 3 and 4, who may have deficits in speech, language/communication, cognitive and gross and fine motor development. The Center also provides full evaluations of preschool children suspected of having developmental delays. Most children who attend the program graduate and attend kindergarten in their home school.