Paul's-NewsPaper

From "The Advocate-Messenger", in Danville KY,

on Friday September 15, 2006

Group homes would serve deaf, hard of hearing
John Paul Bruce talks candidly with his mother, Pat Bruce. (Troy Anderson photo)

By LIZ MAPLES
lizm@amnews.com

John Paul Bruce, broom and dustpan in hand, holds the door for a female co-worker at Arby's in Harrodsburg.
"He's so sweet," she says as she walks toward the manager in front of her.

John Paul never heard the compliment. He is deaf. He continues with his duties, filling the soda machine, sweeping up crumbs, wiping off tables.

"He is proud of the work he does at Arby's. He is probably the best janitor on the face of the earth," his mother, Pat Bruce, says. "He can do a lot of things and so people assume he can do everything."

John Paul has some mild disabilities. To the casual observer, it would seem that he could get along fine by himself. He works hard and is loyal to his job. He knows his professional basketball players and portrays them skillfully on an Xbox 360.

He can give directions, and when he lived in San Antonio he navigated the city bus schedule without a hitch. He is lucid and bright. Still, John Paul's parents say he needs some guidance, especially with money management.

"I think sometimes people like Paul fall through the cracks," Pat said.

John Paul is 27 years old. He lives with his mom, who is deaf, and his father, Steve, who is hearing. They want John Paul to be able to live on his own.

The Bruces are part of an organization called Kentucky ADAPT, which stands for Assisting Deaf Adults to Participate Totally. Pat serves as chairwoman. The organization hopes to create group homes for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and have additional disabilities. The homes will provide:

* A 24-hour supervised environment for residents to live independently from family members.

* Staff to help residents learn living skills such as personal care, household safety, cooking, medication administration and money management.

* Counseling.

* Training and guidance to negotiate government and private agencies.

* Contact with the community by providing technology, use of American Sign Language and transportation.

Pilot home will be in Danville

The organization will start with a pilot home for three male adults in Danville. The only thing standing between ADAPT and its goal is money. John Paul's aunt and uncle, Ruth and David Poole of Charlottesville, Va., made a $10,000 donation.

In a letter enclosed with the donation, the Pooles wrote that they hope "it might inspire or challenge other parties interested in this mission to step forward with their donations."

In what Pat describes as a bare-bones budget, the group estimates it will need $13,000 a month to run the program. It wants to receive grants or state funding but must first prove that the plan will work.

There are programs for people with mental disabilities but not for those who also have other disabilities. There are 300 adult Kentuckians who are deaf and also have disabilities. There are state agencies set up to help those with disabilities, but a study by the Kentucky Department for Mental Health & Mental Retardation Services found that the staff at these agencies had little or no training for helping deaf or hard of hearing clientele.

The Bruces once visited a program for mentally-challenged adults in Virginia. There was one deaf person in the community, and when he found out the Bruces could sign he wouldn't leave them alone. He was isolated in a world of the hearing.

"It broke my heart," Pat said. "I want (John Paul) to be safe and happy, and people say it isn't possible to have both, but I'm not willing to give up on that idea."

Steve's greatest fears are the nightmarish stories they hear from the state about deaf children with disabilities who are shuffled between homes and sometimes kicked out and left to fend for themselves. Steve describes being in eastern Kentucky where he was approached by deaf people with cards depicting the sign language alphabet who asked for money. "I'm never going to beg for money," John Paul signs.

"Don't you ever," his mother said.

Good at the game

John Paul has blond hair and an inquisitive gleam in his eye. He doesn't walk so much as stride. There is a bounce in his step that perhaps he picked up from one of his heroes, Allen Iverson, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He wants corn rows like Iverson, and his favorite move on NBA Ballers is called "Off the Hizzle," when the 76ers guard hits the ball off of his opponent's head.

"Did you see that?" he signs. "I'm good at this game."

John Paul has his room set up as a sort of bachelor's sanctuary. There is a boom box rigged up to play his favorite music. He prefers pop like Christina Aguilera and Destiny's Child. He can hear the faintest sounds.

John Paul asks his mother to play video games, but she says the Xbox is her handicap.

"How can he remember what all those buttons do?" she asks.

It is her hope that John Paul will have roommates one day who will play video games with him, that he will have a safe, community environment where he can live independently and safely.

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