KAREN J. ESMAIL
My name is Karen Esmail. I am a deaf and visually impaired lady. I am 47 years old and married with 4 children. I work as a part-time ASL (American Sign Language) technologist.
When I graduated high school, I could not find a job because I did not have enough skills. For II years, I was home to raise my children. I got a teaching job at the George Brown College Intervenor Program for Deafblind Persons. I teach second year hearing students. I have worked there for 10 years. Presently, I feel it's not enough for me to work one day every week. I want to work more than once a week.
I came to the Deafblind literacy class at CNIB in Toronto to improve my English skills, and gain experience and knowledge in reading, writing and math. I also have opportunities to do public speaking awareness on Deafblindness. Last year at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, I started to volunteer to teach sign language to people who recently became Deafblind. I did this for 4 months. Then I became a paid ASL instructor. Working with Deafblind students has increased my ability to communicate with people who speak English.
I am looking forward to finding a full-time job where I can put my skills to work. I don't want to only experience being a teacher. I want to have different opportunities for other kinds of jobs. My deafness and visual impairment do not stop me from achieving my goals. I want to show people that I am a positive person and more confident since being in literacy class and I can do whatever I set my mind to. I want to take a course before I get a job in the near future. When I get a job, I can support my family and get off government assistance.