Photo By Patrick Tremblay | Ryan Hicks, a first year Keystone intern industrial specialist, presents to more than...... read more read more
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BALTIMORE – An event recognizing the deaf or hard of hearing community was held at Defense Contract Management Agency Baltimore to commemorate National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Called Understanding Hard of Hearing Culture: Creating an Accommodating Environment, the event was the start of an awareness program created by DCMA Baltimore’s Special Emphasis Committee.
“We were looking for a way to honor our employees with disabilities,” said Ricardo Barriera, an engineer and recent Keystone graduate. “A program on the deaf and hard of hearing was a clear choice here.” Barriera chairs the committee, which includes personnel from the primary contract management office and DCMA Northrop Grumman Baltimore.
Since 2010, the CMO has recruited a number of new employees who identify as deaf or hard of hearing. While DCMA Baltimore represents a small percentage of the agency’s overall employment numbers, nearly 40 percent of DCMA’s deaf or hard of hearing employees work at the CMO. The committee used this significant demographic as a basis for its program, and hopes to make DCMA Baltimore a model CMO for the integration of deaf and hard of hearing employees into the workforce.
Ryan Hicks, a first-year Keystone intern industrial specialist at the CMO, was the featured presenter. Though new to DCMA, Hicks has been giving presentations for more than a decade on his personal experiences growing up deaf.
“Being a deaf employee isn’t about asking for handouts or favoritism,” said Hicks, “it’s about looking for the ability to break barriers and prove that just because one can’t hear, doesn’t mean one is less of a person.”
Hicks added, “It's important for any workforce to realize that just because one person has some form of disability; it doesn't make them any less able to work to their full potential or live life to the fullest. Breaking barriers is important for everyone. If one person can do it, everyone can in their own way.”
“An important component for ensuring all employees are included in all office events is that supervisors understand the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program,” said Charlene Ivey, DCMA Baltimore director. “CAP provides assistive technology accommodations and services to persons with disabilities at the Department of Defense and over 38 federal agencies at no cost.”
Ivey said two events were held to assist first line supervisors who were new to CAP’s capabilities. “First, Ryan volunteered to make a presentation to the CMO Leadership Team. Then one of the first line supervisors prepared a presentation specific to the CAP process.”
Ivey said Hick’s presentation was so informative it led his working with the Special Emphasis Committee on a presentation for all employees. “Now all first line supervisors have access to immediate briefings on the processing to ensure technology accommodations are processed quickly and employees can have the equipment they need to be even more productive in the CMO.”
The event is the beginning of an educational campaign designed by the Special Emphasis Committee to recognize the accomplishments of this important community, said Elizabeth Feliciano, a first year Keystone intern contract administrator and part of the committee. “We hope to help DCMA Baltimore become a more inclusive community that embraces and celebrates diversity.”
More than 50 employees attended the event, including field personnel who participated remotely through the Defense Connect Online conferencing tool. A recording of the event is available online to Defense Department employees with DCO accounts at https://www.dco.dod.mil/private/act/viewConnect.cfm?urlpath=/p14386529/
Visit www.dcma.mil for more information on DCMA.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2012 10:47 |
| Story ID: | 84386 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 190 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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