UNSUNG HEROES: Handing along the message to hearing impaired

While a singer begins a base function with the national anthem, Patty Wilson signs along with her for the hearing impaired in attendance. The base’s only sign language interpreter is a common face, helping Tinker’s hearing impaired. Ms. Wilson is in constant demand at changes of command, training sessions, medical appointments and functions all across base and even off base, opening worlds once closed to the deaf. When she first came to Tinker 25 years ago, there were only 21 deaf workers. Sign language training was hard to find and in society the deaf were often isolated, treated poorly because people were uneducated about the disability, she recalls. Now Tinker employs upwards of 140 hearing impaired and Ms. Wilson also teaches sign language on base for co-workers and supervisors of the deaf. That communication with deaf members of their organizations brings the deaf out of their isolated work and into the team environment. Ms. Wilson’s passion for helping the deaf earned her the 2008 Air Force Distinguished Equal Employment Opportunity Award – Selective Placement Program category. “When I see the deaf treated as everyone else, when they get promoted or can go to school, it’s a thrill for me,” Ms. Wilson said. “I live it. I love it. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.” (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)