As the mother of a deaf son, now 27 years of age, my concern has been that of any other parent in finding services that could meet his special needs. I learned early that most public schools are not set up to educate the deaf/hearing impaired. After 10 yrs at TSD we sent our son to San Antonio to attend the Methodist Mission Home where he would be taught to live independently. Upon graduating, we were faced with the decision to bring him home and try to create a life for him that would include what any other person would want. Friends, jobs, family etc. We were not successful in this since he had grown up in a different part of the state and his deaf friends had become his family. His desire to move back to the area where his friends were, Austin-San Antonio, led my husband and I to move to Kerrville, TX. Just 45 minutes from San Antonio and just over an hour from Austin, Kerrville sits in the heart of the hill country. Though he was able to live alone, our son would rather live in a home with other deaf that he can communicate with.
In looking for a place for him, we found that there were many deaf in a similar situation and living in homes with no one to talk to.
Hill Country Signs of Hope is a non-profit specializing in services for the deaf. Our program manager is currently an independent living instructor and has a degree in deaf education.
We are funded by HCS(Home and Community Services) and hope to have a contract with DBMD(deaf/blind waiver program) in the near future. We have opened our first home in Kerrville and have room for 2 more clients. If you know of someone currently in the HCS program and is struggling to communicate with other members of the home and staff, please contact us either through this blog or at hcsignsofhope@yahoo.com. Our goal is to meet the needs of every individual and to help them find value and purpose for their lives.
You may also contact me at:
903-570-5773
Connie Owens
