Transcript:
Maria Dykman’s VLOG - http://youtu.be/NT-sky0P8sE
Hi, my name is Maria Dykman. I went to HKNC from February 22, 2011 until I left June 7, 2011. I had many bad experiences at HKNC, but my VR counselor didn't believe me at first, when I shared all my frustrations and struggles. It was all very stressful. While I was at HKNC, I regularly emailed my VR counselor to keep my counselor informed about what was going on. Over time, my counselor realized it was wrong not to believe me because I had been right the whole time.
Barbara Chandler is the Regional Representative who refers Deaf-Blind people to HKNC for training. When I met with Barbara with my VR counselor, Barbara thought I would be a good fit for the program in NY. My VR counselor had many questions about the program and whether or not it was a good program; Barbara said it was a wonderful training program. My VR counselor and i thought about it and decided to send me to HKNC. I had a bad feeling about going and that Barbara hadn't been fully honest with us.
Joe McNulty, the former Executive Director, and I never met. I wanted to meet him. I asked HKNC staff about meeting him, but they wouldn't let me meet him. I was told that Joe didn't want to meet with me. The director of training, Sue Ruzenski, was involved when I sent a letter to Joe explaining my feelings. Sue thought I was lying about all of my frustrations with my training. Sue thought I was making things up about what had happened and that I was playing games, which isn't true. I told the truth about what had happened and my feelings at HKNC. Without any notice, Sue came to my home [in Florida]! I was totally shocked and felt very upset. I informed my VR counselor and my counselor was shocked as well. My counselor sent a letter warning HKNC not to contact me any more!
Mark Snyderman was the person working for the US Department of Education and RSA who I sent the letter to, begging him to believe me about my experiences at HKNC. Even though I contacted him, along with other DeafBlind people to share our experiences, nothing came of it. That left me, and other Deaf-Blind people even more frustrated.
I went to the Conklin Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. I had a great experience there, with many interpreters and staff who could communicate with me. It was cool! They had a lovely dormitory with friendly staff. There was IL [Independent Living], technology, and braille. There weren't changes or cancellations of classes. There weren't any miscommunications or confusion; the program ran smoothly. I was so happy there! I felt much better there than I did at HKNC. While at HKNC, I had many classes cancelled and could not leave the campus. At Conklin Center, I was able to go off campus, either with staff or on my own. At Conklin Center, I felt truly happy and independent. I didn't feel kept down or mistreated. I finally felt peaceful, free and comfortable! I loved it there, especially when I compared it to HKNC. I felt like I was in jail at HKNC. While at the Conklin Center people could actually make their own decisions and feel happy about it.
I graduated that program on May 28, 2014. I truly enjoyed it and felt free and more independent. Before, I felt stuck and didn't know what to do. Since my graduation, I am sure of what to do for myself. It's great!
I went to Seabuck Deaf Blind Retreat Camp in Seattle, Washington. I felt stress free there! I felt like a free flying bird! At HKNC, I felt like I was in jail, stuck without anything to do, sitting around isolated. I was left only with my thoughts and became depressed. At Deaf Blind Camp, I could fly, free as a bird, to learn and experience new things. There were many activities, SSPs, interpreters, along with many other things. I felt so great and loved it there!
Sue would never be my choice to promote to Executive Director. The reason for that is Sue hurts DeafBlind people and doesn't respect DeafBlind people at all! I am telling everyone: don't be afraid! Check www.deafblindpower.com. Don't be afraid! Don't be quiet and give up! You can do it! You can speak out! Gather money to donate, or share your bad experiences. Please, don't be afraid! I will support you.
If you are planning on going to the International Deaf-Blind Expo in Las Vegas, July 29 to August 3, please visit the Deaf Blind Power table while you are there. Don't be afraid! Also, watch the videos that have been shared by others about their bad experiences in the past. Again, if you are going to the Expo, please check out the Deaf Blind Power table.
Thank you!
Maria Dykman’s VLOG - http://youtu.be/NT-sky0P8sE
Hi, my name is Maria Dykman. I went to HKNC from February 22, 2011 until I left June 7, 2011. I had many bad experiences at HKNC, but my VR counselor didn't believe me at first, when I shared all my frustrations and struggles. It was all very stressful. While I was at HKNC, I regularly emailed my VR counselor to keep my counselor informed about what was going on. Over time, my counselor realized it was wrong not to believe me because I had been right the whole time.
Barbara Chandler is the Regional Representative who refers Deaf-Blind people to HKNC for training. When I met with Barbara with my VR counselor, Barbara thought I would be a good fit for the program in NY. My VR counselor had many questions about the program and whether or not it was a good program; Barbara said it was a wonderful training program. My VR counselor and i thought about it and decided to send me to HKNC. I had a bad feeling about going and that Barbara hadn't been fully honest with us.
Joe McNulty, the former Executive Director, and I never met. I wanted to meet him. I asked HKNC staff about meeting him, but they wouldn't let me meet him. I was told that Joe didn't want to meet with me. The director of training, Sue Ruzenski, was involved when I sent a letter to Joe explaining my feelings. Sue thought I was lying about all of my frustrations with my training. Sue thought I was making things up about what had happened and that I was playing games, which isn't true. I told the truth about what had happened and my feelings at HKNC. Without any notice, Sue came to my home [in Florida]! I was totally shocked and felt very upset. I informed my VR counselor and my counselor was shocked as well. My counselor sent a letter warning HKNC not to contact me any more!
Mark Snyderman was the person working for the US Department of Education and RSA who I sent the letter to, begging him to believe me about my experiences at HKNC. Even though I contacted him, along with other DeafBlind people to share our experiences, nothing came of it. That left me, and other Deaf-Blind people even more frustrated.
I went to the Conklin Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. I had a great experience there, with many interpreters and staff who could communicate with me. It was cool! They had a lovely dormitory with friendly staff. There was IL [Independent Living], technology, and braille. There weren't changes or cancellations of classes. There weren't any miscommunications or confusion; the program ran smoothly. I was so happy there! I felt much better there than I did at HKNC. While at HKNC, I had many classes cancelled and could not leave the campus. At Conklin Center, I was able to go off campus, either with staff or on my own. At Conklin Center, I felt truly happy and independent. I didn't feel kept down or mistreated. I finally felt peaceful, free and comfortable! I loved it there, especially when I compared it to HKNC. I felt like I was in jail at HKNC. While at the Conklin Center people could actually make their own decisions and feel happy about it.
I graduated that program on May 28, 2014. I truly enjoyed it and felt free and more independent. Before, I felt stuck and didn't know what to do. Since my graduation, I am sure of what to do for myself. It's great!
I went to Seabuck Deaf Blind Retreat Camp in Seattle, Washington. I felt stress free there! I felt like a free flying bird! At HKNC, I felt like I was in jail, stuck without anything to do, sitting around isolated. I was left only with my thoughts and became depressed. At Deaf Blind Camp, I could fly, free as a bird, to learn and experience new things. There were many activities, SSPs, interpreters, along with many other things. I felt so great and loved it there!
Sue would never be my choice to promote to Executive Director. The reason for that is Sue hurts DeafBlind people and doesn't respect DeafBlind people at all! I am telling everyone: don't be afraid! Check www.deafblindpower.com. Don't be afraid! Don't be quiet and give up! You can do it! You can speak out! Gather money to donate, or share your bad experiences. Please, don't be afraid! I will support you.
If you are planning on going to the International Deaf-Blind Expo in Las Vegas, July 29 to August 3, please visit the Deaf Blind Power table while you are there. Don't be afraid! Also, watch the videos that have been shared by others about their bad experiences in the past. Again, if you are going to the Expo, please check out the Deaf Blind Power table.
Thank you!