How To Be A Deaf Firefighter In Virginia

Good evening Mr. Schrader,

First of all, I want to share my appreciation on your blog about the deaf firefighter issues. Recently, I saw your vlog about “support” deaf firefighters. Your statement was straight forward and bold, I had to agree with you. I understand how you feel about other two deaf “support” firefighters who want to get on the truck and drive it right away. Impossible! Let me tell you about myself a little bit, I was born deaf, my parents are deaf too. I am a pilot and to learn how to fly, we had to learn how the dynamics of airplane works first before getting in the left seat.

Back to the point, I was trying to ask you a question. After researching about deaf firefighters, it has been my long time passion to be one of them. I am living in Staunton, Virginia. I have applied with the volunteer fire dept. The volunteer coordinator came back with this information, that stumped me. I was not sure how to answer her question. I hope you will be more than willing to give me the feedback how to become the “support” firefighter. I am more than willing to do the roles as support firefighter. Let me exempt the email from her…

Stanley – here is some info – and it was suggested from both our training Captains to get you the info for both the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and the Office of Emergency Medical Services, since there are some restrictions with both.

Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP): Chief Don Brown (Division 3 Chief)

Captain Weaver: I have spoken to Chief Brown from VDFP and he said we could put him in a Firefighter I class but one of the requirements is that you can hear an emergency EVAC tone and evacuate the structure.

Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services: (VOEMS):

Captain Hearn: VA OEMS will not certify someone who is 100% deaf

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/oems/

What is your advice on how I respond back? Hopefully they will take me in as a support firefighter. I am 100% deaf… that is the dilemma for me, I can wear the hearing aids but don’t like to wear it because I will only hear few different sounds but will not able to hear which direction the sounds come from. You can say I am profoundly deaf. From what I learned that E VAC tends to sound off from the truck by air horn, that I could feel it like 50 feet away.

Mr. Scrhrader, I want you to know that I already placed an order on your book today but won’t get it for another couple days through Amazon. I want to congratulate on your book. I can’t wait to read it. Hope you will be more than willing to give a feedback about my situation. I can reply back as soon as possible to that person who emailed it and hopefully I can still become a support firefighter.

Thank you, Mr. Schrader.

Cheers,

Stanley Juchno

NOTE: I will post my response to his letter.