Thousands of people in Ontario are deaf-blind, but too few people pursue training in intervention to serve in fulfilling role.
When Serena Reynolds became an intervenor for the deaf-blind a decade ago, she stumbled into her career by accident.
Like many, Reynolds didn’t know that thousands of children and adults in Ontario live with the dual disability, made famous by Helen Keller and recognized since 2015 in June, Keller’s birth month, during National Deafblind Awareness Month.
Reynolds went to school to become a child needs worker and struggled to find a job until she came across a listing for intervenors.
“Everybody that I talk to has no idea what the job is and my husband’s favourite line is ‘she’s an interpreter. She’s a cheerleader. She’s a cook. She’s a coach. She’s a toolbox of everything for them,’ ” Reynolds said. “The job is so versatile. I’m so glad I fell into it. I can’t imagine anything better.” ….