Group Home, online resources offer assistance to deaf, HOH community
David A. Sorensen saw a need in the deaf community for proper mental health services. But, unlike many others, who just recognized the need, he did something about it
“I worked at a residential treatment facility for a couple of years, then I realized that there was a population here needs some assistance. So, I decided to start my own company. Southwest Services for the Deaf Inc. in Albuquerque, NM.”he said. His organization is dedicated to promoting and providing mental health services, information and resources for the deaf community. “It is also ca purpose to educate professionals; interested individuals and the general public regarding mental health issues relating to the deaf and hard of hearing.”
He recalled that, at one time, he was the only licensed clinical therapist in the staff with proficient skills to communicate with deaf clients. Sorensen decided to expand and recruit other mental health professionals to come on board with Southwest Services in 1999.
“We provide direct mental health services in most environments, whether inpatient or outpatient," Sorensen said. His staff also provides testing and consultations at the Albuquerque Public schools and rehabilitation centers.
Southwest Services extends beyond Albuquerque by providing workshops, conferences and seminars on mental health issues, deaf culture and discipline. “We provide information to schools, organizations and other interested parties. It is also our intent to expand the website into a comprehensive source for deaf mental health resources,” he said.
He noted that by working directly with mental health case professionals, service providers and educators throughout the United States, Southwest Services for the Deaf is developing the most appropriate programs and services for their respective clients and students.
Currently on the website, www.southwestdeafservices.com, there are links to informational websites and resources for the deaf. In the coining months, he plans to list residential treatment programs for adolescents and how to utilize interpreters in mental health settings. “We also will be posting national and regional information about conferences, seminars, workshops and other events that are relevant in the mental health field’ he said.
Sorensen has more than 100 hours of training in Control Theory mid Reality Therapy and more than 200 hours of training in family and marriage therapy. He has had extensive training in both substance abuse and sex offender workshops, conferences and seminars throughout the United States on topics related to deaf mental health, culture and discipline.
‘The impetus for all this that my mother and father are deaf’ Sorensen said. He was reared in the deaf community and has come to understand the unique needs of the deaf; He said that being raised by deaf parents seemed normal to him. “It was so natural that I didn’t see it as an obstacle. My parents were from the old generation of deaf people. They didn’t have agencies where they could go to get an interpreter. I was the interpreter,” he said, "I was the communicator for my parents” He recalled the story of his father and the family’s new car. Like most people, his father was proud and wanted to show his new purchase ma few friends. But he didn’t have the option of picking up the phone and calling to see who was home. instead, the family piled into theft shiny new car and drove to a friend’s home, only to find no one was home. So, in stride and with smiles their faces, they proceeded to drive across town in Los Angeles to another friend’s house. Fortunately, he was home and Sorensen’s father got to show off the car. ‘My parents didn’t have a phone to call everyone and set it up. So us kids had a lot more responsibilities growing up being the interpreters he said
l.a Familia
Along with contracting with several local agencies, he is also the manager for La Familia, a deaf group, home for young men ages 15-20,
“We are the only one of a handful in the United States” he said noting that many other states lack the facilities or give minimal efforts to help members of the deaf community, In several cases, those in need must travel to other regions of the country to get assistance. “And the sad part of all this is that each of these states put our deaf kids through hell setting them up with services that will fail them 100 percent of the time?’
La Familia provides multigenerational family and community living skills, coordinates care and helps clients deal effectively with their challenges. They strive to deliver services with integrity, professionalism and respect for individual and cultural diversity. Experienced and knowledgeable individuals who are fluent in American Sign Language and understand the culture of the deaf staff La Familia.
For more information on Southwest Services for the Deaf, or La Familia, contact Sorensen at asl@nm.net
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