GEMA/HS Dispatch June 2017 Edition | Page 17

s to deaf community with help of All Hands On responsibility is shared when it comes to helping deaf people be emergency prepared. He encourages all EMAs to consider attending a deaf CERT class, which will give EMAs having a “clear, lucid understanding” of their own responsibilities. Outside of All Hands On, Shoemaker works to provide and facilitate interpreters for a variety of state announcements. For example, Shoemaker worked with David Cohen and an interpreting agency during a Hurricane Matthew conference at the Georgia State Capitol. During the live press conference out of the governor’s office, Shoemaker translated officials’ speech into ASL and signed it to Cohen, who would then sign on camera for deaf viewers. “We know it’s not e asy to have one more thing to coordinate when you’re doing an emergency On’s involvement in Florida CERT press conference,” said Shoemaker, classes have resulted in 26 deaf but “when deaf see a member of students completing training there. their own community on the screen After Hurricane Matthew, speaking their language, it makes a Barefield attended CERT training world of difference.” organized by All Hands On. Now, Shoemaker also assisted in not only is she able to care for her the recording of a public safety own family, but also her neighbors. announcement in ASL to alert deaf “That’s the kind of thing that is people of the impending ice storm. really gratifying for us to see, that When All Hands On shared it on our work is having an impact in the their Facebook, it received more deaf and hearing community,” said than 5,800 views. Shoemaker. “That’s what we do.” “Now here’s the cool thing – All Hands On is currently there wasn’t a voice track,” said planning two upcoming CERT Shoemaker. “It was just sign classes to be taught in ASL: an language, so a hearing person, August class in Cave Springs, GA who doesn’t know sign language, at the Georgia School for the isn’t going to take the time to Deaf, and another October class watch the video… Those 5,800 in Newnan. More information views, those are actual deaf will be shared as it becomes people viewing this video. They available. wouldn’t have had access to this information any other way if it weren’t for GEMA/HS taking the time to make this press release fully accessible to the deaf community.” Altogether, Shoemaker approximates that the collaboration between All Hands On and the GEMA/HS CERT program has led to 9 deaf individuals being CERT instructor certified. More than 67 deaf students have undergone CERT training in Georgia alone, and All Hands