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BENTON, Arkansas – Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has put in place a new placement program to help people with hearing loss catch up.
The DREAMS program, which means preparing the deaf for employment and achieving maximum success, was launched at the end of last year and is already enjoying tremendous success: at least a dozen people have been hired.
"In the DREAMS program, this is offered to them in their language and culture," explains Britany Fuhrmann, coach and performer for Goodwill. "We have a coach who is also deaf and who is able to contribute to the difficulties she has encountered in finding a job."
Participants in the program have defined career goals and collaborate with staff to create an individualized employment plan to help them succeed in their work.
According to a report published in 2017 by Cornell University, more than five percent of Arkans have hearing loss. One of the challenges they face is finding a job.
The National Deaf Center reports that 60% of people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind are unemployed. Most of them are unable to find work.
Goodwill has recently begun to accept customers in the DREAMS program in the hope of changing culture and design.
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