Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Category: Uncategorized

  • Dr. Suzette Garay, National Speaker, Instructor

    Dr. Suzette Garay is the owner of Baby Signs 4 U and is a national speaker.  She was the first Hispanic Deaf woman to obtain a Ph.D.

    Sign Language Classes at Apple Ridge Academy

    The Benefits of Using Sign Language with Preverbal Babies 

    Tell me about your job.  How did you get into this line of work?

    My primary work is teaching.  I teach the following Psychology, ASL, and Parent/Infants (hearing pre-verbal babies) to utilize sign language before they speak.  My desires to teach be it in a school, college, and/or private practice has been a long-standing dream of mine since I was in high school.  My decision to become a teacher comes from experiencing my own personal frustrations, lack of access to information, and/or discrimination to participate in opportunities due to poor special education services or no interpreters llowed in my classes back then in 1970’s.

    What is the best part of your job?

    Seeing how children are inspired, motivated, and determined to excel after knowing it is possible (role model) when their teacher standing before them has done it.

    What are some of the challenges of your job?

    -Convincing parents that all things are possible even if their child cannot hear or has something lacking or limiting them learning in the same way most children learn. 

    -Convincing people that I am worthy of my expertise when it comes to making profound decisions on a child’s life or deciding whether or not a child can learn with the best informed-choices that are available.  Sometimes, people have preconceived notions of what children with disabilities can or cannot do.

    -Avoiding the labels of being “exceptional”, “gifted”, “genius”, “having all the answers,” etc…  sometimes people try to put me on high pedestal for being the ideal Deaf, woman with Ph.D., First Latina, and/or overcoming adversity when I just want to be that “normal” person who worked hard to achieve what I had to overcome.

    -Meeting the needs or demands of the expectations people assume you can provide all the answers or hope for their child in need. So many people are desperate for your services or inspiration, but you can’t meet everyone’s need. Your only one person with so many hours available to help others.  Sometimes, you have to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others.

    What was it like growing up deaf/hard of hearing?

    My journey as a deaf child was very unusual than most would people would endure in their childhood.  First, even though I was born profoundly deaf, my deafness was not identified till I was almost 13 years old.  This is mostly due to the fact that I was shuffled through the welfare/foster care system which moved me in and out of more than 16 foster homes.  This means that on the average I lived with the families approximately 90 days or so.  When there was an opportunity to consider a possible hearing loss I was already moving onto another home.  Those first 13 years of my life were an incredible journey of exploring, learning, and understanding the world around me.

    After the 13 years, I finally had the right to be deaf and it changed the perceptions of how others would view me.  Some were good and some were bad perceptions of what I could or couldn’t do as a deaf child.  I loved music, in the sense of feeling the vibrations and often would be in the hands of authorities for “disturbing the neighbors” for blasting music so I could enjoy it. Schools became more restricted with learning, participating, and being treated differently with lower expectations of what I could learn or do because I was deaf or came from a lower social-economic background or simply because I was “too bright” has a handicap child. 

    Most of last 5 years of schooling was devoted to speech therapy, auditory rehab due years of needing to catch up.  This resulted in lost opportunities to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities that
    hearing students had.

    What advice would you give a deaf/hard of  hearing person who is looking for a career like yours?

    -Never take NO for an answer!
    -Always believe in yourself and only you can determine what you want to be
    or do in your life (no one should decide for you).
    -Have lots of patience with people who don’t understand your intentions to
    excel in whatever you want to do.
    -Don’t be afraid to ask for help and be grateful when others do help you.
    -Never forget where you came from or your shortcomings so you can always be glad to help others when they are in need, especially if you are going to teach the little ones who will be looking up to you.
    -Pick the right college that will give you the most support not just the name of the school because it’s popular.
    -Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe is the right thing to do even if it is not the most popular thing others want you to do.

  • Start the Ripple and Inspire Someone Today!

    For all those who think they’re “too old” or that the “best years are over with,” this one is for you:

    Keith St. Onge:
    “Here we are at the World Barefoot Center with Judy Myers and Karen Putz. Very unique story we have here today. Today we have Karen Putz, she is deaf. It has been over 25 years since she has barefooted and we got her back on her feet skiing along today! Some more of the unique story is that Karen was introduced back into barefooting by seeing Judy Myers 67 years old skiing. Want to tell us a little bit more about that Karen?”

    Karen: “Sure! It was my 44th birthday and I was sitting at my parents’ lake, just sitting there thinking that the best years were over with. It had been ten years since I touched the water barefooting. So I’m sitting there thinking, “Gosh, I wish I could barefoot again.” I didn’t think I could. I mean I was 44 years old and I thought if I barefoot again I might break something.

    Keith St. Onge:
    “Right… A lot of people think that they might break something and they are to old to barefoot, but that is not the case.”

    Karen: So in October of that year, my husband sent me a link to Judy from the Today Show. At first, I didn’t open it but when I was cleaning out emails that one popped up. So I clicked on the link and I’m watching Judy and she’s barefooting on the water. I’m like, wait a minute! She’s 66 years old and she’s barefooting on the water. If she’s 66, well then, what’s my excuse? I’m 44– I can get back on the water again!

    So I contacted Judy and she said, “Come on down to Florida!” So that’s exactly what I did two, three weeks ago. On my first try, I got back to barefooting again.

    Keith St. Onge: One of the big questions is how we communicate with Karen. We can talk but she can not hear us, Karen can read lips. She reads lips perfectly! As long as Karen is making eye contact it works well.
    Karen:
    Keith is easy to lipread!

    Keith: The unique cool thing here is that Judy Myers 67 the oldest female barefooter in the world still competing . She has been bringing a lot of people down to the ski school, people have seen her Fit to Boom video, Subway commercial, all this type of stuff and things have been really cool. It has been AWESOME!

    Karen: If Judy can do it, then ANYONE can do it!

    Judy Myers:
    “That’s Right! That is exactly right”

    More:  The Best Years of Life Are Still Ahead

  • Deaf Child from Russia Needs a Loving Home

    There’s a little boy in Russia who is deaf and needs a loving home.  Read this email that I received from Elizabeth Gastelum, an attorney from Illinois:

    My husband and I adopted our kids from Russia last fall (both with hearing loss).  We thought they were the only kids there with a hearing loss, but once we arrived we realized that another little boy in the same group as our daughter also has a hearing loss.  He is 5 years old and Buryat (Russian, but of Mongolian descent).  He is a sweetheart!  Aside from hearing loss he has a form of CP (although this did not seem to be severe as he can dress and feed himself, and walk etc.)  To make a long story short, I am trying to get the word out about this little boy to anyone that is thinking of adoption.

    He is in Ulan-Ude, Russia.  The adoption agency is LSS of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. This adoption agency has the ability to handle Russian adoptions without going through another adoption agency with the required Russian permission.

    I realize that the recent media reports have seemed to indicate that Russia is or will be closing their adoptions with the United States, but reports that I have from professionals there and working with this program indicate that this will not be the case.  He is five years old now and I believe he will be six years old in October.  I am not for certain, but if it is the same scenario as it was with our two kids, there is a long waiting list for the school for the deaf there and more than likely he will be sent to a facility when he is six years old (unless there is a family in the process of adoption) that is for multiple handicaps (children and adults) and the majority are bedridden.  He does not belong there. But this is a part of the world where there are few other options.  I am willing to speak with any family interested, candidly, on what it has been like for us to have adopted two children from the same orphanage.

    If you are willing to open your heart and your home to this child, please email me at:  karen@karenputz.com and I will connect you with Elizabeth.

  • Barefooting– Accomplished!

    Monday, March 29– definitely a fun day that I’ll always remember.  But before I explain, let me back up a bit here.

    Last fall, the hubby sent me a link to the TODAY show featuring Judy Myers, a 66-year-old gal who took up barefooting on a dare at the age of 53.   This was not long after my 44th birthday when I was feeling a little down and discouraged.  As I watched the video, I started feeling that old excitement about barefooting, a feeling that I had long ago given up on.  It had been ten years or so since the last time I barefooted.  It had been 25 years since I became deaf from a fall while barefooting. Heck, if a 53 year old gal could take up barefooting for the first time and compete at the age of 66, why couldn’t I get back on my feet in the water again?

    I got in touch with Judy and before I knew it, the plans were falling into place.  The hubby and I arranged a spring break vacation and I set up plans to join Judy at the World Barefoot Center run by Keith St. Onge and David Small in Winter Haven.

    I was pretty excited when I arrived and right off the bat, I spotted Judy.  What a great gal, I felt as if I had known her for years.  Keith welcomed me with a big smile and then introduced me to the three other skiers, Rick Meskers and his son Brody and another kid, ten-year-old Devin.  Rick is a show skier up in Wisconsin and nine-year-old Brody is a competitive skier who has won the Nationals three years in a row and going for his fourth this summer.

    Brody and Devin went first– I was in awe of what these kids could do at their young age.  Rick went next, and he worked on a backwards deep water start and after about his fourth start, he was nailing it.  Judy practiced some tumble turns– take a look:

    And then it was my turn.  Gulp.  Keith and I had gone over some pointers on the dock and I was reminding myself of those tips as I slipped into the water.  I had never used a boom before and the grip felt thick.  I wrapped my legs on the cable and looked at Keith and said, “Ready.”

    And 25 years after becoming deaf from barefooting, there I was barefooting again.  And it felt so good!

    More on Judy Myers:  Judy Myers Inspires Deaf Mom

    Brody Meskers in the news: Meskers Joins World Barefoot Center Team

    More on barefooting and why The Best Years of Life are Still Ahead

    I hang around old people: Barefooting with a Senior Citizen

    Numerous deep water starts:  Barefooting, I Mean, Butt-Riding

    Inspire someone, the way Judy inspired me:  Start a Ripple, Inspire Someone Today

    Face your fears:  When Fear Holds You Back

  • We are the World– in American Sign Language

    In early February, Jane Holtz and I dropped off our two Laurens at the Desales Family Center in Michigan so they could participate in a D-Pan weekend camp.  While Jane and I stayed in our pajamas all weekend and read books, our girls were having fun with Sean Forbes and a group of fellow campers.  They produced two videos, “We are the World” (below) and “Smile,” (coming soon) in a tribute to Michael Jackson and in recognition of the Haiti earthquake.

    Enjoy!

    Photos from the weekend:

  • Need Viagra? Insurance Will Cover It–Not Hearing Aids

    Dear Illinois Senators,

    We’ve got a bill up for consideration, S. B. 2516, and I hope you’ll pass it.  You see, there are five generations  of folks in my family who wear hearing aids.  Every time we need new hearing aids, we need a doctor’s prescription to order them.  Every time we inquire about insurance coverage for our new pieces of ear technology, we’re told, “Sorry, insurance companies rarely cover hearing aids.”

    It is time to change that.

    From the research I’ve done, it appears that it would cost anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars to provide coverage for hearing aids in Illinois.  There really shouldn’t be any opposition from insurance companies– after all, hearing aids have to be medically prescribed and they certainly aren’t cosmetic devices as they’re sometimes described.

    You see, without hearing aids, I literally cannot enjoy any music, hear the doorbell or turn at the sound of my kid’s voices.  I can’t hear a single thing without my hearing aids.

    Senators, think about the Illinois residents who have been prescribed hearing aids but who are facing the uphill battle of no insurance coverage for these medical devices.  You can change that for Illinois residents.  You can make history in Illinois and say, “Yes, the time is now to provide insurance coverage for hearing aids for Illinois residents of all ages.”

    I will thank you.  My family will thank you.  The deaf and hard of hearing residents and their families of Illinois will thank you.

    Read on for more:

    Insurance Companies Cover Viagra, But Not Hearing Aids

  • Join the Z-Team at the Chicago Z-Fest!

    It’s been a busy year for the Z-Team– we’ve launched a new Z videophone: the Z4! Come and join the Z-Team at the Chicago Z-Fest on Saturday, March 20th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hinsdale South Cafeteria  at 7401 S Clarendon Hills Rd, Darien IL.  Pizza and pop will be provided. You’ll have a chance to meet folks from the Z-Team and learn about the four different videophones that Z provides.

    You can RSVP on the Zvrs Facebook page: Chicago Z-Fest

    And guess what, we’ve got some new services coming up– join us to find out what they are!

    Some photos from our visit with the folks from St. Louis Deaf Professional Happy Hour:

    See you at the Z-Fest!

  • Honey, Can You Troubleshoot the Computer?

    “Son, there’s something wrong with the computer. Can you troubleshoot and figure out what’s wrong?”

    “Troubleshoot? Sure, Mom, no problem.”

  • Are You Ready to Leap?

    Last week, I hit the library in search of some books for a weekend getaway.  Jane and I dropped off our daughters at DeSales Center in Michigan for a workshop with Sean Forbes from D-Pan and we planned to hang at the hotel and do nothing but read all weekend.  While at the library, my eyes caught a title in the “Hot” books section: The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great. 

    Hmmm, I figured, can’t hurt to know how to go from good to great where I’m at now.

    I spent Friday night wading through emails, Twittering time away, chatting with folks on the Z4 and watching the Comedy Channel.  “Ahhh, this is so nice,” I said to Jane.  “No one to interrupt me, no dishes to wash and a whole bed to myself. I could get used to this.”  Jane just smiled– she was deep into a Harry Potter book.

    Saturday morning found me submerged in the bathtub and I dove into ” The Leap.”  Written by Rick Smith, he describes it best in this paragraph:

    The Leap is a guide to personal evolution.  It’s a “good to great” manual for individuals, a book about aligning passions and skills, and about the amazing energy that gets released when we find our personal “sweet spot.”  All of us have a special place on the spectrum where the best of our ability intersects with what most inspires us.  Too few of us ever find that spot or even know it’s there. But it is there, and it’s magic.  This book will point you to it.

    And sure enough, it did.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Back in the bathtub, I dove into the first chapter where Rick describes a climb to success that ended up with him riding down the elevator after being let go by his company.  He had written a best-selling book, The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction and all of a sudden, he was facing the fact that his career had suddenly ended.

    Rick came up with the idea of putting together a company that would network the top well-known, highly respected executives in the world.  He named his networking group/company World50.  He faced opposition right from the beginning, with nay-sayers shooting down his idea left and right.

    His first customer turned out to be Carl Gustin.  Suddenly, I sat up in the bathtub and read on with even more interest.  Carl Gustin was the former Chief Marketing Officer for Kodak and Apple.  I had met Carl Gustin last summer in Las Vegas when he came to the Zvrs Team Week and gave a presentation.  He also sat through our each of our team presentations where we shared our marketing ideas. I could see that he was a little nervous at first, after all, it was his first opporunity to spend a day surrounded by deaf and hard of hearing folks with all the hands zipping through the air.  By the end of the day, Carl was laughing along with us.  “This company reminds me of Apple in the early days,” he told us at the end of the day.  “You guys have a lot of passion.”   Carl joined us all for dinner and I had the opportunity to chat with him and ask questions.  Soon after, he joined the board of Zvrs and has been with us ever since.

    After I finished the book, I took the “What’s Your Primary Color” analysis over at www.theleap.com.  I found myself smack dab in the middle of the spectrum, a gray-blue color:

    The book is filled with questions to explore– I’m saving those for later in the week when I can focus more on that.  I have some ideas of how I want to go from good to great this year, but I also learned that my work with Zvrs is right where I want to be– my passion and my talents are aligned with where I want to go.

    Now all I gotta do is…

    Leap.

  • Come and Join Me at Mom’s Night Inn

    It’s that time of the year again, the weekend where moms of deaf and hard of hearing kids kick back together!  Registration is already half full, so act quickly to join in on this special weekend!

    Illinois Hands & Voices presents:

    Mom’s Night Inn

    Saturday, February 20th and Sunday, February 21st
    (an overnight retreat!)

    Holiday Inn Select Naperville
    1801 Naper Boulevard
    Naperville, Il 60563
    (630) 505-4900

    Event begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 20th
    and ends at Noon, Sunday, February 21st

    “Making Connections”

    • Educational
    • Technology
    • Family
    • Community

    Dinner provided: Snacks, crafts, massage and so much more!
    Sunday, February 21st; Will include a breakfast buffet and panel of deaf and hard of hearing adults sharing their life and work experience.

    Remarks from last year’s participants at Mom’s Night Inn:

    “It was great having time to relax and getting to know the Mom’s”

    “I liked the small group activity; it was a good way to meet new people.”

    “Meeting other parents, having an idea of what to expect and look forward to was my favorite part.”

    “Now I know what to fight for.”

    “Loved meeting the deaf and hard of hearing panel, their stories were inspiring.”

    We hope you can join us, space is limited so register soon!

    To register: www.ilhandsandvoices.org

    Photos from past Mom’s Night Inn: