Spring 2008

Mae Lynn Mullen in the Lighthouse TTC computer lab.

Born in South Korea, Mae Lynn Mullen came to the United States at the age of five. “I will never forget [the day I was adopted] as long as I live,” Mae says. “I was really shy and quiet. It was a completely different environment than I was used to.”

Mae was born deaf, and her mother had taken just a few weeks of sign language instruction before adopting her. As Mae worked with her mother to learn sign language, she adapted quickly to her surroundings. “We worked together and learned home signs,” she remembers. “It was really frustrating in the beginning, but as I learned to sign, I became more comfortable in my environment. I also have my mother to thank for teaching me to read. She really wanted to support my reading and writing.”

“My parents didn’t notice any issues with my vision until I was seven,” Mae continues. “I would squint and [my teachers] would seat me in the front in all my classes. Finally, I went to a specialist and they diagnosed me with Usher’s syndrome type one.” Usher’s syndrome, a leading cause of deaf-blindness, is a genetic condition in which hearing loss is coupled with progressive blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa.

At age fifteen, Mae transferred to a residential school for the Deaf where she became fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). Upon graduation, Mae continued on to community college, where she struggled with choosing a major. “I wasn’t sure what kind of work I could do as a Deaf-Blind person. I had one friend with Usher’s who invited me to an American Association of the Deaf-Blind conference. I was thrilled to meet so many young people who were Deaf-Blind and to hear their stories and what they had accomplished in their lives.”

Shortly after the conference, Mae decided to attend training at the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) in New York City. “I met with staff and decided to undergo six months of training. They recommended I learn computer skills and braille. I also learned orientation and mobility skills with a white cane, and independent living skills. I also attended a Deaf-Blind support group. I learned what it would be like if my vision continued to deteriorate.”

Following her HKNC training, Mae attended Gallaudet University, the leading liberal arts college for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. She earned her bachelor of science degree and immediately began her job search upon graduation, but found work hard to come by in Washington D.C. “People weren’t giving me the opportunities I needed,” she says. Her job search continued for three-and-a-half years before she got in touch with Seattle Lighthouse.

“I met with [Deaf-Blind Employee Support Specialist] Suzette Ledet at a conference in 2006. I toured Seattle and had the interview at the Lighthouse. I was stunned when I received the email saying I had been hired,” Mae remembers. “I had priorities when looking for a place to live and work. It had to have a Deaf-Blind community and accessible transportation. Seattle had these things, so I moved here and started working in production on Boeing parts.”

Mae started work at the Lighthouse a year and a half ago. “After a week, I started to enjoy it. I like being up and doing things. It was more relaxing for my body and my eyes. I’m really impressed with communication being such a high priority at the Lighthouse. I have access to interpreters and the video relay service here.”

Mae is helping many of her co-workers to learn ASL. “I like socializing with hearing-sighted people,” she says. “I like it because it is challenging. It gives me an opportunity to help people here learn sign language and at the same time they help me to expand my vocabulary.”

“Mae works well with a diverse team that includes new signers,” says Paula Hoffman, director of employee and community services. “She is such a great addition to our work team and to the community. She’s positive, a good worker, and she has a good sense of humor.”

Outside of the Lighthouse, Mae is frequently on the go, socializing, volunteering, and participating in the recreation committee at Washington Deaf-Blind Citizens (WSDBC) and other community organizations. One of her favorite activities is volunteering in the Parent-Infant Program (PIP) at the Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center. She also attends Deaf-Blind community class regularly. “I enjoy Deaf-Blind community class so much. It’s great to have the opportunity to get together and build community here.”

Mae says her schedule is busy and she likes it that way. “I don’t spend a lot of time at home. I like to go out and socialize,” she smiles. “This year I am taking more time out to relax; in my spare time I like to read.”

Mae also enjoys keeping up with technology; she has been working with Orientation & Mobility Specialist David Miller in using new travel technology. “I have seen a variety of equipment here with David. The Miniguide [electronic travel aid] is new to me. That technology is very cool. I’ve also started training on using GPS technology. It is so nice not to have to depend on a bus driver to know where I am. It’s very useful for me to use at night, because I have night blindness. It helps me to know what street I am on when it is too dark for me to see.”

“As a person new to Seattle, Mae has benefited from receiving the NUVI 360 GPS and is a perfect example of how use of the NUVI removes a significant barrier to public transportation,” David says. “By putting GPS technology into her hands, she is able to track the progress of any bus and decide for herself when to get off the bus. It has provided her with a tool for exploring the city and allows for greater confidence and comfort in learning a new bus route. Working with Mae Lynn to explore public transportation was also great fun.”

For Mae, Seattle has afforded her many rewarding opportunities. Most importantly, it has given her the chance to work with and learn from people with a rich diversity of backgrounds. “I like being able to socialize with all sorts of different people — Deaf, Deaf-Blind, hearing, sighted — everyone! I feel very comfortable with the people I work with, and I really enjoy it!” she concludes.

Interpretation note: Mae’s comments were translated from American Sign Language to English by a certified interpreter.

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