Final Edition
August 5, 2024
262 signatures
Including 5 current DeafBlind HKNC employees and the sole DeafBlind member of the HKS Board of Trustees
Contents
Introduction
The Petition
The Signatures
Appendix: Bryen M Yunashko’s Statement
Ten years ago, Helen Keller Services promised to promote a DeafBlind person to the directorship of Helen Keller National Center for the first time. When it once again failed to fulfill that agreement with our community by selecting yet another hearing-sighted candidate—over qualified DeafBlind ones—we took action.
The first step of the DeafBlind Leadership NOW movement is to deliver this petition to HKS Board of Trustees and the U.S. Department of Education.
It is a special kind of petition, signed only by DeafBlind. Two hundred sixty-two DeafBlind from all paths of life, representing several countries and an extraordinary number of DeafBlind organizations and local communities, not only signed our names but also seized the opportunity to introduce ourselves a little. We hope it is clear from our historic document that Helen Keller Services has no excuses and that it’s time for DeafBlind leadership there. Please note that many who signed the petition have held or are holding top leadership positions—but none at the one place with the most explicit mandate to serve our communities, HKNC.
Helen Keller Services has until August 9, 2024, to comply with our demands.
Meantime, we urge everyone, DeafBlind and non-DeafBlind alike, to contact your representatives in Congress. Much of HKNC’s work is federally funded, including through a line item, by act of Congress. Share our petition with your House Representative and two Senators. Our Legislative Action Team Chair, Marc Safman, is available to give you the contact information for your representatives and to provide tips on how to write your letter or prepare for your calls or meetings. Feel free to email him at outreach@deafblindleadershipnow.org.
Anyone wishing to speak directly to Helen Keller Services Board of Trustees can write to Larry Kinitsky, Chair, at lkinitsky@helenkellerservices.onmicrosoft.com.
Feel free to forward, post on Facebook and via other social media, discuss our cause across all media, and initiate a variety of other actions. Organizations and agencies, whether DeafBlind-related or adjacent or in solidarity, are encouraged to consider making public statements. We are happy to include such statements on our website https://deafblindleadershipnow.org.
Visit our website for updates as our movement evolves. We will not stop until our demands are met.
Thank you for your support!
We, the undersigned members of various DeafBlind communities, are fed up with Helen Keller National Center continuing to be controlled by hearing and sighted people. HKNC’s mission is to serve DeafBlind, yet has always resisted DeafBlind representation and leadership.
Helen Keller Services, HKNC’s distant parent entity, recently selected yet another hearing and sighted person to be HKNC’s next executive director. Qualified DeafBlind candidates, including the top finalist, were passed over. HKNC has never had a DeafBlind person hold the position.
The current HKS Board of Trustees has only one DeafBlind representative.
Qualified DeafBlind leaders had expressed interest in the director position or applied for it since at least 1956, when HKNC was known as the Anne Sullivan Macy Services federal pilot program. There have been protests before. In recent years, HKNC made unspoken but clear promises that a DeafBlind director would be hired "next time."
Enough is enough. It’s time.
We make the following four demands:
First, a DeafBlind person is appointed executive director of HKNC.
Second, HKNC is separated from Helen Keller Services (for the Blind), so that HKNC becomes its own, autonomous entity.
Third, HKNC's newly created Board of Trustees is made up of 70 percent or more DeafBlind members.
Fourth, HKS and all of its subsidiaries will not retaliate against any HKS or HKNC employee, family member, or student for any civil action related to the selection process or related issues.
With this petition, we are also taking the opportunity to introduce ourselves a little, to demonstrate how diverse and talented we are. HKNC has no excuses.
The HKS Board of Trustees has until August 9, 2024, to comply with our first demand and begin legally binding transition processes toward fulfilling the next two demands. Failure to do so will prompt the second stage of our movement.
Five current DeafBlind HKNC employees requesting anonymity
Lisa Ainscough
Former fundraising specialist, DeafBlind Program, Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind
Carolynsue M. Alflen
Founder and former president, Missouri DeafBlind Association
Bryan L. Alkire, J.D.
Former HKNC student
Nicole Alleman
Former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind
Sue Anderson
Voracious reader, grandmother
Xayan al-Amin
Student, College of the Sequoias, Fashion Design and Merchandising
Annie LeJeune Arabie
Loving housewife
Dan Arabie
Founder, National Association of the DeafBlind
Kim W. Archer, Honors B.A.
Disability Studies
Jorge H. Aristizabal
"I vote for this petition!"
Heidi Aulenbach
Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Karen Bailey, L.M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Michigan
Jennifer Baratta
Former job seeker from Helen Keller National Center
Denis Bardet
France
Laurie Barnes
President, Alberta Society of the DeafBlind
Aziz Bennani
"Bien à vous"
Nadyne Berger
Usher, aide social, membre de l’ASUQ, locataire de la MDS
Nandani Bhowan
"Keep in touch!"
Ed Borrone
Former HKNC student; master woodworker
Erin Bradford
Librarian
"DeafBlind Can!"
Tashi Bradford, Ph.D. candidate
Linguistics, Radboud University; owner, Totaal Languaging
Jay Breese
Set-up specialist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Morgan Breese, M.A.
Manager, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
"No thanks to benevolent ableism"
Becca Brenowitz, M.P.A.
Protactile Theatre actress; secretary, barista, and line cook
Esty Brenowitz, Ph.D. candidate
Gallaudet University
Hayley Broadway, M.Ed.
Co-principal investigator, Protactike Kids grant, Gallaudet University; owner, Touch Seeds
Maria V. Brook
Never misses a meeting or an event
Scott Burch, B.S.
President's Scholar, Gallaudet University
Roberto Cabrera, M.S.
Former Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Christian Call
Podcaster, volunteer, France
Emili Capili, M.A.
Public relations coordinator, DeafBlind Community of Texas
Dr. Francis Casale
Former candidate for the position of executive director of HKNC
Krista Caudill
Advocate; former HKNC student
Caroline Cerilli
Research Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center
Aimee Chappelow
Program Specialist, Missouri SSP-CN Program; former V.R. counselor; past president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Colleen Charbonneau
"Please add my name"
Lisa Chiango
Assistive technology trainer, Perkins School for the Blind; vice president, DeafBlind Contact Center
Fanny Chopot
Product Owner Cybersecurity, France
Daniel Chu
Canada
John Lee Clark, Ph.D. candidate
Author of "Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays"
Keith Clark, M.A., C.P.A.C.C.
Marketing manager; former director, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Vincent Clark, M.A.
Retired DeafBlind specialist; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Debra Cole
Educator, Lexington School for the Deaf
Elizabeth Cole-Pope
Arkansas
Steven D. Collins, Ph.D.
Retired linguist and professor, Gallaudet University
James Cooley, B.F.A.
Artist
Jason Corning
Accessibility consultant
Noëlie Coupin
Degree in Psychology, France
Hervé Couture
Usher, employé de la MDS, membre de l’ASUQ, locataire de la MDS
Allana Crew
Maryland
Iris Cruz-Whidden
Board member, Florida DeafBlind Association
John Cunniff
Retired employee, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center
Nykkolas C. Dauzyn
ProTactile educator and mentor; Dialectical Behavioral Therapist; Certified Trauma-Informed Care Peer
Barbara Davis
Traveler
Dana Dehaesus
President, Northern California Association of Deaf-Blind
Blaise Delahoussaye
Retired; longtime member, Metro Washington Association of the DeafBlind
Daniel Deschênes
Ex-directeur général et vice-président de l’Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec
Mindy Dill, M.A.
Retired school counselor; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Melissa Doty
Former HKNC student; all-around DeafBlind services
Jacqueline Doyle
"Please listen to the community"
Marie Doyle
Former executive director, DeafBlind Contact Center
Abigail Strauss Drake
Manager, Alumni Engagement, Gallaudet University
Marsha Drenth, C.V.R.T., C.A.T.I.S. and T.V.I. in process
Access Technology Instructor; Social Worker; student, Salus-Drexel University
Paul Ducharme
"Feel me in or I mean count me in!"
Rhonda Eernisse, B.A.
Leader, Texas DeafBlind Camp; former case manager, Access Alaska, University of Alaska-Anchorage
Jagannath Einhorn
Performer and media artist; DeafBlind Entertainment
Kristeen Elliott
Giraffe and cat lover
Laura Engler
"Anything is possible!"
Jackie Engler-Morris
Interpreting and Professional Services Manager, DeafBlind Service Center
David Ernest Ennis, B.S.
Artist
Tom Erickson
Longtime member, Minnesota DeafBlind Association
Ridge G. Euler
"Peace and many thanks!"
John Fenicle, M.S.
Teacher
Lisa Ferris, M.Ed.
Curriculum specialist and co-owner, Miles Access Skills Training, LLC
Victor Figuereo
Former HKNC student
Lisa Flaherty-Vaughn
Vice president, DeafBlind Support and Access Network
Stephanie (Steffy) Floux
Belgium, DeafBlind mentor, co-founder and former president of the national French DeafBlind advocacy organization
Zachary Fox, B.A.
Historian
Tammy Frost
Minnesota
Jon Gabry Jr., B.F.A., M.A.
Fine artist; educator; former HKNC student
Erick Gallegos
Website accessibility specialist
Haben Girma, J.D.
Author of “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law”
Laura Godbold, M.A.
Former adjunct professor, University of North Florida and Carolina University
Kevin Gdovin
Maintenance Services, Cherokee County Schools
Alberto Gonzales
Protactile Mentor
Sarah Goodwin, M.S.
Adjunct instructor and doctoral student; board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas
Lue Gordon
"Sincerely"
Andy Granda
Amateur endurance athlete
Martin Greenberg
Stalwart
Joseph Grigely, D.Phil.
Professor, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Heather Grizzle
Horticulturalist, gardener, writer, mother of two young children, wife of a fellow DeafBlind
James E. Groff, M.P.A.
"A qualified DeafBlind person should lead a DeafBlind-centered organization"
Bryan R. Grubb
"I, Bryan R. Grubb, sign this petition"
Jon Paul Guerci
Former trainer, iCanConnect
Suzanne “Suzi” Guimond, M.A.
Former HKNC Regional Representative, Region 5; owner, Embrace Within LLC
Diane Plassey Gutierrez
Retired guidance counselor
Antonia Venesse Guy, B.A.
Certified Professional Astrologer; owner, Astro Woke; board member, Deaf Women United
Thor Halvorsen, B.A.
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Hard of Hearing
John Hamilton, Jr.
HKNC student
Cristina Hartmann, J.D., M.F.A.
Writer
Casey Hassett
Founder, Tucson DeafBlind Social; chairperson, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf
Roméo Hatchi, Ph.D.
Applied mathematics; climate research engineer
Melissa Haynes
Athlete
Guinevere Head-Allen
Associate teacher and paraprofessional; student, Gallaudet University
Jose Herrera
Retired; longtime member, Minnesota DeafBlind Association
Jennifer Hess, M.A.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling; president, Board of Trustees, DeafBlind Service Center
Mike Higgins
Director, Linda Laurie Associates
Chris Holbrook
"DeafBlind need to be on the board!"
Rox’e Homstad
Assistive technology trainer, A.T.A.C.P., NolaVision LLC; service animal trainer, Believe Ability LLC
Brittany Houghton
Job seeker; former HKNC student
Donna Huff
Former coordinator, Pittsburgh DeafBlind Gathering
Amanda Lee Huston
Former HKNC student
"You can't put us in one mold"
Sarah Idler, C.D.I.
ASL interpreter
Katherine Inman, B.A.
Graduate student, T.V.I. in process
Tracie Fields Inman
Writer; former first vice president, National Federation of the Blind Deafblind Division
Tara L. Invidiato, M.Ed.
Former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind; Tactifying Language Integrations
Ashley (AJ) Jackson, M.S.W.
Recent graduate, Gallaudet University
Ronald Jackson
"MY name is Ronald Jackson"
Timothy Jackson
Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Linda Jacques
Présidente de l'ASUQ, Montréal, Québec.
Kathy Jankowski, Ph.D.
Retired Dean of Clerc Center, Gallaudet University
Author of "Agatha Tiegel Hanson: Our Places in the Sun"
James Jensen
Former HKNC student
Grace Johnson
Community member
Kristin Johnson
Community member
Najma Johnson, M.A.
Director, Multicultural Student Programs, Gallaudet University; owner, Grow Touch, plant shop tailored for DeafBlind
Victor Jones
Chef; former HKNC student
Debra Kahn
President, Washington State DeafBlind Citizens; Braille instructor
Florida Kivlin
"I support it!"
Melissa Kosa
"I support this 100 percent!"
Evan Kurth, Certification in I.T.
Amazon employee
Line Laforest
Agente de communication
Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec (ASUQ)
Mark Landreneau
Governmental relations specialist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Jaimi Lard
Retired spokesperson, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center
Amanda Lee
Intermediate Typist Clerk, Los Angeles County Publc Works
Jon Leitzke
Student, Rochester Institute of Technology
Riss Leitzke, M.B.A. candidate
Accessibility Coordinator, Wilderness Inquiry
Lucie Lessard
Course Braille
Jacques Levesque
Sourd-aveugle, locataire de la MDS, membre de l’ASUQ
Christopher Loomis
Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Sheila Loos
"Proud DeafBlind mother and grandmother in Kansas City, Missouri!"
Craig MacLean
Creator, Five-Star Disability blog
Christopher Magliocchino
Retired IBM employee; proud sibling; cat lover
Victoria Magliocchino, M.Ed.
Retired teacher, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; past president, Florida DeafBlind Associaton
France Marchand
Sourde-aveugle, membre de l’ASUQ, locataire de la MDS
Josiane Marcoux
Sourde-aveugle, employée de l’ASUQ
Lisa van der Mark, Ph.D. candidate
The Netherlands
Maria Marquez
Loyal member, Florida DeafBlind Association
Eddie Martinez Jr., M.P.A. candidate
Accommodations Coordinator, Office of Students With Disabilities, Gallaudet University
Steven McCoy
Producer-Journalist, Sessions with Steven
Stephanie McEruiggan
Mom of two and grandmother of three; former HKNC student
Megan McHugh
Assistive technology instructor
Deborah McKenney-McNally
In process of founding Michigan DeafBlind Advocates; former chairperson, American Deaf and Hard of Hearing Postal Workers
Sarah K. McMillen, M.A.
Educator
Anne McQuade
Director, DeafBlind Access of the South
Kelly Monahan
Founder, DeafBlind Escape Cruises
Victorica D. Monroe, PhD candidate
Author of "Swishing"
Morrison, M.Ed.
Accessibility Consultant and Trainer
Eddie Morten
Brother of Pier
Pier Morten
Brother of Eddie
Cynthia Moss
Former HKNC student ; board member, Northern California Association of DeafBlind
Annie Moureau
Secrétaire générale puis vice-présidente de Association Nationale pour les Personnes Sourdaveugles
Lea E. Moynihan, M.A.
Former employee of the State of North Carolina
Mae Mullen, B.A.
CNC Machinist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Teresa Myers
Missouri
Marquis Nath
New Jersey
Katie Noel
Mail inserter, Tandem
Chantal Nolin
Membre, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec.
Terri Nolt
Chairperson, DeafBlind Planning Committee, Vancouver
Scott Oberg
Librarian
Ryan Ollis, B.A.
DeafBlind Program Coordinator
Angie C. Orlando, M.F.A.
Author of "Through the Tunnel: Becoming DeafBlind"
Sonia Orsingher
France
Ruth Osorio
Associate Professor of English and Women's and Gender Studies
Patrick Pallies, M.S.W.
DeafBlind Specialist, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Angela Palmer, M.A.
Artist
Karen Park, B.A.
Certified Horticulturist and Consultant; founder, Ecological Horticulture of Deaf; former coordinator, DeafBlind Communuty Class
Sricamalan Pathmanathan
Board member, Canadian National Society of the DeafBlind; chair, Action Committee, DeafBlind Association of Toronto
Heather Lee Pavey, B.S.
DB YEA! Mentor; retreat director, DeafBlind Community of Texas
René Pellerin
Sole DeafBlind member of HKS Board of Trustees; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Angele Periard
"Thank you!"
Matthew Pettit
Former HKNC student
Jamie Pope, M.S.W.
Consultant; former executive director, American Association of the DeafBlind
Randall Pope
President, North Carolina Association of the DeafBlind; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Guillaume Portalier
Vocational rehabilitation counselor, France
Samantha Porter
Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Diane Poulin
Protactile Educator
Lawrence Poulin
Athlete
Roger Poulin, B.A.
Technology instructor, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Kim Powers
Dynamo
Lenore Pressley, B.S.W.
Vice President, Northern California Association of the DeafBlind
Concetta Pucci, PhD., L.I.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.
University Professor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Amelia Puildo
Accountant
Richard Putt
Former HKNC student; retired fiscal employee
Timothy Putt
Former federal government employee
Kayla Raquel, M.S.W.
"We want DeafBlind Leadership NOW!"
Jaime Recht, B.S.
Program Analyst, Federal Railroad Administration
Cheryl L. Rhodes
Co-founder, Florida DeafBlind Association
Jay Rhodes
Graduate student, Gallaudet University
Elio Riggillo
Protactile Educator
Brenda Roberts
"Yes, I agree!"
Jayce T. Romero
Former HKNC client
Yashaira "Yash" Romilus
Protactile Educator; co-founder, Protactile Theatre; former HKNC student
Christine "Coco" Roschaert
Educator, writer, traveler
Amy Rowson, B.S.
Educator; former trainer, Missouri SSP Program
Trudy Ryall
Australia
Marc Safman
C.E.O., Safman Consulting; co-founder, New York DeafBlind Advocates
Winfield Sainpreux
Artist; founder, Florida DeafBlind Events
Rosemary T. Sanborn
Community member
Jane Sayer
Chairperson, Mantioba Deaf-Blind Association
Heather Schoenwald, M.S.
Johns Hopkins University; Liberty Resources Inc.; former director, Oregon Commission for the Blind
Howie Seago
Hollywood, television, and stage actor
Barry R. Segal, M.A.
Instructor, Saint Paul College
Faruqee Sikder
"Respectfully"
Robert T. Sirvage, M.A.
Design researcher
Elsa Sjunneson
Author of "Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism"
Shaunna Smith
Collector
Allyson Snow
Protactile mentor
Sidney Snow
Board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas
Romain Solinas, M.A. candidate
Linguistics; Protactile educator
Debbie Sommer
Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Nancy Sommer
Former Independent Living Skills instruction, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Thomas Soret
President, Unanimes France; co-chair, French national task force on deafblindness
Jesse Stanley
President, DeafBlind Support and Access Network; director, DeafBlind Retreat of New England
Patty Starr
Retired, New York DeafBlind Advocates
Tracy Stine, B.S.
ASL teacher and freelance writer
Cai Steele
"The irony is I'm (a student) here at HKNC right now"
Caryn Tenin, B.S.
Leader, Arizona DeafBlind Coalition
Angela Theriabult
Executive Director, DeafBlind Service Center
André Thibeault, M.A.
Ancien chargé de cours, Faculté d'éducation de l'Université d'Ottawa; Ancien vice-président, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec
C. Thomas
"DeafBlind people should have an active role"
Tonilyn Todd
Determined
Barbie Tresnak
Entrepreneur, BYLD/Oncore Solar
Winnie Tunison, B.A.
President, DeafBlind Contact Center
Jesus Valdes
Former HKNC student; board member, DeafBlind Contact Center
"Nothing about us without us!"
Bert Van de Sompele
Multiple leadership roles, including with the European Deafblind Youth Camp
Soline Vennetier, Ph.D. candidate
Co-founder, Réseau National des SourdAveugles
Bruce Visser, M.A.
One of three DeafBlind siblings; master craftsman; access technology trainer
Rhonda Voight-Campbell
Protactile Educator; owner, Two Fronds Consulting
"DeafBlind Know Best!"
Angeli Wahlstedt
Former software developer
Liz Walker
Former HKNC student; former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind
"I’m a supporter of the whole DeafBlind community!"
Lara Rose Wall
President, Florida DeafBlind Association; founder, PT Dream Adventures and DeafBlind Voyage
"It’s time we kick HKNC's butt"
Amanda Warren, M.P.A.
Coordinator, DeafBlind Community Class and DeafBlind Retreat, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
Ann Warren
Vice president, Georgia Association of the DeafBlind; art director, DeafBlind Access of the South Retreat
Annmaree Watharow, Ph.D.
Researcher, University of Sydney
Janet Wayne
Member, DBCS
Krista Webb
Wood-burning artist
Theresa Wells
Former HKNC student; founder, Breezin’ Bytes, LLC
Arizona Welsh
Former treasurer, American Association of the DeafBlind
Molly Wezel-Peterson
President, Minnesota DeafBlind Association
Brett Wilhelm
HKNC student and intern; president, Sight and Sound Impaired of St. Louis; manager, Missouri and Nebraska SSP programs
"Time has long since come to spread a positive example"
Ernest Willman, M.Ed.
Certified Deaf Interpreter; Professional Life Coach
John Winstead
Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind
Brandie Young
Employee, AlphaPointe; founder, DeafBlind Social Group of Kansas City; former HKNC student
Bryen M Yunashko
Read his statement in the appendix below
Melissa A. Zagarella
Certification in ceramics, Cecil College
Kathryn Zarate
Former HKNC employee; current vice president, Florida DeafBlind Association
Caterina Zorrilla
Artist; former HKNC student
Bryen M. Yunashko's Statement
August 1, 2024
Hello, my name is Bryen M. Yunashko, and I am a DeafBlind business owner. I have also worked in various roles with the Helen Keller National Center, having done some technology training work and also briefly serving as a policy representative for governmental affairs. In 2014, I was invited to join the Helen Keller National Center Executive Director Search Committee. I was one of two DeafBlind members of the committee, which also included members of HKNC's parent organization, Helen Keller Services; board members, and the CEO of HKS himself.
I was part of the committee during its last half of its functions. So, I have limited knowledge of any discussions before my arrival. But by the time I arrived, a plan was forming. I considered it a great hope for all DeafBlind. That hope is once again dashed.
In those final meetings, it was decided to create a new position for Chris Woodfill, a talented DeafBlind candidate for the top position. The CEO himself expressed deep fondness for Chris and wanted to see him in the position but was concerned that Chris did not have enough financial management experience.
I personally approached Chris to find out how he really felt about this idea, since he apparently already knew of the plan as well. It was clear he wanted the job, but he accepted that he needed more financial experience. I did not press him any further to determine if this was his own words or not, but it was clear he was aware of the path and was willing to take this path.
It was during this search that the community held out hope that this time we would finally witness a DeafBlind leader at HKNC. And in my personal opinion, Chris was ready for the job, but I also respected the reservations being expressed and felt that Chris deserves to have a "learning period" before taking over the Center.
On the final day of interviews, Sue Ruzenski proved to be a well-prepared interviewee who presented very well. We agreed this would be the great union that not only achieves our goal of eventually having a DeafBlind executive director, but ensuring he would have the tools needed to keep the Center strong.
There was a previous conversation that stuck in my mind that day. Sue expressed privately that she wanted the job but understood that now was the time for a DeafBlind to take over. The tide was changing and like everywhere else in America, glass ceilings were being broken everywhere.
But she did get the job, with my endorsement of the plan that Chris would eventually fill the position when it became vacant again. And although I had not been keeping tabs on HKNC activities in recent years, the several times I stopped by and had a conversation, I was always told that Chris was absolutely ready for the job. So, I had no reason to question it.
It is now 2024. HKNC has signed on yet another non-DeafBlind to be executive director of HKNC, this being the third hire since 2014. It is clear that the promise has been broken and a betrayal exists. This, I do not understand.
We were very clear during our final deliberations that we wanted this and we wanted to send a clear message of accountability to the community about why we chose this path.
To Sue, I regret that it has come to this, because I do believe that, deep down, you do wish good things. But it cannot be ignored that you were a direct beneficiary of this plan. When you were promoted to become CEO of HKS, you did not follow through with the plan. For this I am deeply puzzled.
And to the newly appointed Executive Director, please be aware that your hiring was contingent on breaking a decade-old promise made to the very community you signed on to serve.
It is time for change. It is time for priorities to be determined by DeafBlind. It is time that we are the ones who should determine our destiny.
HKNC gets a significant amount of funding from the federal government via vocational rehabilitation funding. What is the point if that funding is used to tell DeafBlind that we can never lead ourselves? It is time for a change!
Sincerely,
Bryen M. Yunashko
