When she was a child, Patricia Grant watched a movie that changed her life.
"As a child I saw the movie "The Miracle Worker" based on the childhood of Helen Keller and I cried," remembers Patricia. "I
watch it today and I still cry. It inspired me that she was able to overcome such challenges to live the way she did."
As an adult, Patricia began researching ways she could reach out to people like Helen Keller, and learned about the profession of Intervenor
for persons who are Deaf-Blind. An Intervenor acts as eyes and ears for people who are both deaf and blind, providing them with interpretation
and information, sighted guide and a connection to the world.
Patricia began attending George Brown College's part-time Intervenor program in the 1990s, but when the part-time program closed she was unable
to become a full-time student because she also needed to work. She didn't want to stop learning, so she got a job as an Intervenor at Rotary Cheshire
Homes, an apartment complex specifically built to accommodate Deaf-Blind people living independently.
In 2001, Patricia decided to return to GBC and pick up the courses she needed to complete her diploma. "I loved the new facilities at St.
James," she explains. "The college staff was great - especially the program co-ordinator who worked with me to create a personalized
schedule so I could keep working and still graduate with my class."
After graduating from George Brown College with honours, Patricia worked as the Acting Housing Manager for Rotary Cheshire for three months before
being named the new Executive Director of the Canadian Helen Keller Centre in the fall of 2003. Since then she has been fighting to spread the
message of her first inspiration.
Through personalized courses taught at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, Deaf-Blind individuals learn how to increase their quality of life and
independence.
"I have to say that the only reason I am in the position I am in now is because of the Intervenor program," says Patricia. "While
I do have other skills from working in the business sector, the profession wants and respects Intervenors from the George Brown College program
because they are so well-trained."
Read more stories from George Brown Graduates...
To learn more, visit the George Brown College Alumni page. |
