Meet Eric, Humanim’s multi-talented American Sign Language (ASL) Facilitator. Eric and his colleagues in the ASL department work with around 20 clients who are both Deaf and have physical or developmental disabilities, providing them with a range of meaningful day program activities.
Eric, who began at Humanim in July 2024, is the only hearing staff member who is fluent in ASL. He plays many roles – including creating schedules for clients, tracking their goals and outcomes and interpreting cooking lessons, life skills and other classes. He also helps Humanim’s Deaf staff members communicate effectively with other colleagues. “A lot of times, I am the voice, quite literally, for other Deaf staff members to express any concerns they may have,” he says.
Eric became interested in ASL while growing up with a number of Deaf people. He learned some ASL as a teenager and decided to study it in college. He took ASL classes at Montgomery College and then at Gallaudet University, which serves a primarily Deaf student body.
After college, he worked as a freelance ASL interpreter and then in the Montgomery County public schools for three years, doing ASL interpreting in classes and meetings. He’s thrilled to be working in different ways with Deaf people at Humanim.
“The most enjoyable thing is being able to be a voice for individuals when they don’t feel heard. Seeing them actually achieve their goals is something that is so rewarding to me. It can be just as basic as being able to identify colors; that can be a big milestone,” he says. “We may take it for granted but the magnitude of what simple things mean to them is one of the most rewarding things. I’m so grateful that places like Humanim and other agencies exist. We definitely meet a need.”
When he’s not working, Eric is likely pursuing his lifelong passions: dance and music. He teaches regular classes in bachata, a sensuous dance that originated in the Dominican Republic, at two dance studios and sometimes bars. “Everyone is taking the classes, from so many backgrounds. It’s a beautiful thing,” he says. He’s also a committed karaoke singer, able to bust out everything from Whitney Houston to Elvis to Broadway show tunes.
Looking ahead, Eric would like to work with Humanim staff members to improve how the team interacts with Deaf clients. “I could see taking that project on – to make sure we’re all on the same page and help staff members interact appropriately with Deaf people.”