long time no see: part 1: work

I have no idea if anyone even reads my blog anymore but just in case....hello again!

Last update was back in May when I posted about proposed changes to VRS reimbursement rates.

Well, the FCC cut the rates. Not as much as they originally proposed but still enough that Sorenson closed several VRS centers and laid off quite a few employees. The tech support call center in St. Louis was closed. Some tech support staff were laid off in Rochester, NY and here in SLC. One entire department was eliminated. Other layoffs resulted in a total of several hundred altogether. Fortunately, Steven was not one of them. Unfortunately, some of our friends were impacted, including Steven's immediate supervisor. As a result, he has had to take on those responsibilities as well as his own. We have mourned for those who lost their jobs and hope they find new ones soon.

Because of the uncertainty of whether or not Steven would still have a job, I applied for a full time position as a Deaf Mentor. But before I go any further on that, let me give some background.

Last fall, USDB hired a new superintendent. He proposed a program of changes that included making Deaf Mentors full time employees. In January of this year, we got a new Deaf PIP (Parent Infant Program) director. Previously, both Deaf and Blind PIP were run by one director. One of the changes was to separate the Deaf and Blind schools. Related services that weren't direct teaching continue to be shared (counseling, various therapies, etc.). The director we'd had became the Blind PIP director and we got a new Deaf PIP director. Anyway, she started a program of all DMs being either part time or full time, with a goal of all DMs being FT in 3 years.

At first I planned to quit when the current contract was over at the end of July. I wasn't interested in being a FT DM and the PT hours were more than I wanted to work. But with the worry that maybe Steven would get laid off, he encouraged me to apply for the FT job. So I did, and interviewed. Before any job offer came along, the rates were announced and Sorenson did their restructuring. Since we were now assured that Steven would have a job for at least a year (the current rate is only for a year), we discussed my job situation and reevaluated and decided I would ask to be considered for PT instead.

The reason for that was because of the nature of our job (we teach families ASL and we encourage fathers and siblings to be present as well as moms and deaf child), most of our working hours are in the evenings. We figured that in order for me to work my required number of hours as well as still fulfill my Young Women responsibilities, I would have to work every night (except Wednesdays) and most of Saturdays. Our family time would be severely limited, plus I would likely need to get a babysitter or daycare for Alex. It wouldn't be for very many hours but I still didn't like the idea.

Well, we were blessed and I was approved for PT work. Budget cuts have reduced my working hours to 16 hours per week, which is plenty. I am currently working with 4 families, with 2 more to be started this week, and maybe 1 or 2 more to be added. I am still very much enjoying the job and having fun with my new families.

Steven's keeping busy at work. They have some new stuff coming down the pipeline that he is excited about. And that's all I know. It's all very hush-hush.