DECEMBER 11, 1997 • WCC CAMOPUS VOICE 13
Interpreter aids WCC's hearing impaired
Joannie Hughes signs for John Lanier during his English class lecture as
classmates observer PHOTO: ANGELA L AGUIGUI
By SHOWNELL EZZELL
Some WCC students
may be learning sign
language inadvertently
if they share classes
with John Lanier,
student in the
automotive technology
program, and his
interpreter, Joanie
Hughes, who has been
helping Lanier since
August as a paid
employee of the
college.
Hughes has been
translating sign
language for 27 years,
having learned her
skill through 50
workshops.
She was inspired in
her youth by her
neighbors, a deaf man
and his wife who taught
her a few signs.
Then years later she
became interested in
signing again, trans
lating in her church.
Hughes said that she
”loves and enjoys
working at WCC.”
Born in
Wilmington, she now
lives in Wilson.
In 1987 she met
Sonya, then 7 years
old, when she became
Sonya's translator in
elementary school.
Sonya was born 3
months premature.
She suffered severe
hearing impairment as
the result of
underdeveloped inner
ears.
When Sonya was 13,
she tried through
signing to tell her
mother that her
stepfather was sexually
abusing her.
Because Sonya's
mother had never
learned to sign,
Sonya's pleas for help
went unheeded.
But Hughes responded
to Sonya when Sonya
called her.
Sonya started to
spend a lot of time and
weekends with Hughes.
Then when she was
15, she asked Hughes to
fight for custody of
her, and Hughes won the
case.
Hughes said that in
June 1995 People Weekly
magazine interviewed
her for an article
because she had gained
custody of a teenager,
Sonya.
They are now living
in Wilson with Hughes'
daughters Kelli, 21,
and Traci, 24.
txeCom
Computers
★ CUSTOM SySTEH DESiaN
★XNTEJIWET
★SOFTW^AJIE
ExeCom
Computers
205 N. Berkeley Blvd.
Goldsboro, NC 27534
778-0771
exe@execomcomputers.com
http://www.execomcomputers.com
I WCC staff and |
I Students with ID's |
115% discount on any service I
I Rides to and from school I
Msr.nBE
TDK
Moamma
l*N«t
150% CASH BACK GUARANTEE
We'll refund 150% the difference
in price if your tire is advertised for less
NATtomnus
avMuimsBs
UMMhHhs^elll
by A local competitor within 30 days of your purchase.
FREE! MAINTENANCE SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR CAR!
NO PAYMENT FOR 90 DAYS
NO INTEREST! NO ANNUAL FEE!
N. Berkeley Blvd.
Berkeley Mall
778-0230
778-0231
V 7M te not Miilm gMnatMd Bdla^ TMir RrMtoM Tb* It ScniM
CMittc «nt rafUM jM tIrM ctt • fronted baaU. Aotwa ttwidHl* nar vaty.
Saa tM te Mff af wtittaa Baited wamatlaa a*i aO ptMlnBte/MCvleaa.
Aa addttlanal te ohep faaa aaj ba addad. Nat appBeabU ia CaBfoala
erMewToek. BpaeUtoptedaetalled^aedtraaddealgDamay v«y. Prioaa,
wamdUlfa. aMlamartTa aandeaa, cndb ylaaa. and othar alTm avallabla at
flraateoa itoraa. Saa irfMatad daalaw Hated fac tbalr oapiyatltlTa oHw.
IRC ARB ROT Air AUraOKlZBO mCBBUf 13BAtElL”
Cnaa Mia* anaiM. CHMinM
MtMd itaMcltflMJI* hrWBigpi
w aetfHrlal lewm «*
!■ Mi
MMa M «ir«. tMOTMi M • ana M* isLaM).
TaiMI* nt* llOiM m *17/1/^ •** MV
W Mt HM Mi M air*. I
■bmm* Mwit* aOkMk
FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTERS