| Deaf camp worker offers lesson with a smile BY MELISSA LAUBERUMConnection Staff David Broggin is a smile. He is also a living testament to the churchs willingness to experience, rather than just talk about, diversity, said the Rev. Peggy Johnson of Christ UMC of the Deaf in Baltimore. Broggin, 20, is deaf. During the school year he lives at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, where he is a junior. This summer, however, he had no place to live. At Johnsons urging, West River Center, a Baltimore-Washington Conference camp south of Annapolis, hired him to be a dishwasher. Room and board were included in his salary. It was not as difficult as I thought it would be, said Carrie Patterson, the food service manager at West River. I learned patience. I learned I needed to slow down and use different ways to explain things. I felt there was a lot David could teach us. It was an interesting and challenging summer. Through interpreter Carol Stevens, of the conferences Deaf Shalom Zone, Broggin signed: Forks, spoons, glasses, clean pans, sweep floors, move boxes fun, fun. Broggin had worked at washing tables in the cafeteria at the deaf school and so had experience in this type of work, he explained. Some weeks during the summer more than 200 campers ate their three daily meals in the dining hall. It was busy, but it was an important job, he said. Broggin was also impressed with his front yard a mile of waterfront property near the Chesapeake Bay. In between meals he swam, hiked and rode a bike the camp loaned to him. Fun, fun, fun, he repeated. Anticipated communication difficulties often make it difficult for deaf people to find jobs, Stevens said, and when they do they are often underemployed. She applauds the camp for venturing into unknown territory and taking a chance on Broggin. Broggin believes more churches should hire deaf people. It gives deaf and hearing a chance to learn to respect each other. They shouldnt call each other dumb, he said. Patterson is not certain if the camp will actively seek out additional deaf workers next summer. We wont shy away from it, she said. Well take it on a person-by-person basis. Working with Broggin reminded her and the staff not to categorize people. Each person is different, each case is different, she said. David was a good, hard worker. Yes, Broggin signed and smiled. Fun, fun. | 
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