Tammy Nordstrand is One Of A Kind


Tammy Nordstrand
photo by Annie Uyehara


Tammy Nordstrand

By Annie Uyehara


It goes without saying that no two people are alike. Yet when it comes to deaf people, there’s an assumption that all deaf people are alike.

That’s simply not so, says Tammy Nordstrand. She was diagnosed as profoundly deaf when she was a year old. “Everyone is different,” Tammy says. “It’s like with eyeglasses, we all wear different prescriptions, we all see differently. It is the same with deaf people, we all have different needs and do things differently---some people only sign, others write on paper to communicate, others speak.”

Those with profound hearing loss can hear nothing at all. However, Tammy, 48, had speech therapy throughout her life and speaks as well as signs and hearing aids help her hear loud sounds. “I grew up with a hearing family,” says Tammy over a Zoom interview with the aid of Erin Gallimore, an interpreter and a teacher with credentials to work with those with hearing challenges. Tammy’s husband is deaf and they have three hearing children.“I have a lot of lip reading skills and I sign and speak with my family and friends.”

Communication difficulties arise when meeting strangers. Tammy speaks so well, people assume she can hear. “Lots of people I meet ask me, ‘what country are you from?’ Or, ‘what is your accent?’ I have to explain to them that I’m deaf,” she says. “But, I have to look at them or get their attention to read their lips. Some people won’t repeat something I missed and say they’ll tell me later, but they forget, and I miss out on that information, which is frustrating.”

While there is occasional discouragement, Tammy’s communication skills with the hearing community has been very fruitful. She was a National Cheerleading Association summer staff instructor for four years. “Many campers were amazed by my experiences and ability to teach with different competitive high school teams.” She was also the head cheer and dancing coach at Battle Mountain High School and a children’s ski school lead counselor and a ski instructor for 14 years. Tammy worked with deaf school students and hopes to work this fall with a young deaf boy.

“I think we need to improve school programs for deaf children and to make connections with other deaf people in the community,” says Tammy. “We need more exposure to the available services and help navigate the support that is there, like RISP.” RISP (Rural Interpreting Service Project) provides opportunities for initial and advanced sign language interpreter training to increase the availability of interpreting services in rural areas.

While attending Gallaudet University for deaf students, Tammy was inspired by the “variety of deaf students with their own special talents talents and skills.” A lot has changed since then, she says. “More deaf people of all ages are recognized in movies, TV, and  sports. And with social media, there is so much more awareness, exposures, and inspiration for hearing and deaf people alike.”




Resources:
RISP (Rural Interpreting Service Project):  https://ccdhhdb.com/index.php/risp/
Hearing Loss Association of America - Western Colorado Chapter: http://www.hearinglosscolorado.org/

General Information:
https://www.cdc.gov/hearingloss/
https://www.nad.org/

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