Fall 2018 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine
Here to be heard
Deaf since age 3, Pribula relied on a call service for deaf individuals that can sound like a phone call from a telemarketer, and several times, the CATS Late Night operator hung up on her.
Mary Reed, BSJ '90, MA '93 | October 25, 2018
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Kirsten Pribula, BFA 鈥18 shares her experiences living with deafness through both stalwart on-campus advocacy and thought-provoking art. Photo by Elle Achten, BSJ 鈥14, MA 鈥17
When Kirsten Pribula, BFA 鈥18, lived on campus and needed a late-night ride back to her room, she sometimes would call CATS Late Night, a free shuttle service provided by the University. There was just one problem: Deaf since age 3, Pribula relied on a call service for deaf individuals that can sound like a phone call from a telemarketer, and several times, the CATS Late Night operator hung up on her.
鈥淚 felt sad because I couldn鈥檛 make a simple call and do something for myself instead of having another person to help me,鈥 Pribula recalls.
Then, the graphic design major was invited to become an accessibility liaison through the Presidentially Appointed Committee on Disability and Accessibility Promotion. Her first goal? Change the CATS Late Night call system. The accessibility liaisons met with Transportation Services, which fixed the problem within days by adding a texting option for all campus ride-hailing services.
鈥淚t was a great feeling,鈥 Pribula says, adding that the texting option is popular among hearing students as well. This outcome is an example of 鈥渄eaf gain,鈥 where society as a whole benefits from having deaf people in it.
Pribula鈥檚 life experience informed not only her accessibility advocacy, but also her art. Through her senior thesis project, 鈥淗ear What I See,鈥 she invited others to experience the challenges of lip reading, a skill Pribula says is acquired only through practice and patience.
She鈥檚 quick to point out, though, that there鈥檚 much more to her story鈥攁nd those of all people living with a disability.
鈥淚鈥檓 more than just the 鈥榙eaf girl.鈥 I鈥檓 Kirsten. I鈥檓 a graphic designer, a photographer, I鈥檓 from Ohio,鈥 Pribula says, explaining that she wishes everyone would learn to reach out to those with disabilities.
鈥淕et to know their story and find out who they really are and look beyond the disability. It鈥檒l surprise you.鈥
Photo courtesy of Kirsten Pribula, BFA 鈥18