The country’s first-ever deaf news presenter went on air at noon Wednesday, presenting the life news segment of “KBS News 12.”
Roh Hee-ji, 26, was selected through the state broadcaster’s recruitment program for anchors with disabilities, which has been running since 2011. She is the eighth person with a disability to take on an anchor role at KBS, following in the footsteps of Lee Chang-hoon, the broadcaster’s first anchor with low vision.
Joni Behrends seems to want to say something. Breathing through a ventilator, she can’t.
So, Casey King, RN, hands her a pen and holds a pad of paper as Behrends writes a series of letters on it: W….I…..T….S….O.
King signs to her interpreter, who turns to the patient: “Let’s try a marker.”
This time Behrends writes something resembling cursive. Still, neither King nor her interpreter can figure it out.
King signs to her interpreter, “Do you want some paper just to draw on?”
Behrends nods.
Earlier, Behrends mouthed responses to questions about her name, what year it is, where she is, all of which was huge progress as she recovers from brain surgery on the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
“I’m seeing her come to life again,” King says through her interpreter.
![Deaf-Centric National Caregiver Certification Training
4 Week Training
Gallaudet University’s National Caregiver Certification Training
is the first-of-its-kind caregiver training program in ASL and English, designed specifically for Deaf caregivers and those working with Deaf senior citizens. This self-paced, 4-week online training prepares you for the American Caregiver Association (ACA) exam—the national standard in caregiver certification.
Gain essential caregiving skills—from patient rights and hygiene to dementia care and disease prevention
Understand how to support Deaf seniors with culturally and linguistically appropriate training
Earn a nationally recognized caregiver certificate from the ACA upon completion
If you are interested in getting certified, or are looking to find a caregiver in your area,
please contact cce@gallaudet.edu]](https://www.delawaredeaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gallaudet-National-Caregiver-training-Spring-2025-791x1024.png)
Gallaudet University’s National Caregiver Certification Training (NCCT) is the first-of-its-kind caregiver training program in ASL and English, designed specifically for Deaf caregivers and those working with Deaf senior citizens. This self-paced, 4-week online course prepares you for the American Caregiver Association (ACA) exam—the national standard in caregiver certification.
Gain essential caregiving skills—from patient rights and hygiene to dementia care and disease prevention.
Understand how to support Deaf seniors with culturally and linguistically appropriate training.
Earn a nationally recognized caregiver certificate from the ACA upon completion.
If you are interested in getting certified or are looking to find a caregiver in your area, please contact cce@gallaudet.edu.
