Testimonials

Our son is now quite happily a member of the National Deaf Academy community in Mount Dora, Fla., and for the first time in a very long time able to get all his care directly in American Sign Language. The treatment team is putting together a plan, which will include individual and group psycho therapy, recreational and occupational therapy and medication management. His days are highly structured, and he has joined a small peer group of deaf men with similar needs. We are relived that he is in a safe, therapeutic and nurturing environment. Thank you for helping make this happen.

A letter to state representatives following a placement at NDA

I recently visited NDA to be with my 10 year old son. His benefits from this facility are tremendous. In 15 weeks your staff and team that care for and assess my son have:

• Stabilized his medication without excessive or dramatic changes. He is more "even keeled" than he has been in a long time.
• Provided him with a safe environment that gives him comfort, confidence and security. He feels wanted and accepted. I know because he didn't beg me to take him home. NDA has something special to be able to accomplish this for him.
• Grandma, Aunt, Dad, Step-mom, Step-brother and myself have visited him at NDA over the last five weeks and all of us are so impressed with your facility, your ability, your capability and your desires for him. We (even the skeptics) are all in agreement that NDA is the place created to help him.
• He seems less agitated, anxious and depressed. I know this comes from the individual one-to-one attention that follows the principle of consistency and continuity.
• He is gaining the concept that he is responsible for himself and his actions. This may be a slow process to complete realization, but your staff has helped him accept that start of the path.

All of what I say does not carry much weight for a person who has not suffered the heartache of behaviors stemmed from mental disorder. However, if you conceive the trauma and drama, then you know the positive impact of what is listed above. My son and I are the happiest we've been in a long time. My optimism has now overpowered my pessimism, and you have settled the oceans of my anxieties. I would also like to thank you for the manner in which you have handled and helped my family and I in this difficult and emotional situation. I have experienced nothing but friendly kindness, helpful willingness and respect.

Parent

Thank you so much for helping me with my medicine. I learned how to be stable at NDA. I will have a new apartment. I will go to the Deaf Club. I am excited to have new friends. Thank you for being a doctor to me.

Patient

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to you for everything you did to help our daughter while she was at NDA. When she arrived at NDA, we had very little hope. Since then, we have watched her grow, mature and gain the self-esteem and confidence to reach her goals. Most important, she wants to live. I know your job is a very difficult one. The decisions you make affect many lives. Being 2000 miles away from our daughter was very difficult, but your concern and care for her made it much easier. Thanks so much for your hard work and efforts!

Parent

We want our students to be as productive as possible, and to achieve a future of independence and success.

NDA Teacher

The National Deaf Academy has given us the family that I thought I was only going to hope for.

Parent

Communicating with a Deaf individual in psychiatric care via their native language, allows them to feel comfortable to develop that clinical and therapeutic rapport.

NDA Psychiatrist

No one wants their child to be so far away, but NDA is the only program of its kind to manage a person with mental health needs whose only method of communication is American Sign Language. During his two years at NDA, our son received excellent medical care, individual and group therapy and his dad and I were able to see him for family therapy via videophone weekly and in-person every month. We are grateful to everyone at NDA and know their work is part of his successful transition.

Parent