Sue Pedersen - Featured Member Profile

Sue Virnig Pedersen was born to hearing parents as one of nine children including three deaf siblings as the oldest in her family. As a native of Minnesota, she attended Minnesota School for the Deaf by the family doctor’s recommendation, along with because her father’s deaf cousin attended there.

Sue picked up sign language at school from peers and teachers, but she used homemade signs at home. In the 1950’s the communication philosophy for parents did not support sign language at home due to lacking of deaf children’s ability to speak. She stated her speech was not wonderful not just because she refused to wear hearing aid, but she accepted what she was being deaf.

Sue as one of three pregnant seniors on the college campus where in her college days, any pregnant students were not looked properly in school, graduated from Gallaudet University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in library science in 1964, thanks to her determination with humbly dignity.

After her first childbirth, Sue applied for work at public library in Saco and Biddeford, Maine. She believed that obviously, it was discrimination due to her deafness. Instead, she worked at the factory to manufacture blankets and sheets, and later, a discount family store in order to earn extra income to her growing family. Raising a family of three with her deaf husband, Donald La Roche was her highest priority when they lived in Maine and Connecticut.

Sue helped Don, her first husband fight for his rights to have sign language interpreters at work. Once she asked CAD for its support for some deaf employees at the East Hartford-based aircraft company, at the same time some members elected her as a first woman President in their CAD organization.

With support from an executive director and deputy director for Commission on the Deaf (CDHI), a state agency, she was inspired with confidence in developing her political and speaking skills and then met closely with the legislators about the needs of the deaf CT people. Later, she was hired as community liaison officer at the CDHI for the deaf community and some communities involving people with disabilities.

When she acquired her new career, her marriage had been falling apart. As she led as a single divorced mother raising three kids, uncommon status gave her a lot of strength and support to her career.

Her achievements based on the meetings with the legislators was the implementation of mental health program for the deaf people and distribution of alphabet cards with the state legislative bills printed on the back of these cards as a new information technique tool that worked effectively.

The majority of her oral presentations without interpreters’ assistance promoted the legislators to realize how important interpreting services were to deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing citizens. Sue demonstrated some political guts reflecting how deaf and hard of hearing consumers who are facing the reality daily to educate the legislators and the public.

As she worked for the state almost for 25 years, she succeeded to bring deaf people closer to the state government to understand about their rights, and ensured that the majority of some state agencies, businesses, organizations and schools were aware, and familiar with the needs of deaf people for better delivery service system.

She attended many activities hosted by some organizations for people with disabilities, and shared the deaf community’s perspectives on some major issues. These issues covered the film industry about a hearing actor performing as deaf person, the theory of inclusion or mainstreaming school system, interpreting mandates, Americans with the Disabilities Act and some others in relating to the impact on the deaf community.

Sue is actively involved in various organizations as board member, officer and chair. Some organizations where she participates in past and currently are such as CT Association of the Deaf (CAD), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Sign Language Instructors' Pool (SLIP), CT Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (CRID), National Fraternal Society of the Deaf - Hartford Division (NFSD), Hartford Club of the Deaf (HCD), and CT Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf (CCOSD).

Sue could not imagine that she could remain a single for good after her kids went on their own. She thought of giving another chance to a second marriage. Divorce promoted her to see life in a different perspective, and changed her life to become a stronger, independent woman.

In her previous first marriage, she was afraid of going out alone to any social events, but she could ask for companionship if she wanted badly to attend. Otherwise, she rather stayed home with her children as if she accommodated her life inside the comfort zone.

Nowadays Jim, her second husband respects her for her own choice about going to a different circle where she feels confident with herself going alone and independent without him. This year, she is celebrating her 25th year marriage with Jim.

As she enjoys her semi-retirement since laid off in 2003, she continues working part time as certified deaf interpreter (CDI) across the state, and volunteering on her free time. She loves attending some events hosted by DWC for relaxing and interaction with deaf women.

In her next project, Sue and her husband, are preparing for New England Senior Citizens' Conference as co-chairs in Groton, CT in April 2008.

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