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Ernest E. Garrett III
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Ernest E. Garrett III is a proud member-at-large of National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. He first learned of NBDA in 1999, during his first year at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), when he became involved with the black deaf community who were members of Little Rock Black Deaf Advocates (LRBDA). He fondly recalls Ms. Ella Irby - LRBDA chapter president, and current Alternate Regional Representative for the Southwestern Region of NBDA - who was like a mother away from home during his time at college. Since that time, Ernest has served as an assistant to NBDA two-term Secretary Cory Parker (2005-present) and is the current NBDA Newsletter Editor (2007-present). He also campaigned for the presidency of NBDA during the 2007 conference in St. Louis, Missouri, in addition to chairing and serving as a member of two conference planning committees.
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A native of Saint Louis, Missouri, Ernest was born hearing and became audiologically deaf (severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss) at the age of two years, due to bacterial meningitis. He received his special education services as a deaf student in a mainstreamed setting throughout the course of his EC-12 education from Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD). After graduating from Brentwood High School with honors in 1999, Ernest decided to advance his education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). While a college student, he was active with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Kappa Psi Chapter), and involved with INROADS/St. Louis, Inc., through which he interned at The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for three years. He graduated from UALR in May 2003 with an Associate of Arts in General Studies, and in August 2003, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in History. After an uneventful job search during the summer of 2003, Ernest decided that the time was ripe for him to proceed with his graduate education. He therefore began in the Master of Social Work Program at Gallaudet University in 2003, and decided to pursue the School Social Work Specialization. The following spring semester, he also began his studies as a simultaneous degree student in the Master of Science in Administration program. While a graduate student at Gallaudet University, Ernest supported himself through scholarships and grants, and by teaching beginning and intermediate American Sign Language courses at Prince George's Community College and by working as an ASL Instructor in the Adult Education Program of Arlington, Virginia. Ernest also served as an English Tutor and Writing Advisor at Gallaudet University. In December 2005, Ernest received a Master of Science in Administration and graduated the following year with a Master of Social Work, both degrees from Gallaudet University.
Ernest is currently in direct practice as a school social worker for Special School District of St. Louis County. He provides psychological counseling and consultative services on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing students from early childhood through the twelfth grade. He also teaches part-time at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois. His first employment position as a professional social worker was at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD), located in rural Delavan, Wisconsin. He holds the Certified School Social Worker (CSSW) credential from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW) credential from the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. He is now receiving supervision in Missouri to earn the 3,000 hours needed for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential. After one year of employment with WSD, Ernest relocated to St. Louis, MO to begin his present position with SSD. He is pleased and honored to return to the school district that contributed in many positive ways to his educational success.
Finally, yet importantly, Ernest is a full-time student at Walden University, pursuing a research doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in applied management and decision sciences. In his spare time, he reads, travels internationally, cooks vegetarian dishes, golf, plays tennis (beginner), exercises (weight-lifting and distance running), and is involved with a host of other community, professional, and advocacy organizations.
Michael E Graziano |
