Salem, Oregon. – Bridges Oregon announces a new hire in the nonprofit agency’s Communication Services; Wolfgang Staley joins the organization as the Communication Service Coordinator.
He joins Bridges Oregon from Gallaudet University located in Washington, DC. During his time at Gallaudet, he worked as a Resident Advisor, Student Health Advisor, tutoring some Business students, and a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Risk Management Insurance. Wolfgang brings a wealth of business-to-consumer expertise and experience in the areas of program development, program innovation, and contributes to our DeafBlind and Deaf or Hard of Hearing with additional disabilities.
Wolfgang is a fourth-generation Deaf cisgender man living in Vancouver, Washington, and transitioning to becoming a permanent resident in Oregon. He demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, and social justice and brings a necessary scope of inclusion and access.
“I am excited and honored to be your Communication Service Coordinator. I am looking forward to contributing to the table with Bridges Oregon. I am also thrilled and extremely motivated for the opportunity to assist such an important resource in becoming 100% a reality for our DeafBlind and Deaf or Hard of Hearing with additional disabilities community here in Oregon. This position will be important in continuing to make a Deaf/DeafBlind/Hard of Hearing-friendly bridge with the Oregon community. Thank you for the wonderful welcome!”
Executive Director Chad A. Ludwig states, “Wolfgang is an outstanding addition to the team and brings unique skills and collaboration. Bridges Oregon is more than excited to have him join the agency.”
As a new and emerging leader in the community, Bridges Oregon has become the only dedicated Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf with additional disabilities, and Hard of Hearing nonprofit organization in Oregon that provides Communication Facilitator service. Bridges Oregon was recently awarded the Communication Facilitator (CF) grant from the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to provide Oregon’s first-ever Communication Facilitator services to DeafBlind and Deaf or Hard of Hearing Oregonians with a disability in the upper extremities that affect expressive communication. The CF is a specialized staff member who visits our consumers’ choice of location, usually at their home, to bridge the information gap through copy signing, tactile interpreting, and low vision interpreting through their video technologies. This allowed Wolfgang to start his work on Monday, July 25th. After weeks of intensive training and preparation, we will open the CF Service in fall 2022, and will begin the provision of services to DeafBlind and Deaf with additional disabilities consumers.
About Bridges Oregon:
Bridges Oregon is a nonprofit for Oregonians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing or face other communication barriers. It is in our mission to facilitate equity, inclusiveness and to provide a bridge to opportunities through advocacy, education, and communication.