> An Evening With Vikee
> A Benefit for the "Friends of the Bailey Deaf Unit"
> Friday, May 5th 7:00 PM
> The McFarland Auditorium, Alabama School for the Deaf
> Talladega, Alabama
> Tickets: $8.00 at the door
> Vikee Waltrip, Artist, Actress, Comediene and Survivor
> One of America's funniest Deaf comediennes, Vikee Waltrip, has starred
> in television and theatre productions including the John Larroquette
> Show. Calling herself an "all-round handy-womyn," Waltrip is also a
> playwright, director and actress. She has worked as a make-up artist,
> costume designer and has been involved in production work on multiple
> levels. She has worked with a number of Schools for the Deaf across
> the country as Artist-in-Residence.
> In spite of her success as an artist, it has not been an easy road for
> Waltrip, whose struggles with bipolar disorder have shaped much of her
> life and philosophy. Living with mental illness and dealing with a
> series of major setbacks in life have taught her much about how "the
> system" often comes up short in helping people with mental illness,
> especially those who are deaf. Her experiences have given her a rich
> source of material for her comedy and a burning passion for improving
> mental health services for deaf people.
> Join Vikee and her cast of howlingly funny charecters
> for an evening of fun, laughter, and helping people who need help the
> most.
>
> About The Bailey Deaf Unit
> The Bailey Deaf Unit is located Greil Memorial Psychiatric Hospital
> in Montgomery. It will have 10 beds, with two beds designated as
> statewide crisis beds. It is designed to be a culturally affirmative
> program with signing staff who are trained to work with people who are
> mentally ill and deaf.
> People who are deaf and who are in need of help have few choices.
> Most programs are not prepared to work with them. The Bailey Unit is
> designed to serve people who are deaf or hard of hearing and who have
> mental illness and/or substance abuse issues.
> The Friends of the Bailey Unit is a volunteer effort to provide
> assistence to Bailey Unit patients who are needy.
> Your support helps them help others
> About Mental Illness
> Among the one in five Alabamians who will need mental health services
> in their lifetimes are more than 39,000 people who are deaf or hard of
> hearing. Because deafness or hearing loss poses unique challenges in
> coping with the stresses of daily life and with accessing and
> receiving treatment services, the Alabama
> * Nearly 10% of all Alabamians will experience a hearing loss
> great enough to impact their daily lives.
> * People who are deaf need mental health services at least as
> often as hearing people.
> * People who are deaf or hard of hearing often have problems with
> depression, drugs and alcohol, and other disorders.
> * Less than 2% of all people who are deaf and need mental health
> services ever receive them.
>
> This event is jointly sponsored by The Office of Deaf Services and the
> Alabama School for the Deaf
> For more information, Contact:
>
> Steve Hamerdinger, Director
> Office of Deaf Services
> Alabama Department of Mental Health
> and Mental Retardation
> (334) 353-4701 (TTY)
> (334) 353-4703 (Voice)
>
> Steve.hamerdinger@...
>


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