An Evening With Vikee

A Benefit for the "Friends of the Bailey Deaf Unit"

Friday, May 5th 7:00 PM

The McFarlane Auditorium, Alabama School for the Deaf

Tickets: $8.00 at the door

Vikee Waltrip, Artist, Actress, Comedienne 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 characters for an evening of
fun, laughter, and helping people who need help the most.

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.

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 assistance to Bailey Unit patients
who are needy. You support helps them help others



Driving Directions to the
Alabama School for the Deaf
205 East South Street
Talladega, Alabama

From Montgomery and points SOUTH

US-231 NORTH
US-231 NORTH becomes AL-21
Follow AL-21 NORTH
Turn RIGHT on SOUTH ST - go 0.7 mi
Arrive at 205 SOUTH ST E , TALLADEGA , on the RIGHT

From Birmingham and points NORTH

I-20 E toward ATLANTA .
Take the AL-77 exit- EXIT 168- toward TALLADEGA / LINCOLN .
Turn RIGHT onto AL-77 S.
Turn LEFT onto AL-77 S / COURT ST S.
Continue to follow COURT ST S. 0.1 miles
Turn LEFT onto SOUTH ST W.


Steve Hamerdinger, Director
Office of Deaf Services
Alabama Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation
(334) 353-4701 (TTY)