May 14th, 2009 – Steven Pituk is an inspiration for those who are physically challenged in one way or another and for employers who have an opportunity to hire those who are qualified and eager to prove themselves.The life of the 24-year-old south Alabama resident, who was born deaf, has to this point included a series of challenges, adjustments and achievement.
He is the first deaf graduate of the Bishop State Community College welding certificate program at its Carver Campus in Mobile, program officials said. After earning the certification, he actively pursued employment and was hired four months ago as a welder at Crenshaw Machine Systems Inc. in Bay Minette.
"From my perspective, don't judge because someone has a hearing loss. Judge them for who they are. Get to know that they have good intelligence and are very capable of doing jobs," said Pituk, assisted in the interview by interpreter Diane Napper, a communications specialist with Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Alabama Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Pituk was born in Pascagoula to hearing parents, Paul and Lori Pituk, who have two other younger sons, one deaf and one hearing. The family moved to El Paso, Texas, when Steven was 11 and he was mainstreamed in the public school system.
It wasn't easy for a deaf child to socialize in that environment, said Pituk, so he transferred to the Texas School for the Deaf, which he attended for two years.
The family moved to the Mobile area, where they still live, and Pituk attended the Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega through high school.
Services for deaf children in public schools are sometimes not up to standards, said Lori Pituk, so the Pituks sent Steven to Talladega, "where he was able to grow and learn to the best of his ability," she said.
At the Alabama School for the Deaf, Pituk was involved in leadership roles, was captain of the football team and was twice picked for the Deaf All-American Team, said his mother.
"I have done some really wonderful things. I played on a football team that had 38 straight wins against other deaf schools, playing guard on offense and linebacker on defense," Steven Pituk said.
If deaf children have parents who are involved in their education from the beginning and are willing to make the hard choices about schools, they will become successful deaf adults, said Lori Pituk, who not only became certified herself in sign language but now operates a contract interpreting service for the deaf and hard of hearing. His father works for Chevron Corp. in Pascagoula.
Their younger son, Matthew, was able to get a good education in the mainstream environment, rather than a school for the deaf, because he had an "awesome interpreter," added Lori Pituk.
After graduation from high school, Pituk developed an interest in welding, not a frequent career choice for a deaf person, he said.
"I was fascinated with that profession for quite some time. I am very visual and welding is a visual thing Ñ bonding steel and making components grow into one unit," Pituk said.
He earned a short welding certification from a private technical welding school. Then, in 2007, he enrolled in the welding program at Bishop State.
"As far as I know, Steven was our first deaf welding student in the 18-credit-hour certificate program," said Todd Donald, head of the welding program at the Carver Campus. "He had a strong work ethic and was not going to be deterred from reaching his goal."
Welders are taught to use sight, touch and hearing in their craft, said Donald, so Pituk's greatest challenge in the program was his lack of hearing. He used the services of a deaf interpreter as needed during training. "But he overcame that lack quite well," Donald said.
Pituk earned his certificate in welding earlier this year, along with a citation for outstanding achievement in welding from the college, according to his certificate.
Facing the challenge of finding a full-time welding position, he answered a classified ad from Crenshaw Machine Systems Inc. of Bay Minette, a custom machine shop doing work for businesses locally and nationally, according to Larry Crenshaw, founder and owner of the company since 1976.
"We had several applicants," Crenshaw said. "Steve tested well and we felt that he had good potential and would be a good fit for the job. We liked his attitude and welding skills and decided to give him a chance."
The sole welder among six employees, Pituk has taught sign language to his immediate supervisor, he said. In addition, he uses body language and the exchange of written notes to communicate with co- workers about job assignments and specifications.
"This is a very wonderful environment. I love my job and the people here who all work well with me," Pituk said. "Steve has become an excellent employee and his welding seems to improve daily. He always has a pleasant attitude and enjoys interacting with his co-workers," Crenshaw said. "I wouldn't be afraid to recommend a qualified individual with challenges to any company who may be looking for future employees."
Pituk's outlook for the future is unfailingly positive.
"I am self-confident and motivated," Pituk said. "I want to continue to be a role model for others in the deaf community."