Statements
Mission
Mockingbird Community and Retirement Center's mission is to build a retirement environment which also acts as a community center for social and recreational activities for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing, and late-deafened individuals living in the region. A staff will support all services and will be able to communicate effectively with all who live there or who use its facilities. All critical staff will be able to communicate with American Sign Language (ASL). All staff will be trained in working with Hard of Hearing individuals. The center will also have available qualified sign language interpreters on site.
Background
In 1985, a group of Deaf individuals realized the need for a retirement community where people who are deaf could live in an affordable community where they could communicate with one another and enjoy activities together. Deaf individuals are scattered about the state, often isolated in nursing homes where no one signs and they can not make their needs, feelings, or illnesses known. These concerned deaf individuals organized and began talking and planning. In 2003, we realized that there was a need to become independent from other entities and form a 501(c) (3). We formed a Board of Directors, wrote the constitution and bylaws, and obtained our 501(c) (3) status. Decisions were made that this community should be available to all deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, late deafened, and hearing individuals with ties to the deaf community, and should be accessible to all. It will be located within or near the TN-840 circle around Nashville where there will be easy access to hospitals and shopping and centrally located for people from Memphis to Bristol and the surrounding states. Since then, the Board and community have searched for land which might be obtained as a gift or discounted, where individuals can live, and groups can walk, picnic, fish or swim. MCRC joined the Center for Nonprofit Management and members of the board have been taking training in grant writing and fundraising.
Impact
The 2000 census confirmed there are 111,378 deaf and 458,137 hard of hearing individuals over 45 years old in Tennessee. 156,064 of these individuals are over 75 years old! Although some low income housing is available for this population, there are zero comprehensive retirement centers, assisted living, or nursing homes designed for the deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing and late deafened, in the Southeast. As a result these individuals are scattered in various facilities, where they are isolated as they have no one with whom they can communicate. This is generally true throughout the Southeast, with a few exceptions. MCRC would close this gap in communication needs and, by including a community center, would end the isolation as the deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing and late-deafened come to the center for educational, social and recreational activities in which the residents can be involved. MCRC would also impact the younger deaf, deaf-blind hard of hearing and late deafened population to fulfill training and employment needs. Bringing these groups together will result in a better and a more diverse quality of life for all.
Needs
1)Donation of Land: 75 to 100 acres of land for total project, or funds for the purchase of land. The acreage might also be lessened by the availability of a recreation area nearby. 2)Board members with a sincere interest in this population & expertise in fundraising/grant-writing, a lawyer, a secretary and a CPA. 3)Financial support for feasibility study to evaluate site selection, program scope, means of meeting established needs, and probable construction and operation costs.
Board Chair Statement
For years, many of us in the deaf community have realized the need for a facility where deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing and late deafened individuals in Tennessee and surrounding states, can come together in a retirement home where their needs will be understood and where communication with staff and other residents is possible using sign language. This is our dream for MCRC. We plan to have a comprehensive facility including: 1) Independent living in totally accessible apartments with health services available on site; 2) Assisted living apartments with limited assistance; 3) Intermediate Care, supported living; and 4) Nursing home, skilled care. Apartments in each stage would be available for rent to Medicaid waiver recipients of any age. All staff would be able to sign. We would hope that some of the long term service providers would also want to live there. The community center concept would bring the various deaf clubs together so that the residents can participate. Rooms would have alert systems and open design for good communication. Activity rooms and, hopefully, a swimming pool for recreation and water therapy and aerobics, would be available. The grounds would have walking trails and picnic areas. A van would be available to take residents to doctor, shopping, bus and train. A community room would be available for games, recreation, dances and meetings. A large area would be available in the basement in case of bad weather. Residents who desire would be able to have part time or full time jobs working in the Center. We envision it as a place of happiness instead of tears.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Supportive Housing for Older Adults |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Because there are only 18 retirement centers, nationwide, for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing, and late-deafened, we will serve individuals in Middle Tennessee, the State of Tennessee and the surrounding states.
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Clay |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Cumberland |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - DeKalb |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Fentress |
| TN - Franklin |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Jackson |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Lewis |
| TN - Lincoln |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Marshall |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Moore |
| TN - Overton |
| TN - Perry |
| TN - Pickett |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Van Buren |
| TN - Warren |
| TN - Wayne |
| TN - White |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
