Deaf mentor's journey shows strength of inclusive hiring and support services

Leah Broomfield once struggled to find a job that fit her identity, skills, and passion for education. That changed when a referral to Disability Network West Michigan led her to a role that felt like home.

She now works as a deaf mentor with the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, teaching American Sign Language (ASL) and helping hearing families build stronger relationships with their deaf or hard-of-hearing children.

“This was my dream job,” Broomfield explains in an email. “I teach ASL and provide resources that give families access to the Deaf community and culture. I help them build skills to better connect with their child.”

Getting there wasn’t easy. Broomfield, who is deaf, submitted countless job applications but faced repeated rejection from employers who assumed her deafness would limit her ability to work.

“I was trying to find work to support my kids, but many jobs required the ability to hear,” she says. “Employers didn’t see how I could fit. That changed when I was referred to Disability Network West Michigan.”

Provided counseling, training

Disability Network West Michigan (DNWM), a Center for Independent Living, partnered with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) to help Broomfield explore employment options. 

MRS offered vocational counseling and funding for interpreter services, while DNWM focused on job-readiness training and identifying opportunities that matched her strengths and goals.
Trinell Payne-Scott
Trinell Payne-Scott, a program manager at DNWM, says Broomfield stood out for her deep connection to the Deaf community and her ability to communicate with empathy and clarity.

“Leah brings an authentic understanding of the challenges deaf and hard-of-hearing students face,” Payne-Scott says. “She has a strong sense of purpose, and her experience makes her a natural advocate and educator.”

Although Broomfield’s children are hearing, her perspective as a deaf adult helps her relate to students and guide families unfamiliar with Deaf culture.

“I want families to know what’s possible,” she says. “There are resources, there’s community, and there’s support.”

She encourages deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, especially parents, to seek help from organizations like DNWM.

“Elementary schools need more interpreters and more deaf professionals in education,” she says. “DNWM has staff who understand and help you show employers your value.”

Inclusiveness builds a quality team

DNWM also works directly with employers, offering training on Deaf culture, ADA requirements, and accessible communication strategies. Services like peer mentoring, interpreter coordination, and captioning tools create pathways to employment for candidates who often face barriers during the hiring process.

Payne-Scott recommends that school districts and other employers clearly state their commitment to accessibility in job postings, provide multiple ways to communicate during the application process, and prepare hiring teams to support candidates with disabilities.

“Hiring inclusively builds a more diverse and capable team,” she says.

Broomfield’s role has become more than a job. She supports students in learning a new language and helps families better understand their child’s experiences.

“She’s a role model,” Payne-Scott says. “Leah shows what’s possible through resilience and self-advocacy. She connects with families in a way that fosters trust and understanding.”

The multi-regional Disability Inclusion series is made possible through a partnership with Centers for Independent Living organizations across West Michigan.