# @rhodeislandcollege on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CdgLxjZupGl
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/74940157-rhodeislandcollege-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9e1d79aad7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-05-13T15:14:29.000+00:00

## Caption

🎓 Meet Our Graduates🎓
M.S.W. major Talia Jackson is a 35-year-old, deaf, single mother of four who intends to become a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in counseling the deaf and hard of hearing who have mental health or substance use disorders.
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“There’s a critical need for mental health and addiction recovery counseling services for the deaf and hard of hearing,” says Talia, signing through her interpreter. “In Rhode Island there are no services for this demographic.”
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A native of New Jersey, Talia became deaf at the age of five after a bout of meningitis. She transferred to a school for the deaf, where she learned American Sign Language (ASL) and then mainstreamed into a hearing school. Along the way, she learned to survive in a hearing world by being resourceful and assertive. She admits that for the deaf and hard of hearing, navigating this world is a challenge. Talia's advice to other students with disabilities is, “Know that life presents itself with challenges, but never give up. Regardless of your disability, never give up.”
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Link in bio to read her story.
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#RICNews #experienceRIC #RICSpirit #RICGrad2022 #RICCommencement2022 #BeBOLD #rhodeislandcollege #msw #socialwork #socialworker #deaf #deafcommunity #classof2022

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 51
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- **Comments:** 1

## Tags

classof2022, ricnews, rhodeislandcollege, ricgrad2022, socialwork, ricspirit, riccommencement2022, bebold, experienceric, socialworker, deaf, msw, deafcommunity

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