SYRACUSE – Jean Bradford was among the 70 people in attendance when Syracuse leaders called a town hall meeting about a child care crisis in 2022, but she couldn’t hear what the presenters were saying.

Dan Mauk of the Nebraska City Area EDC talked about 420 children in Otoe County who had both parents working, but were not in a licensed daycare. Syracuse leaders explained that a shortage of daycare openings might force working families to leave rural Nebraska for bigger cities.

 

Bradford, who grew up at the Nebraska School for the Deaf and had worked eight years at a day care facility, said she had a passion for daycare, but the prospect of obtaining a state license was daunting. Mauk said it was not until she attended a follow-up meeting that he realized a solution was needed.

Mauk: “From that point on, we brought in an interpreter, an American Sign Language interpreter, both for training and all the subsequent meetings to launch on this journey toward getting licensed – the first we know of in the state licensed in home that’s deaf.”

Bradford credits economic development for overcoming barriers in paperwork, as well as a door bell that flashes and fire detectors with both visual and audio alarms.

Bradford: “I just love kids. I wanted to show the deaf world that they all have the ability. Young, deaf children growing up have the ability to pursue their dreams.”

Bradford said the EDC’s involvement helped her open Jean’s Daycare.

 

Bradford: “Socializing with the children. You know, they understand that I’m deaf. Just showing that I can do it just as any other hearing day care provider can do. A deaf person is not less than.”

She said it can be a challenge not to hear the kids, but there is intentional communication with parents and the kids learn to sign and have the advantage of becoming bilingual.

Bradford: “My rule number one? No bullying. And respect is really important. And also with these kids, my daycare kids, the parents help a lot with communication. They let me know if something is going on. I let the parents know if behaviors haven’t been stellar.”

Syracuse now lists 11 licensed daycare providers.