Case Study #2

 

  • My second case study taught me greatly about the intersections of two marginalized identities: HIV positive individuals and deaf communities. Specifically, the experiences of HIV+ people in Charleston. Kanawha county, the county which holds the state capital of Charleston, was determined to be the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the country by the CDC in 2021. The CDC immediately deployed into the area and began programs to test more individuals. Covenant House was a part of that program and combed through the streets to test for HIV. It was determined that HIV was being spread through IV drug use compared to penetrative sex- which posed a variety of complications. Many IV drug users did not want to be tested for HIV because if they were positive, it would be unethical to continue sharing needles with other individuals. Many people with Kanawha county who were HIV positive were also very reluctant to seek out drug treatments for HIV that reduce them to an undetectable, untransmittable status. Therefore, some individuals in Kanawha county have died of full blown AIDs in the past five years. Just a few weeks before this internship, I had corrected somebody who claimed people still had AIDs, stating that AIDs was no longer a living concept in the United States because of access to medication that prevented HIV from evolving into AIDs. Yet, my privileged outlook didn’t anticipate that some people did not want to access drug treatment because of pre-existing stigmas of addiction disease. Even more, their access to a clean needle exchange program further marginalized them. In the middle of the epidemic identified by the CDC, West Virginia state passed legislation that made needle exchange programs harder to exist and operate- effectively decimating thriving programs. Five programs were shut down and the most successful program through WV Health Right has served approximately five people this year. This is because the law requires a one-to-one exchange of needles versus on an as-needed basis. Not everyone has dirty needles to exchange for clean ones. The law also required WV photo IDs to receive clean needles, effectively banning everyone living on the street from accessing clean needles. While my client was not an IV drug user and identified as a queer individual who was HIV positive, they also identified as deaf. I was very fortunate to have been studying sign language in college and was able to utilize some of my sign language skills to interpret our conversations for this client. I was very lucky that they were able to lipread extremely well so they utilized both sign language and lip reading skills for our conversation. The client had been unexpectedly homeless and was being enrolled in our housing programs specific to HIV+ persons- receiving deposit and first month’s rent and any continued assistance needed. The change in personality of this client was extremely humbling. They evolved from being quiet, reserved, and isolated to an involved, intriguing story teller. It was phenomenal- like a really beautiful blooming flower. I felt blessed to have been able to create that line of communication

  • Somewhere down the line, I was helping Renee and Cassie do inspections on the potential houses that had been selected by our client and their partner. Unfortunately, some things had fell through with the first two housing selections and we kept on searching for other housing available for rent on the market. I also engaged with some outreach, helping a coworker transport this client from their doctor’s appointment to an event. There was a massive difference in the demeanor of the client. From the first time I met them, they were quiet and reserved. They immediately shifted that day, hopping into the car and rattling off with stories about cute doctors and nurses. I felt myself beaming from ear to ear in the change of disposition. Even though they could not hear my commentary or that of my coworker, they knew that I was still engaged and involved with their conservation. I was deeply touched that the client had given me a poem discussing how they felt independent, seen, and involved because of my ability to communicate with them. One of my favorite lines of my poem was preceded by the context: “all happy faces with smiles / as bright of the sun / then they look my way / and the smiles turn upside down.” This was followed by, “sitting here holding my sign for you to see.”

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