HE SHOWS ALL THE 'SIGNS' OF A CARING PERSON

From: New York Post, NY - Jul 3, 2003

By RITA DELFINER

July 3, 2003 -- Tony Saccente doesn't have to say a word for you to realize how dedicated he is to his job - it's there in his expressive face and flying hands.

"He's the greatest communicator I've ever met," said his sign-language interpreter, Amy Rubinger.

Saccente, 33, who was born deaf, is coordinator of deaf services at Housing Works, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, health care and other services to homeless people with AIDS and HIV-related illnesses.

The Brooklyn native says it's critical he gets his message about prevention and the need for testing across to the deaf community. He serves deaf people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight.

Some "have been exposed to the HIV virus and don't know it. And if they do know it, they're not sure what to do with that information," he said, jumping up to point out some of the visual aids he uses in his outreach programs.

"Many people in the deaf community thought this was something that just affected the hearing community."

And not everyone has read what they need to know about AIDS, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

"There are deaf people who are college graduates and others who read at a fourth-grade level," he said through his interpreter.

The literacy problem can arise because "we speak a different language. We speak American Sign Language as our first language. English is our second."

And some recent immigrants may not even use American Sign Language, says Saccente, who conducts workshops, runs support groups and reaches out to deaf people at bars and schools.

"I watch Tony meet a deaf person who has no sign language, and with gesture and face or body language, figure out a way to communicate," said Rubinger, who nominated him for the Liberty Educator Medal.

"It's not a job for Tony, it's a mission," she said, adding that when he deals with people, "He's honest, he's tough, patient, compassionate, direct - and no bulls - - t."

Saccente's parents are both deaf, as are his three sisters and two brothers.

For more information on Housing Works, see www.housingworks.org.

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