Being deaf isn't stopping Kamran Mousavi from listening to trees this summer.
The parks and recreation management major at Northern Arizona University is working in the local forests recording information about trees and plants for the university's Ecological Restoration Institute. Mousavi's resolve to work outdoors was so inspiring the ERI quickly hired him, and now many of the team are learning American Sign Language so they can communicate with him.
"Kamran began his job interview with an overview about his determination and how he lives his life," said Don Normandin, an ERI lab manager who is completing a sign language course at Coconino Community College. "I was so blown away by his poise and confidence, that I saw his being deaf as an opportunity for all of us to learn something."
Mousavi said his main concern was that he wouldn't "slow anybody down."
"One thing I am sure of is that Kamran doesn't slow us down," Normandin said. "His intense focus and drive helps us complete our tasks, and the forest is very peaceful when working with him since there is no yelling back and forth."
To communicate in the forest, Mousavi reads lips, uses sign language, some vocalization and he records data using a laptop computer.
"I am happy when I am working outdoors," Mousavi said.
A typical day for Mousavi begins with the crew driving to the location where they are assigned to work. The crew uses maps and a compass to look for the plots, they then set up the perimeter using measurements and flags and proceed to record information.
"I try my best to communicate," Mousavi said. "My coworkers are patient when communicating with me. Since many are trying to learn sign language and I am often trying to vocalize, we are on an equal playing field."
Teams of three work together with one person recording data into a laptop computer. "We take photographs, measure tree height, assess the condition of trees and look for dwarf mistletoe," Mousavi said.
Mousavi applied for the job with the help of Teresa Sedano, a sign language interpreter from NAU's Disability Support Services. Sedano and Robin Long, an ERI student services coordinator seasoned in sign language, assist Mousavi by interpreting events and meetings.
To ensure his safety, the ERI equipped Mousavi with a global positioning system, a whistle, and his own personal wilderness training in case he ever gets separated from his coworkers.
"The people that I work with in the ERI are very friendly and willing to learn," said Mousavi, who along with his wife, Beth Krandal, a sign language teacher at Coconino Community College, began holding free weekly sign language sessions at the ERI last semester.
Some sessions attracted up to 35 students and staff members eager to learn a new way to communicate.
"I knew this could change our world more than it changed Kamran's," said Long, who encouraged Mousavi to apply for the job when she learned of his dream to work outdoors. "We've always been a close group at the ERI and this is bringing us together even more. We're like a family."
Mike Stoddard, a research technician in ERI agrees. "This experience is really changing how I view communication. I had no idea how many vocabulary words are in the English language or how many fun ways there are to communicate without speaking."
Mousavi, who was born deaf to deaf parents, breaks into a big smile to show how appreciative he is of the ERI for helping him gear up for an environmental career.
"I really want to thank the entire group at the ERI and the people from DSS for working with me," he said. "I eventually want a career where I can help other deaf people enjoy the outdoors."
Originally from Massachusetts, Mousavi came to NAU "because Flagstaff is a great town and NAU has a great parks and recreation management program."
