Profile of Jason Corning:

Jason Corning is from Beloit, Wisconsin and a junior at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. Jason is majoring in Information Technology Infrastructure and pursuing a Masters Degree in ITI.  Jason is an only child and has been legally deafblind since birth.  Jason has a guide dog named Spencer.  Spencer is a four year old yellow lab.

Jason works for the Wisconsin Deafblind Education Program as a peer mentor / advisor.  He also serves as the student representative on the board.  Jason provides presentations, workshops, and attends conferences. Jason has been recognized both statewide and nationally for his presentation "Look, Listen and Learn About Deafblindness."

Jason is the 2002 recipient of the Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children “Yes I Can” award for Advocacy/Independent Living.  Jason was recognized not only for his leadership qualities in advocating for himself, but also for leading other students who are deafblind.

Jason is currently working as an intern at the Transportation Security Administration headquarters, as a 508 Compliance Officer and the Disability Program Specialist.  Jason is working on several projects such as screening processes for persons with disabilities, web complicating, emergency preparedness, developing the Media library for training, and Section 508 compliance.

Jason and Spencer like to travel as much as possible, whether it is for work, conferences, workshops or just to visit new places and friends. When they are not seeing new things and socializing with friends, Jason enjoys computer chatting, e-mail, and other computer projects.

Writen by (Co-worker from TSA), Summer of 2007

History:

Born: 08:02 am on March 4, 1986

I got my first hearing aids right after I turned 1 year old

I started school at Thompson Elementary in Rockford, IL, when I was still 2 years old. It was a self contained hearing impaired classroom in a mainstream school.

My mom found out I was visually impaired when I was 3 years old

My parents and I started learning sign language when I was 1 year old.

We moved to Beloit on November 15, 1991

Attend WSD k-6 grade

Learned ASL

Half day at WSD and WSVH 6 and 7th grade then full time student 8-12

Attend Beloit Turner HS for art and ceramic class during 10th grade

Youth option at BTC 11 and 12 grades

Family moved to Christmas Mt. for one year during my senior year in HS (March 2005 – July 2006)

Graduated as Valedictorian June 10, 2005 at WSVH followed by a family trip to Ft. Myer’s Beach, Forida

Received first guide dog Spencer from Leader Dog for the Blind in Rochester, MI Aug 2005

Started school at UW-Whitewater Sept 2005

Completed an internship at TSA HQ summer 2007

Received first Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant in the right ear on Nov 21, 2007 at UW-Health in Madison

Cochlear Implant activated on January 3rd, 2008