SANTA ANA : Deaf Man’s Work, Skills Win Praise

Alberto Valdez’s supervisors have only one problem with his work: They can’t get him to stop.

The 39-year-old deaf man, who had spent nearly his entire life in mental institutions until he was released last month, works so diligently busing tables at Goodwill Industries in Santa Ana that his boss can’t get him to take a break. Valdez, who works in Goodwill’s vocational training program for the disabled, is so enthusiastic and responsible that his hourly salary has gone from 60 cents to $3.60.

It was progress such as that which prompted Superior Court Judge Manuel A. Ramirez to praise Valdez Wednesday for the way he has adjusted to life on the outside. It was Valdez’s first report card since Nov. 8, when Ramirez found that Valdez did not belong in Norwalk’s Metropolitan State Hospital and released him to live with his parents in Santa Ana.

“You have made outstanding progress in such a short period of time,” Ramirez said. “You’re doing exactly what we expected you’d do when given a chance . . . to get your feet planted firmly on the ground. You are headed for total emancipation.”

Valdez smiled and nodded as Ramirez’s remarks were conveyed to him by a sign-language interpreter. Ramirez asked Valdez’s attorneys, tutors and conservators to return to court for another status hearing Jan. 24.

Valdez spent 30 years in mental hospitals after a childhood test showed low intelligence. Subsequent tests produced conflicting results. Some showed he possessed above-average intelligence, but others indicated that he was retarded or schizophrenic. His sister sued the state in 1977, contending that he had been improperly institutionalized. To settle the suit in 1988, the state bought an annuity which will support Valdez for the rest of his life.

In a progress report submitted to the judge, various people who work with Valdez said he is doing extremely well. His mother, Margarita Valdez, said in a letter to the judge that her son now can write the numbers 1 through 160 with only a few mistakes and that his penmanship is improving. He also is learning addition and “does very well adding numbers between 1 and 10,” Mrs. Valdez said.

Debbie Merino, who coaches Valdez in sign language and teaches him living skills, said in a written report that Valdez still has a tendency to mimic other people rather than to express his own thoughts but that he is motivated to learn and that his social interaction has improved noticeably.

Merino said she hopes to teach Valdez the value of relaxation. He walks and eats as if he is always in a hurry, she said.

“He cannot seem to walk at a casual pace with friends,” Merino said. “He has to be reminded to slow down and enjoy himself.”

He has learned how to cook mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs, and he has been going to the movies and football games with his relatives, the report said.