Drive and Tenacity: Meet Keith, 2015 “No Boundaries” Participant

Keith, No Boundaries participant, is photographed in front of an American flag in a wood-paneled office.

By Carolyn VanBrocklin, Communications Specialist, Disability.gov

Not many people can say they have legislation named after them – but Keith does. Keith, who teaches government and history at the Maryland School for the Deaf, has always wanted to follow in the footsteps of other family members by serving his country in the U.S. military. But, under standard military testing, people with hearing impairments aren’t allowed to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Keith has embarked on a journey to change that.

Three months before September 11, 2001, Keith graduated from high school and visited several U.S. Navy recruiting centers seeking to enlist. Three short words derailed that plan: “bad ear, disqual.” He switched gears, received a Master’s degree in deaf education and taught for two years – until the military came up again when a student, who is also deaf, asked how he could join. Keith, who told his student it wasn’t possible, came to a realization – he had been told “no” all along and there he was continuing that discouragement. So, he decided to do something about it.

Keith’s alma mater, California State University, Northridge, had started an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). When he asked to take a few classes through the program, he was pleased to receive a positive response – something he had not gotten in all of his prior attempts to join the military. He seized the opportunity and quickly established himself as a dedicated, driven participant who took part even in the early-morning workouts and other activities that weren’t required.

The day that Keith received his military uniform was the culmination of all his effort, resiliency and motivation. The instructors recognized his willingness to work hard, train hard and perform better than his peers without disabilities. But, a blow came when he made it through the first and second levels of his training and was beginning to advance to the third. Keith was told he would no longer be able to participate in workouts, drills or trainings. He could take classes, but he would have to give back his uniform. Suddenly, all his work seemed like it was for nothing.

With the support of his ROTC cadre, Keith went to Congress and, after many meetings and emails, succeeded in helping to introduce two Congressional bills last year. S. 1864 and H.R. 5296 proposed the Demonstration Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Americans to assess the potential for Americans with hearing disabilities to serve in the U.S. Air Force. Keith has been dedicated to this project for the last four years, receiving support from former Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Mark Takano, and co-sponsorship from Representatives John Garamendi, Niki Tsongas, Chris Van Hollen, John Delaney, Ted Lieu, Tony Cardenas, Alan Lowenthal and James Langevin. Former Congressmen Henry Waxman and John Tierney also cosponsored the bill when it was first introduced in 2014. Now, the House bill has been reintroduced as H.R.1722 – the Keith Nolan Air Force Deaf Demonstration Act of 2015.

Since we met Keith earlier this year, the legislation earned support from Senator Kelly Ayotte, who included a report in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2016) for a feasibility study on a pilot program for Americans with disabilities serving in the armed forces. This Act was passed by the House and Senate earlier in November and is now currently waiting to be signed by President Obama. The U.S. Department of Defense will have until March to report on the feasibility of the pilot program. Keith is hopeful that a pilot program will be added to the NDAA 2017 next May. Keith participated in the “No Boundaries” Photo Project to spread the word about the demonstration project and the feasibility study. He strongly believes that there are positions in the military where Americans with disabilities can contribute to strategic missions, especially with the technology that is now available.

Keith says that two quotes resonate with him and his mission: “Every citizen should be a soldier,” President Thomas Jefferson and “No American will be forbidden from serving the country they love,” President Barack Obama.