A woman from Appleton, Wisconsin, recently became the first deaf woman in the state to receive a commercial driver’s license.
She’s also just the 5th deaf woman in the entire country to receive a CDL.
According to a report by ABC-2, Suzie Helderson took advantage of a government program which gave medical waivers for the deaf to pursue a career in trucking. After a 10-week training program at Fox Valley Technical College, she was able to receive the license.
“It’s the skills. It’s not my hearing, I don’t depend on the hearing. That’s how I prove I can do this job,” she told reporters.
Immediately after passing the 10-week course, she found employment team-driving with her husband.
She says she’s proud of being the first deaf woman in the state to receive a commercial driver’s license, and that it sends a strong message to doubters. “Don’t let people ruin your dreams. If you want to do it, you can do it,” she added.
Helderson says she’s looking forward to seeing the rest of the country as an OTR driver.