Donna Lynn Bradshaw, a supervisor for the  De Anza Disabled Student Services Department, died on Nov. 4 at age 48. She was a champion of deaf and hearing-impaired students. 

One of her many accomplishments was the Deaf Town event which was held June 6, 2010, in the Sunken Gardens. Ms. Bradshaw told La Voz at the time, “The whole idea of this event is to give people with normal hearing ability the experience of being involved in a deaf person’s world and his/her everyday struggle.” In a photo from the event, she wears a jacket with a police sign, playing the role of a patroller who enforces the law of silence in the town.

Stacey Cook, vice president of student services, said Deaf Town was one example of Donna in her element. “She was truly joyous. She was running all over the place and happy because both the hearing and hearing-impaired community received the gift of understanding and empathy that day.” 

Ms. Bradshaw served as a conduit for hearing-impaired   high-school students who wanted to further their education and attend De Anza. She worked to ensure they would have access to every benefit the campus offered and helped them to work past the sometimes disheartening challenges they faced before coming to De Anza. 

Kevin M. Glapion, executive head of Disability Support Services, fondly recalled Bradshaw as a bridge. 

“She really wanted the campus as a whole to understand deafness as a cultural issue and not just an issue of disability and she worked passionately to make that happen,” said Glapion.

 Cook remembered Bradshaw as a “working supervisor” who showed daily how deeply she cared about her students and staff by filling in whenever an interpreter was needed. 

“Donna had a wonderful smile, an infectious laugh, and we will certainly miss her and her work very much,” said Cook.

The daughter of Jerry and Linda Bradshaw, Ms. Bradshaw was born Jan. 10, 1964. She lived in Sunnyvale. In 1982, she graduated from Aragon High School in San Mateo. She attended Multnomah Bible College in Oregon and was an active member in Bethel Church in San Jose. She also worked at Awana Summer Camp and Youth Music and Drama Camp. She is survived by her brothers Donald and Dennis Bradshaw. 

A De Anza College Memorial Service for Donna Bradshaw will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Fireside Room, Hinson Campus Center.

Written condolences to Donna’s brothers, Donald and Dennis Bradshaw may be forwarded to Cook, who will ensure delivery.

A guest book and obituary at legacy.com will remain online until Nov. 23, 2013 courtesy of San Jose Mercury News.