LEXINGTON, Ky. — For most of her life, Patricia “Trish” Ison has been guided by a simple instinct: to help.
It was not always easy to do.
As a Deaf woman navigating recovery, Ison often encountered a system that was not built with her in mind—one where access to care could feel out of reach, and where language and cultural understanding were too often missing. Those experiences, she said, did more than challenge her. They reshaped her sense of purpose.
“I know what it feels like to need help and not be able to access it,” Ison said. “No one should have to go through that kind of struggle alone.”
Now, as a student in the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program at the University of Kentucky, Ison is working to change that reality—not only for herself, but for others who have faced similar barriers.
This spring, she became the first Deaf Adult Peer Support Specialist in Kentucky to earn the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Associate I (CADCA I) credential, a milestone that marks both a personal achievement and a broader step forward for accessibility in addiction recovery services.
Ison was a participant in the CoSW’s Substance Use Counseling Undergraduate Training Program, which prepares students for careers in behavioral health and addiction counseling and eligibility for the Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor Associate I (CADCA I) credential.
For Ison, the credential carries meaning beyond its professional weight.
“This is more than an achievement,” she said. “It’s about growth, purpose and becoming the kind of professional who can truly make a difference.”
Her interest in social work grew out of the lived experience of navigating chronic challenges, seeking support, and of recognizing the gaps that exist for Deaf individuals in mental health and recovery spaces. Over time, that awareness sharpened into a clear focus: addiction counseling and advocacy for Deaf communities.
“I am very passionate about making sure Deaf people have access to services that respect our culture, our language and our lived experiences,” she said.
At the University of Kentucky, where she is pursuing her BASW with a focus in addiction counseling, Ison has found both direction and support. Though she said the university had long been part of her family’s story, her decision to enroll was ultimately her own.
“After doing my own research, I felt strongly that UK was the best fit for me,” she said. “And that has proven to be true.”
Still, she is quick to point to the people who helped her reach this point – family, mentors and a support system that encouraged her to keep going, even when the path ahead was uncertain.
“Honestly, I never thought I would be here,” she said. “Being a trailblazer and helping open doors for future Deaf students. This isn’t just for me. It’s for them, too.”