Michael Hinderer was a pioneer in AIDS prevention education in Wisconsin's Deaf community.

Michael was born and grew up in Chicago. He attended the Illinois School for the Deaf and then Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. He moved to Milwaukee in the summer of 1990. Michael learned he was HIV-positive at age 17 during his first semester at Gallaudet.

In recent years, he worked with the Milwaukee AIDS Project (MAP) and other groups, organizing AIDS prevention outreach to the Deaf community. He was featured in an ad for the BESTD Clinic, encouraging deaf people to get tested for HIV.

"If there was a group that wanted to hear about AIDS and they had hearing-impaired people, Michael was there," MAP Prevention Educator Laura Lutz recalled.

"Michael was driven," his case manager at MAP, Sarah Berg, commented. "He dedicated years to making sure the Deaf community knew what was going on with HIV/AIDS."

"He was also enormously supportive of people in the Deaf community who were HIV-positive, teaching them to question doctors and caregivers, urging them to stand up for what they needed." "With Michael's death, there is a huge void," said Berg. "We really need someone to carry on, someone who has sign language ability and his knowledge of the Deaf community and HIV /AIDS."

Michael passed away from AIDS-related complications at his south side Milwaukee home Sunday, December 10. He was 27. With him were his partner of five years, Bob Plahmer, and their dog, PJ.

When the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Awards were presented on April 24, 1996 one award winner, Michael, was present only in spirit.

According to an article about the award:

As a young man who was both Deaf and living with AIDS, Hinderer saw the lack of AIDS education for Deaf people and decided to provide the needed training himself "There were no programs in the Midwest," MAP Director of Volunteer Resources Cheryl Lucas noted. "On a volunteer basis, Michael found out what resources there were and worked to provide interpreted AIDS training for his community-- both in Milwaukee and much of the Midwest."

Hinderer overcame the hearing community's ignorance and often struggled with his AIDS-related symptoms. Despite these challenges, he taught the classes until a few weeks before his death.

"The last time he spoke at MAP was on his birthday;" Lucas said. "He brought a cake, balloons and streamers. Unfortunately, very few people showed up for the class. Michael paced impatiently outside as he waited for more people to arrive. Finally, he proceeded to give his presentation. That night, Michael had to go to the hospital."

"Michael used his remaining years to save others," said Doug Nelson of MAP. "We could all learn from his unselfishness."