Workshops

Christopher is a Deaf professor for the Master of Science in Secondary Education program and director of the Mathematics and Science Language and Learning Lab at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. While teaching courses in STEM pedagogy and signed language pedagogy, he directs international projects on deaf literacy using the World Around You (WAY) crowdsourcing platform which has an online library of free signed storybooks for Deaf young children in multiple sign languages. He also provides training in signed storybook development and translation. His research interests include signed and written content language and literacy in mathematics and science, Deaf experience with math and science learning, and international deaf literacy and sign language documentation. He earned a PhD in Foundations of Education from the University of Kansas and a BS in Applied Mathematics from RIT.

Stephen has been with Merrill Lynch since 1987, specializing in strategies and solutions designed to help individuals and their families realize their long-term financial goals, with a special focus on the needs of deaf investors. Believed to be the only deaf American Sign Language Financial Advisor within a full-service brokerage firm, Stephen offers unique communication to members of the deaf community. Without requiring an interpreter, he can fully understand client options, preferences and goals, then construct asset allocations designed to accurately reflect each client’s income and growth expectations. Stephen offers broad experience in investments, retirement, estate planning services, multi-generational wealth transfer and overall portfolio development.

Keith, a white DeafBlind queer male, was born and raised in Minnesota and currently lives in Seattle, Washington. Keith is a second generation DeafBlind. Keith graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC with a Bachelors’ in Psychology and Masters’ in Mental Health Counseling. Keith’s professional experience spans over 15 years in the mental health field as a front line employee, mental health therapist, program manager, and non profit management before transitioning into his current role at T-Mobile. Keith manages the National DeafBlind Program within the T-Mobile Accessibility team creating innovative and accessible marketing strategies. Keith is passionate about advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility for everyone. In his down time, Keith enjoys eating, reading, supporting community and social justice movements, and traveling

Tina is an Outreach Trainer for the Illinois School for the Deaf and an educational audiologist at CASE Audiology. She has provided numerous training and workshops for students, parents and professionals on a variety of topics related to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community. Tina has expertise in assistive technology, hearing technology (hearing aids and cochlear implants), apps, accessibility in cultural spaces, aural rehabilitation, and the social/emotional impact of being Deaf/Hard of Hearing. She is also a late-deafened adult with bilateral cochlear implants who communicates in ASL as well as spoken English. She has a passion for mentoring, teaching, and helping others and believes in paying it forward with her dual perspective as a Deaf audiologist by being active in advocacy, teaching, and learning. Her resources can be found on her website.

Caroline is a Professor of Biology and Dean of Faculty at Gallaudet University, is an aquatic ecologist and a mentor for many STEM deaf and hard of hearing students. In addition to her research that looks at water quality issues in local waters such as the Anacostia River that flows through DC. She mentors many deaf and hard of hearing students. Caroline has obtained grants for efforts to support deaf and hard of hearing students in STEM fields, provide authentic research opportunities for these students, and foster vertical mentoring of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in STEM fields. Her work has been featured in numerous reviewed papers, conference articles, invited presentations, news releases and even a short biography in K-12 science textbooks. Her contributions to deaf and hard-of-hearing STEM education have earned her teaching and education awards from the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, Gallaudet University, National Public Radio (50 great teachers) and several features in prominent education media. In addition, she was invited to speak at the 2017 National March for Science in Washington D.C. and has often been called upon to represent the deaf and hard-of-hearing STEM community. Her recent publications include An Often Overlooked Element of Diversity: Disability (2021, ASLO Bulletin) and Meeting Frameworks must be even more inclusive (2021, Nature Ecol Evol). Caroline’s latest work is exploring the current state of global STEM sign language lexicons by supporting a series of workshops with multiple stakeholders and synthesizing what has been learned in the past fifty years to provide guidance for granting agencies and ideas for future research.

Audrey is an Associate Professor and Program Director for Gallaudet University’s International Development Master of Arts Program, and the Graduate Certificate in Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Planning. Her research publications and international development practice center on signed languages and sociopolitical change, educational and social inequality, Deaf people’s social-change movements, political-economy of language policy and planning, and Deaf-led Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction. She has also completed training for the Community Emergency Response Team, and is currently conducting research with the US Geological Survey in connection to Earthquake Early Warning systems and the experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members.

As an attorney and mediator for 15 years, Melissa  has been serving and representing clients who are hearing and deaf. She was born deaf and is the only deaf person in her family. When she was in her thirties, her optometrist revealed that she is fortunate to still have her eyesight because she still has the spots on the back of her eyes after in vitro exposure to Rubella/German Measles, which led to her hearing loss. Melissa’s family kept her at home so she was mainstreamed in the public school with the assistance of AEA  services, a right hearing aid, and sign language interpreter. She wore a right hearing aid until a right cochlear implant in 2009 and then a left cochlear implant in 2021. Bilateral hearing is still a learning curve for Melissa, but she does well with her right cochlear implant and peace and quiet at night. Her personal and professional experiences steered her to become an attorney because she has had to advocate for accommodations in the education, legal, and healthcare systems. Melissa’s goal is to try to help change things for the deaf community and herself to be able to fully enjoy and participate in various settings in life. She hopes to accomplish this by being a bridge between the deaf and hearing communities by her abilities to lipread, sign, hear and comprehend spoken words to address the communication issues between these communities. Melissa is a registered dietitian and holds a B.S. in dietetics with honors from Iowa State University and a M.S. in sports nutrition and wellness with honors from Illinois State University. She also holds a J.D. from City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law. After relocating to her hometown, she is licensed to practice law in the State of Iowa. Melissa is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and Guthrie County Bar Association (treasurer). She was a council member on the Iowa Dual Relay Council and board member of Deaf Iowans Against Abuse.

Tim Riker is a Member of the Advisory Group (AG) on AI and Sign Language Interpreting. He is a Senior Lecturer in American Sign Language at Brown University and research co-investigator with the DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery. Through his Deaf-led team’s community-engaged research, Tim has collaborated to develop linguistically and socio politically correct methods of inquiry when conducting Deaf qualitative research. The research team leveraged technology so they could analyze sign language data while reducing bias found in traditional methods of inquiry.

Gary was raised in Chicago and moved to Rochester, New York, after graduation. Gary started DHH Insurance Agency in 1999, then in 2005, his agency merged with CH Insurance Brokerage. Gary is an adjunct faculty member at Gallaudet University in the Business/Risk Management Insurance program and the Rochester School for the Deaf Board Past-President. DHH Insurance Agency LLC is a full-service agency providing all aspects of commercial insurance and employee benefits to deaf-owned businesses, non-profit agencies, interpreting agencies, and freelance interpreters throughout the country. Since 2007, he has developed a national program for RID members and works with over 2000 interpreters and agencies in 50 states plus Washington, DC. Like everyone at DHH Insurance/CH Insurance Brokerage, Gary prides himself in the high service he provides to customers. “The reason our customers and even our competitors respect us is our service,” he says. “My personal goal is to go above and beyond to help our customers, answer their questions, help them with any issues, and do it all in the most responsive manner possible.”

Since 2017, Mike is the Director of Emergency and Public Communication Access Program at the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Mike collaborates, consults, and trains the RI State Government Public Safety Agency (Law Enforcement, Emergency Management Services), RI Emergency Management Agency and its 39 local municipalities’, and RI Department of Health addressing Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing people’s effective communication policies and information access requirements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike was the RI Department of Health’s conduit concerning the information and updates to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities. Prior to the current position, Mike have held leadership positions in Telecommunications (20 years), Human Resources, Sign Language Interpreting Referral Agency, and Employment services. Mike is known for his energetic, with a sense of humor in his presentations and group trainings. Mike firmly believes that everyone is a lifelong learner to achieve accessibility and equity for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing citizens.

Brad is a former ASL interpreter, adopted PODA (Parent Of Deaf Adult) and audiologist specializing in high-complexity hearing loss. He’s a member of the Audiology Council of the Deaf Olympics and is known for challenging the audiology profession to recognize and change their audism and potential limiting biases about Deaf people.

Elvia moved to Washington, D.C. from Mexico in 1999 to get a better education and life. She has deaf parents, a deaf brother, and two CODA siblings.  Elvia did not have interpreting services in Mexico and thanks her CODA siblings for interpreting for her and her deaf brother for nine years, from elementary school to preparatory school. Without her siblings, Elvia would not be at Gallaudet University as a professional career Latina woman. She received her Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Gallaudet University, and Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from El Centro Universitario Guadalajara Lamar in Guadalajara, Mexico. She is a manager for Intercultural Alliances within the Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI). She is responsible for providing conceptual and administrative leadership in the development, implementation, and maintenance of division-wide efforts designed to strengthen intercultural competency, cross-cultural communication, restorative practices, and overall community belonging. Provide presentations, workshops and training on topics of diversity and social justice. She is a curator specializing in the arts. As one of the curators, Elvia helped with the Deaf People of Color Art Exhibition and Art Sale during the 23rd National Deaf People of Color Conference in 2023, in Washington, D.C. Currently, she is collaborating with another curator for Visionaries of the Creative Arts to coordinate six distinct art exhibitions this year. These exhibitions will feature artwork representing various marginalized communities. Elvia is a co-founder of the Latino Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association of the Metropolitan DC Area, Inc and was the Vice-President from 2005 to 2008. Elvia was also the President of the National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing (now Council de Manos) from 2013 to 2015.

Ivy  is a distinguished advocate in the grassroots Latina Deaf Community who brings extensive experience and passion. Born to Deaf parents from Puerto Rico, Ivy’s commitment to her heritage is profound. Currently serving as the Statewide Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Supports at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Ivy dedicates herself to enhancing the lives of Deaf individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Educationally, Ivy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services and a Master of Science in Organizational Management and Leadership. With over 35 years of experience in human services, Ivy is a seasoned expert, specializing in various domains. Her work includes crafting specialized consultations, conducting staff training, and orchestrating program/process evaluations, all with a focus on intercultural competences and the importance of diversity in culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse settings. Ivy’s impact extends beyond the local scale; she has conducted and chaired effective cultural sensitivity workshops, delivered presentations, seminars, and panels addressing issues affecting Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Beyond her professional commitments, Ivy resides in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with her partner of 25 years. Together, they have lovingly raised five cherished cats. Ivy remains deeply committed to the Deaf community, contributing as a board member of various organizations and actively participating in community activities. In her personal time, she passionately engages in “The Velez Deaf Sisters Show,” participates in Deaf community theaters, and attends a wide array of enriching deaf events.

Joseph is a Deaf leader and media service owner (photo, film, drone); raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and uses his skills to amplify Deaf rights. He graduated from the Louisiana School for the Deaf as Valedictorian in 2018. Ari currently serves as Vice President for the NAD Youth Section. He manages social media and creates visual content for Deaf organizations, raising awareness and advocating for the community.

In December, Bobby will graduate from the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, accompanied by a minor in Nonprofit Management. Beyond his academic pursuits, Bobby has been actively involved with various nonprofit organizations, from local to national levels, for a decade. He has prior experience working and managing both nonprofit and private interpreting agencies. Currently, he serves on the Grant Review Committee for a state disability organization. Bobby possesses a deep passion and knowledge of the nonprofit world, and he plans to further his education with a Master’s in Nonprofit Management. On a personal level, he takes pride in being a devoted parent to his daughter and loves going to the movie theaters.

Steve is the Executive Director of the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Steve is a proud native of Idaho and he was raised in Gooding, Idaho. He went to the Idaho School for the Deaf and then graduated from Gallaudet University in 1998 with a BA in Communication Studies. He continued his education and received an MA in Community Counseling. After his completion, Steve spent seven years working as an Academic/Career Advisor at Gallaudet University. He has also served as an adjunct faculty in the Communication Studies Department, teaching Public Speaking for several years. During his tenure in Washington DC, Steve served on several task forces and committees such as: Academic Technology Advisory Committee, Student with Disabilities Advisory Board, University Accreditation taskforce on Shared Governance, and Foundation of Excellence Workgroup that focused on organizational operations and budget. Steve was enrolled in his PhD studies toward counseling studies but is on leave now. He continues to work as a public speaking consultant. He has participated in several video productions for the Deaf as an actor. Steve is married to Davina Asmus and they relocated to Boise, Idaho in January 2008 from Columbia, Maryland with their four children.

Fred is the outreach coordinator for Sunshine 2.0. He is an experienced performer with acting credits that include Nicholas in “By the Music of the Spheres” at the Goodman Theater, Harry in “Harry the Dirty Dog” at the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts; Witness in “Miracle Workers” and Stranger in “Mad Dancer” at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; “Fall Out Shelter,” “The Dirt Maker” and “The Underachiever” at the Kennedy Center; the title character in “Othello” at Gallaudet University; and Steve in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Sign­Rise Cultural Arts in Washington, D.C. He also performs in his one-man shows, “Fred Michael Beam: Sign Me a Story” and “Black, Deaf Male: Who Am I?,” which toured nationwide. He was a member of “I Didn’t Hear That Color,” the first black deaf play ever produced. His television and film credits include “If You Could Hear My Own Tune,” “The West Wing,” “Secret Dream,” “Little Lonely Monster,” “Deaf Mosaic” and “The New Captain Kangaroo,” for which he won the 2000 Media Access Award. A dancer, director and choreographer, Beam has worked with the Gallaudet Dance Company, the National Deaf Dance Theatre, the DuPont Dance Company, the Penn Vision Dance Company and the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts. He has performed around the globe, including in Africa, Australia, Egypt, England, France, Jamaica, Japan, Sweden, South America and the Virgin Islands. He also was choreographer for the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Open Circle Theater in Washington, D.C. He is executive director of In­visible Hands, Inc., which promotes deaf awareness through performing arts and was a founding member of The Wild Zappers, an all deaf male dance company. He also established Theater Arts Leadership Training for Deaf People of Color at Gallaudet University. Beam established the Black Deaf Expo and has hosted it since 2003, providing the Deaf Black Community the opportunity to stand proud, displaying their culture.

Corey is the founder and CEO of 2axend, a Deaf-owned strategic consulting and training firm working with organizations to provide user-centric experiences to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Corey is sought after as a consultant, thought leader, and trainer to organizations in the education, healthcare, healthcare education, government and language services industries on issues of communication accessibility, inclusive organizational design, unconscious bias, risk management, and Deaf awareness and cultural humility. Prior to founding 2axend, Corey served in several business development roles for Communication Service for the Deaf, as well as principal and digital marketing consultant for Synergetic Business Solutions, digital marketing coordinator for Purple Communications and director of marketing and business development for Hager Productions. Corey earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in marketing and sales management and his bachelor of science in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Corey currently serves as a member of the ASTM International F43.06 Subcommittee on Captioning Standards. Corey is a past three-term president of the Illinois Association of the Deaf, Illinois’ leading civil rights organization of, by and for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Illinoisans. He has also served as a member of the Northwest Community Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, the Village of Arlington Heights’ Commission for Citizens with Disabilities, Illinois School for the Deaf Advisory Council and Chicago Hearing Society Advisory Council.

Joe  is a Deaf media artist and filmmaker specializing in cinematography and non-fiction storytelling. He is a professor of Multimedia Storytelling Production at Queens University of Charlotte. He received his MFA in Documentary Production from Wake Forest University, a BFA in Filmmaking from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and his AAS in Digital Effects and Animation at Western Piedmont Community College.

Alexis has been writing professionally for over a decade. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Creative Writing. As a Deaf individual, Alexis is passionate about bridging accessibility between signers and non-signers. Alexis worked as a Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Manager for several years for the entire state of Georgia, operating a successful team to distribute telecommunication devices at no cost for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and individuals with speech disabilities. From there, Alexis learned the intricate details of what occurs behind the curtains of governmental and state fundings through Request for Proposals (RFPs). In 2022, Alexis joined Sorenson Communications as an RFP Writer, a niche industry with strict protocols to win attractive bids. It wasn’t long for Alexis to learn that there aren’t many Deaf people in the RFP field. At Sorenson, Alexis learned the art of bid writing and believes that more Deaf individuals should learn this craft.

Santosh hails from Madhuwan, Bardiya, Lumbini Province, Nepal.  He has emerged as a disability rights activist and campaigner within Nepal’s disability and deaf community. Despite facing the challenges of deafness, he shaped himself as a responsible person for the rights and inclusion of deaf individuals. Santosh obtained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Tribhuvan University and laid the base for his commitment to enhance the status of deaf community. Beginning advocacy early, he served as a Deaf teacher at the Deaf Resource School and has held leadership roles in various organizations, including the Bardiya Deaf Association and the National Deaf Federation Nepal, where he currently serves as President. His leadership spans provincial and local levels, where he played crucial roles in advancing rights of deaf individuals and community. Beyond organizational leadership, working as a trainer, conducting workshops and programs on inclusive education, disability rights, and leadership development are other works. As an expert he is also serving as coordinator of the National Sign Language Development Center. He is always dedicated to empower the deaf community through extensive training experiences. Fluent in multiple languages, including Nepali Sign Language, he always looks forward to working for the betterment of the disability community.

Joel Barish is an adventurer and advocate who has visited 103+ nations worldwide to live as much of the Deaf experience as possible. He has discovered Deaf individuals in every hidden corner of the world and shared thousands of unique stories with others through sign language videos and social media channels. Joel is invested in supporting local Deaf communities in his travels and videos, working with local tourism offices to help increase awareness and accessibility for traveling Deaf individuals. In his travels, videos, and interactions with others, Joel emphasizes patronage for Deaf-owned businesses as well as businesses that are accessible for traveling Deaf individuals. As the co-founder of DeafNation, the world’s premier business serving the Deaf community, Joel uses his platform to host two popular programs that are distributed widely via social media channels. First, the acclaimed “No Barriers with Joel Barish” is an inspiring, adventurous travelogue in Sign Language that allows viewers to join Joel as he tastes unique cuisine, meets inspirational Deaf business owners, and explains the significance of various landmarks he travels to. Notable episodes include going 6,500 feet under the earth to mine gold with a Deaf South African gold miner and hunting for survival while boating with Deaf native Inuit in Greenland. The “No Barriers with Joel Barish” audience is highly engaged, and many follow in his footsteps, taking similar travel itineraries as seen in the show. Hundreds of episodes have created a wonderful avenue for the signing community to learn about native Deaf communities in other places. “Coffee With Joel Barish” is a talk show distributed on social media where Joel interviews notable Deaf people on a variety of topics. Joel’s guests include leaders, politicians, and individuals with interesting professions or experiences, and cover topics that are interesting and relevant to the Deaf and signing community.

Sean is a professor of public administration at Gallaudet University in the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program, and a doctoral student at the University of Illinois, Springfield. He studies deaf leadership in the public sector.

Kelly is an Outreach and Research Coordinator with the National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR) and was the Implementation Lead and Communications Lead for the recent DWW in Western and Central New York. Kelly has 15+ years of experience working with Deaf communities across the Northeast US. Kelly received her BSW from the Rochester Institute of Technology and MPH from the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The committee concentrates on supporting our youth, including but not limited to those who are Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing, in dealing with wellness challenges. They have developed First Aid materials specifically for deaf youth as part of their plan to promote inclusive mentorship. By receiving support from the community and sharing responsibility for intervention, the committee hopes to pave the way for these deaf youth to feel more confident, develop socially and emotionally, and become involved in volunteering. They aim to create a supportive space where they can pursue volunteering opportunities without life challenges hindering them.

NDC is a technical assistance and dissemination center funded by the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). When deaf* people have equitable access to education and training, we have more employment opportunities. NDC’s mission is to share information, networks, and strategies to improve continuing education and training for deaf people. Our work is guided by our collective beliefs and commitments that 1) promotes individualized and person-centered approaches to each situation, 2) combines the lived experiences of deaf people with research and data to improve evidence-based decision-making, 3) partners with communities to strengthen relationships, outreach, and engagement with national/state/community members, 4) centers the experience and expertise of deaf people, and 4) identifies systemic barriers and create solutions to make lasting impacts. *We use the term deaf in an all-encompassing manner to include individuals who identify as Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing impaired, late deafened, deafblind, and deafdisabled.

Motion Light Lab (ML2) is a Deaf-led social impact organization whose mission is to end language deprivation and the systemic lack of sign language access in the early years that hinders the social and economic well-being of millions of Deaf and hard of hearing children worldwide. Our team developed the bilingual Storybook Apps program, an innovative form of media that builds Deaf children’s literacy and sign language skills, using emerging technologies to create new ways for Deaf communities to create bilingual resources for Deaf children. The Storybook Apps program’s growing library of stories for Deaf children worldwide features animated videos in written and sign language and tools for children to create and share their stories, growing both the library and Deaf representation in children’s media. We support the scaling and impact of these programs through training other organizations, particularly schools and other educators, to develop similar resources and media that help children build literacy and language skills. We further support global scaling through our leadership of CoLabs, a group of global networks collaborating to build bilingual literacy resources in local languages. ML2 is part of the National Science Foundation Research Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning at Gallaudet University. In 2021, we were one of 8 participants in the Dela Accelerator Program, which accelerates the impact of organizations that are working to create lasting impact on important challenges. In 2022, ML2 was selected to receive a significant capacity-building grant from the Lego Foundation to develop our programming and build partnerships with key leaders working on language deprivation. In 2023, ML2’s Founder and Director Melissa Malzkuhn was one of 10 recipients of the Elevate Foundation Prize, which provides support to leaders of the top organizations focused on solving pressing problems worldwide.

Morrison identifies as a non-binary DeafBlind activist with disabilities. As a person with disabilities and an activist, they recognize the significant gaps in accessibility for all people within the disability community, including the DeafBlind community, especially in mental health services. Morrison is particularly passionate about bringing about knowledge and resources on how DeafBlind individuals navigate and connect in this world. In recent years, they have become an avid activist to ensure accessibility and inclusion is present for our community with a sense of unity. In the field of disability rights, accessibility, and accommodations, far too often our DeafBlind community falls through the cracks due to a system that is not working or ignorant. Morrison drives to change that with collective action at the heart as it takes a community to make changes happen.

Samantha is the Founder & CEO of Tatum Robotics, an assistive technology company focused on the DeafBlind community’s needs. Samantha earned her master’s degree in Bioengineering from Northeastern University in 2021; shortly after, she established Tatum Robotics to bring her master’s thesis project—a robotic hand/wrist capable of actuating the fingerspelled letters of ASL—to R&D and eventual commercialization. Along with her role as the CEO of Tatum Robotics, Samantha participates directly in the robotic design and construction of the technology as well as facilitating communication when DeafBlind consultants visit the office. Under Samantha’s leadership, Tatum Robotics has established partnerships with the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), the Deaf-Blind Contact Center (DBCC), and the Technology Access Program (TAP) at Gallaudet University. The fingerspelling robot has been tested by over 50 DeafBlind individuals across several states with a 98% recognition rate. Samantha herself was honored in Forbes 30 Under 30 North America Class of 2024 in the Consumer Technology category.  Samantha has been signing with DeafBlind community members for the past three years and participates in Boston’s DeafBlind community by serving as Secretary of Boston’s largest DeafBlind community group.

Ryan is a Senior Account Executive at Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), bringing his extensive expertise in the field. Born Deaf and raised in a Deaf family, Ryan’s formative years were enriched by attending multiple Deaf schools and culminated in completing his Business Administration degree at the esteemed Gallaudet University. Despite enjoying full language access in his home and academic environment, Ryan encountered and surmounted numerous communication barriers during his upbringing. This early exposure to challenges fueled his unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. In his current capacity at CSD, Ryan is deeply devoted to pioneering equitable and accessible calling experiences for individuals within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. His passion for advancing inclusivity and equal opportunities has been instrumental in creating positive transformations in the communication landscape. Ryan’s outstanding achievements extend beyond his role at CSD, as he is one of the few licensed Deaf Realtors in the United States. His remarkable achievements in this domain have been recognized, earning him the prestigious recognition as one of the fastest-growing realtors by Homesnap. In the fall of 2022, Ryan demonstrated his expertise and dedication to fostering change as he co-presented and actively participated in a panel session at the M-Enabling Summit in Washington, D.C. The session focused on elucidating the communication barriers faced by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and explored innovative solutions to address these challenges. Through his outstanding professional accomplishments and relentless pursuit of equity and accessibility, Ryan Bonheyo exemplifies the spirit of transformative leadership, making a resounding impact on the lives of individuals within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Aaron started as a Reservist Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) with FEMA in 2016 before becoming a full-time employee in January 2017. He has worked his way up to become a Communication Access Specialist, in addition to his role as a CDI, and has become the go-to person the agency comes to with questions regarding effective communication access for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities, which includes guidance on plain language. Aaron has traveled to many different types of disasters during his time at FEMA – such as flooding, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, wildfires. He also provided communication access support and guidance during COVID. Part of his responsibility is to provide ASL support to the deaf and hard of hearing survivors, organize deaf and hard of hearing community outreach, and provide internal communication access training to FEMA staff on how to interact with deaf and hard of hearing survivors. He has also created over 100 ASL videos on various emergency management topics that include how to prepare ahead of a disaster, what to do during and after a disaster, what FEMA programs are available during the recovery process, etc. He serves on many working groups in and out of FEMA to provide his knowledge and expertise on communication access as he understands the value and importance of effective communication access in emergency management. He is proud to say his philosophy at FEMA has always been about putting the deaf and hard of hearing survivors first and doing what he can to support the mission the best way he can.

Chris is a passionate advocate for the Deaf community and a dedicated politician. After a decade-long stint as an information technology expert, he shifted his focus towards advocating for Deaf rights. His advocacy journey became global in 2015 when he visited 50 countries, aiming to understand the various needs of Deaf communities around the world. In 2017, Chris moved into the political arena, aiming initially for Congress but then refocused on a Kansas state legislature seat. His campaign, despite not leading to a victory, highlighted his advocacy effectiveness. Within his role at the Kansas Association of the Deaf, Chris Haulmark not only serves on the board as Vice President but also leads as Chair of the Social Justice Committee. In this capacity, he stands at the vanguard of challenging discrimination and spearheads educational initiatives aimed at dismantling the language, linguistic, and cultural barriers that members of the Deaf community face. His leadership in this area is vital to KAD’s mission, ensuring that it remains a steadfast advocate for the Deaf community’s rights and needs. Additionally, for over four years, Chris has volunteered at the Museum of Deaf History, Art, and Culture in Olathe, Kansas. He is well-known for his docent tours, which offer a profound Deafhood perspective, thereby deepening the visitors’ appreciation of Deaf culture and history. Chris Haulmark has cemented his legacy within the Deaf community as an impactful vlogger, utilizing American Sign Language to create connections and push for significant advocacy. Known for his ASL vlogging and travels, he’s recognized as an advocate with a global perspective. His broad role—as a technology professional, advocate, political candidate, and community organizer—indicates his constant advocacy for Deaf community inclusion and equality. Overall, Chris Haulmark’s extensive journey illustrates his unyielding advocacy for Deaf community inclusion and equality.

Norman is the senior research engineer at the Technology Access Program at Gallaudet University. He holds a B.A. degree in Computer Science. He has contributed to many communications access projects over the course of his career. These include videoconferencing accessibility improvements, VRS interoperability, smart home alerting, a patented real-time text user interface, total conversation (video/audio/text all in one), closed captioning of videos, Futura-TTY, and others. He also has contributed significantly to policy in the areas of emergency access, VRS, and telecommunications more generally.

Jody is an accomplished sales executive at Sorenson, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, with over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and public relations. During the rapid growth and transformation of the company, he brought his extensive knowledge to a new department, the Government/Military Sector – Government division. In this role, he focuses on educating federal and government entities about accessibility needs and providing various services to satisfy these requirements. Jody’s  enthusiasm for sharing convenient and practical solutions to generate opportunities, efficiency, and connection is evident in his work. He is renowned for his ability to identify and capitalize on market trends and his skills in developing and nurturing client relationships. His proficiency in developing comprehensive marketing strategies and executing them precisely has led to his success in the industry. In summary, Jody is a highly qualified professional with a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and public relations. His expertise in the Government/Military Sector – Government division at Sorenson has enabled him to provide practical solutions to federal and government entities and grow the company’s market share.

ETS has emerged as a global leader in education assessment since its establishment in 1947. Committed to advancing quality and equity in education, ETS has played a crucial role in shaping assessment practices worldwide. The organization is renowned for developing and administering a diverse range of tests, such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), and continuously strives to ensure the fairness, reliability, and accessibility of its assessments through cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. In recent times, ETS has expanded its influence into workplace skills assessment, marking a significant evolution in its offerings. This strategic move includes the acquisition of PSI (Psychological Services, Inc.), a leading expert in talent assessment and workforce solutions. This acquisition amplifies ETS’s capacity to provide comprehensive assessments that not only gauge academic achievements but also align with the dynamic skills demanded in today’s rapidly changing professional landscape. The integration of PSI’s expertise into ETS’s portfolio reflects a forward-thinking approach to education and career development. This expansion allows ETS to contribute to the entire spectrum of lifelong learning, seamlessly bridging educational milestones with the evolving requirements of the workplace. By embracing workplace skills assessment, ETS reaffirms its commitment to facilitating a holistic and equitable journey for individuals from educational settings to professional domains. As a leader in the assessment and measurement field, ETS remains dedicated to its mission of advancing quality and equity in education. The recent venture into workplace skills assessment exemplifies ETS’s adaptability and responsiveness to the evolving needs of learners and professionals alike, reaffirming its role as a driving force in shaping the future of assessments across various stages of education and career advancement.

Claudia is a dedicated and passionate professional who is driven by unwavering enthusiasm and a strong commitment to positively impacting the lives of young individuals. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Family and Child Studies from Gallaudet University, Claudia’s journey began with an internship working with the Educational Policy Counsel at the NAD, where her passion for volunteering and community service took root. She coordinated conferences such as the National Deaf Education Conference and the National Deaf People of Color Conference while advocating for deaf students in K-12 and Higher Education. Claudia’s dedication to making a difference led her to earn a Master’s degree in Early Language Advocacy. Beyond her professional pursuits, Claudia finds joy in watching TV shows, bouldering, trying new recipes, and caring for her plants. She also cherishes the company of her beloved cat, Theon. Claudia eagerly looks forward to collaborating with everyone involved in the NAD Youth Programs, empowering deaf youth leaders, and leveraging her diverse experiences and dedicated passion to create a lasting impact.

Our story began in 1816 when Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet crossed the Atlantic from Paris, France, to the United States with a dream to open the country’s first school for deaf education. Then, in 1864, with the support of Congress and President Abraham Lincoln, they extended their vision by founding Gallaudet University. Gallaudet soon became a beacon for visual learning, visual language, social justice, and full rights for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Since then, Gallaudet has grown to become a university that is beyond our founder’s wildest dreams. We showcase the value of deaf individuals across all spectrums. An educational experience where we invite you to discover and embrace your unique identity in an environment where you can fully be yourself!”

Irene is a Canada native who grew up in Montreal, Quebec. Upon her graduation from Gallaudet University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, she has been with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for 30+ years. Since 2003, Irene has been involved with Money Smart programs in many deaf communities. She was a Money Smart panelist in the Tax and Financial Education Campaign Kick-Off at the National Press Club, and was one of 100 FDIC employees selected to participate in the Money Smart for Young Adult Adopt-a-School Pilot Program. This program allowed her to provide financial education to high school diverse deaf students by personally presenting financial education as a guest instructor in the classroom. As the first deaf woman at FDIC to receive a certificate in Deposit Insurance Claims, Irene was involved in the 2009 financial crisis. Additionally, she provided deposit insurance education resources to the diverse public and was a leader in community outreach at many deaf community events. Irene is a co-founder of Corporate Advocacy Networking and Disability Opportunities (CAN DO) Employee Resource Group (ERG) at the FDIC. Her article is published in the Career and Disabled Magazine Winter 2021/Spring 2022. Irene received recognition with the 2022 FDIC Chairman’s Support Service Awards. Irene resides in Maryland with her husband and their precious cats. In her spare time, she enjoys refurbishing old dollhouses, reading vintage books, volunteering services such as deaf-blind communities, and participating in church activities.

Suzy , a native user of American Sign Language, is the Chief of the Disability Rights Office of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Since 2016, she has overseen the division’s rulemaking proceedings and stakeholder activities to ensure the accessibility of emergency communications, modern communication technologies, and video programming for millions of individuals with disabilities. Since 1992, her disability policy expertise involved work as a litigator for the California Center for Law and the Deaf, government affairs counsel of the National Association of the Deaf, special education law compliance officer of the U.S. Department of Education, the ombuds of Gallaudet University, and an attorney with the FCC. Suzy is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and holds a Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Stephen has been with Merrill Lynch since 1987, specializing in strategies and solutions designed to help individuals and their families realize their long-term financial goals, with a special focus on the needs of deaf investors. Believed to be the only deaf American Sign Language Financial Advisor within a full-service brokerage firm, Stephen offers unique communication to members of the deaf community. Without requiring an interpreter, he can fully understand client options, preferences and goals, then construct asset allocations designed to accurately reflect each client’s income and growth expectations. Stephen offers broad experience in investments, retirement, estate planning services, multi-generational wealth transfer and overall portfolio development. Stephen has an M.A. in Vocational Rehabilitation from New York University and a B.A. in Business Administration from Gallaudet University. He also holds a Certified Financial Manager designation, which is an internal Merrill Lynch designation that requires a self-study curriculum based on a variety of wealth management topics and a final course exam. His work and leadership in bridging wealth management and the deaf community has been spotlighted in the national media, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fortune, Business Week, NBC’s Sunday Today and ABC’s World News Tonight.

Denise serves as Assistant Dean for Admissions, STEM Outreach and Special projects at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a college of the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. This includes oversight for Admissions, Pre-College Outreach, Project Fast Forward, and the NTID Regional STEM Center (NRSC). Denise is also a faculty member with NTID’s Department of Liberal Studies, teaching in their new bachelor’s degree program in Community Development and Inclusive Leadership. During her twenty years at NTID, previous positions that Denise has held include Special Assistant to the NTID President for Strategic Decisions 2020 and Study Abroad Programming; Associate Director, Postsecondary Education Programs Network- Northeast; Senior Project Associate, Postsecondary Education Network-International; and Employment Advisor, Center on Employment. She also served for nearly ten years as Coordinator of Deaf/ hard of hearing services at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. Denise Kavin holds an Ed.D. in Leadership and Educational Policy Studies from Northern Illinois University, a M.S. in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University, a M.S. in Secondary education of the Deaf, from NTID/RIT, and a B.A. in Communication Arts and Psychology from Gallaudet University. She also holds certification from the Training Program on Administration of Programs serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened Adults at San Diego State University.

Annie is the Director of the Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing within the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR). With over fourteen years of experience in public administration, she is passionate about advocating for and elevating awareness about the issues which impact Michiganders who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing. She currently serves as Vice Chair for the city of Royal Oak Human Rights Commission, as the Board Secretary for the National Association of State Agencies for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH), as the NASADHH representative for the Federal Communications Commission Disability Advisory Committee and was selected as a member of the 2020 leadership class of the Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 under 40. Born Deaf, Annie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a diehard Chicago sports fan.

Tatum Robotics is a Boston-based, woman-owned startup focused on DeafBlind assistive technology. The company is developing a first-of-its-kind assistive communication device for the DeafBlind community. The robot translates English into tactile ASL output. The product is a compliant, anthropomorphic hand/wrist system. The system is capable of fingerspelling accurately and quickly, with the future goal of integrating the technology into an armature system capable of actuating complex signed sentences. The Tatum device can be connected to eBooks, emails, news sources, and texting services, making all of these sources accessible to DeafBlind people independently and in their preferred language for the first time. Established speech-to-text services will enable communication between the DeafBlind and non-signers without the need for an interpreter for every interaction. The Tatum device would grant DeafBlind people access without sacrificing privacy and independence. Never before has tactile sign language been available for a DeafBlind person to receive privately. Tatum envisions a world in which DeafBlind people can access any media at their own convenience, learn anything they would like to whenever they want to, interact with non-signers or long-distance friends in their preferred language, and feel in control all the while. The fingerspelling robot has been tested by over 50 DeafBlind individuals across several states with a 98% recognition rate. Tatum Robotics has established partnerships with the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), the Deaf-Blind Contact Center (DBCC), iCanConnect, and the Technology Access Program (TAP) at Gallaudet University. The company has also received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), and many Boston-based funding programs focused on inclusion and social good.

Brianne serves as the Director/Liaison inside the US Department of Education (ED), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. Brianne is a certified Diversity Change Agent, actively involved in streamlining the Accessibility efforts across the government to recruit, retain, and support career advancement for employees with disabilities. Brianne is serving her 3rd term on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Advisory Committee. Brianne recently completed a detail to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Secretary of Transportation. Prior to ED/OSERS, Brianne served as the National Disability Emphasis Program Manager (DEPM), Selective Placement Program Manager (SPPC), and the Reasonable Accommodations Manager at the US Department of Agriculture. Brianne’s first federal position was at the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Community Living. Brianne has more than 25 years of experience in vocational services on education and employment access for people with disabilities. Her in-depth knowledge of public policy on disabilities led to her appointment as the Americans with Disabilities Act Access Coordinator for both the 2004 Democratic National Convention and the 2010 VSA International Arts and Disability Festival. As a DC resident, Brianne advocated and persisted for the successful draft and passage of the Bill to Establish the DC Office for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing; furthering ensuring the DC Office was funded in the DC Government’s Budget. Brianne has served as the Vice Chair of the WMATA Accessibility Advisory Council. Brianne currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN) and the President of Deaf In Government (DIG) as well as President of DCAD. She is a member of the New Leaders Council’s Washington DC Chapter.

Justin is a multifaceted individual with a diverse background spanning academia, interpreting, social media influence, teaching, and community leadership. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Deaf and Labor History at Northern Illinois University, Justin’s research interests lie at the intersection of the Deaf Economy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Gallaudet University and a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University. In addition to his academic pursuits, Justin is a RID Certified Deaf Interpreter and a Wisconsin Court-certified interpreter. As a successful social media influencer, Justin has amassed a significant following with over 8.5 million views on various platforms. Beyond his academic and professional endeavors, Justin has demonstrated exceptional leadership as an associate and executive director of nonprofit organizations for ten years. With seventeen years of teaching experience in diverse settings, including college classrooms, social media platforms, and nonprofit organizations, his innovative approach to teaching, coupled with his passion for advocacy, has left a lasting impact on students of all ages and backgrounds. Justin is a proud Wisconsin native from a fourth-generation Deaf family. He is privileged to come from a family with multiple Deaf school teachers and ASL interpreters. Outside of his professional pursuits, Justin is passionate about his beloved Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks. In his leisure time, Justin enjoys exploring the scenic beauty of Wisconsin’s outdoors, particularly hiking the Ice Age Trail with his hiking buddy. Together, they have embarked on numerous adventures, traversing over 450 miles of rugged terrain and soaking in the region’s natural wonders.

Zachary is the Executive Director of Rochester Deaf Kitchen, Inc. (RDK), a pioneering food justice/food pantry 501c3 non profit organization for the Deaf community. To date, RDK has served tens of thousands of pounds of food to those in the Deaf community facing hunger and food insecurity. He resides in Rochester, NY with his partner, Dr. Donna Guardino, and their third grader, Brendan.

Donna is the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with the North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has 20+ years’ experience providing consultation, training, resources, and collaboration with emergency responders and 9-1-1 telecommunicators in North Carolina and Washington State on effective communication access for Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing individuals. Donna has both professional and personal experiences with emergency events since 2016 including Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. She is currently involved in numerous work groups in the NC Emergency Management’s Human Services Branch. Donna serves as a non-federal voting member of the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD) which provides advice to the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. In addition, she is currently National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Accessibility Committee Co-Chair. Donna was a former member of several national committees such as FCC Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) VII Alert Originator Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) work group, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Subcommittee under Federal Emergency Management Administration’s National Advisory Council, and FCC Emergency Access Advisory Committee.

The Idaho State University Sign Language Interpreting program and the Idaho Council for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing has engaged in a successful partnership and leveraged resources to improve access for Deaf people in Idaho in the areas of healthcare access, interpreter access, and interpreter training.

We started First Responders and Deaf (FRnD) to help bridge the communication and culture gap among first responders (firefighters, paramedics, police) and Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, or Late Deafened individuals. 

Corey is the founder and CEO of 2axend, a Deaf-owned strategic consulting and training firm working with organizations to provide user-centric experiences to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Corey is sought after as a consultant, thought leader, and trainer to organizations in the education, healthcare, healthcare education, government and language services industries on issues of communication accessibility, inclusive organizational design, unconscious bias, risk management, and Deaf awareness and cultural humility. Prior to founding 2axend, Corey served in several business development roles for Communication Service for the Deaf, as well as principal and digital marketing consultant for Synergetic Business Solutions, digital marketing coordinator for Purple Communications and director of marketing and business development for Hager Productions. Corey earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in marketing and sales management and his bachelor of science in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Corey currently serves as a member of the ASTM International F43.06 Subcommittee on Captioning Standards. Corey is a past three-term president of the Illinois Association of the Deaf, Illinois’ leading civil rights organization of, by and for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Illinoisans. He has also served as a member of the Northwest Community Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, the Village of Arlington Heights’ Commission for Citizens with Disabilities, Illinois School for the Deaf Advisory Council and Chicago Hearing Society Advisory Council. Corey is the proud recipient of several accolades, including the Knights of Flying Fingers Award from the NAD and the J.B. & Beatrice Davis Leadership Award from the Illinois Association of the Deaf.

Darlene believes in servant leadership. A person of great empathy and foresight. Darlene started out as a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing students in self-contained classrooms. Next, Darlene became a clinical therapist, providing mental health, vocational and educational and counseling services. She was also an adjunct instructor for psychology, and later interpreting and transliterating training courses. She is currently a certified coach through the International Coaching Federation. Feeling a gravitational pull towards stewardship, Darlene moved on to key leadership roles. To date, she has served as a Director or Executive Director for several organizations including: “Me Too! A Substance Abuse Prevention Project for Deaf Youth,” funded by the Ohio Department of Drug and Alcohol Services; “Wee Too! A Resiliency Enhancement Project for Preschoolers with Special Needs,” funded by the Ohio Department of Drug and Alcohol Services; DeafLink – The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Family Network Center, funded by the Ohio Department of Drug and Alcohol Services; Ohio Resource Center on Deafness, funded by Ohio Department of Mental Health; CSD of Ohio, Division Director; National Centers of Excellence, CSD Headquarters; Olmstead Implementation Office, State of Minnesota. Darlene has a Bachelor of Sciences in Deaf Education from Bowling State University, a Masters of Arts in Counseling with the Deaf from Gallaudet University, and a Doctor of Philosophy, Leadership and Change from Antioch University. Working collaboratively is important to Darlene. She works side by side with her team members because she believes more is accomplished when people work together, sharing the same vision and desired outcomes.

Stephanie Summers (she/hers) – Stephanie joined Kramer Wealth Managers in 2006. As an advisor for Kramer Wealth Managers, Stephanie focuses on creating a compelling vision with clients and initiates Kramer’s focus on woman advisors. Stephanie has been involved in finance since 1989 as an analyst for Sallie Mae and the Federal Government. Like her associates, Stephanie serves pre-retirees and retirees, corporate executives, business owners and not-for-profit organizations. Stephanie’s assets are her warmth, humor and financial skill. She delights in helping clients truly understand their portfolio and how it functions to serve their dreams. Stephanie holds her series 7, 66, and life insurance licenses. She is, in fact, the very first deaf woman advisor to ever earn the Series 7 General Securities license. Stephanie received her BS degree from Gallaudet University and her MBA from George Mason University. Stephanie has a strong desire to see more deaf women empowered to broaden their financial literacy and take charge of their personal finances. She has served as a board member for Deaf Women United and various non-profit organizations. She is actively involved with other community organizations. Stephanie and her husband, Mark, are parents of two adult twin boys.

Zane is the Game Program Coordinator for Deafverse and National Deaf Center. He has led accessibility initiatives, assisted with the development of Revenge of the Deep, and has probably helped you sign up for an account! Zane believes in the power of gaming to create a lasting positive impact on the deaf community.

Blake is a Deaf, transgender, non-binary person. Blake was born and raised in California by their hearing family, in a spoken language environment. Blake chose a very fulfilling career as a School Psychologist, specifically with a focused passion for support in the Deaf School system, for the past six years. Currently, Blake is on a sabbatical to focus on their other passion: providing educational workshops on supporting Deaf LGBTQIA2S+ communities.

Paul Singleton is a Senior National Director for Z/P Better Together, a leading VRS provider in the correctional industry, providing ADA accessibility from local jails to state and federal prisons. Paul has worked in this industry for 10 years and an update on the FCC order that requires incarcerated calling services providers to include all Telecommunications Relay Services-a requirement of the ADA law.

Brad is a former interpreter, current audiologist and adopted father of an adult Deaf “plus” son. He decided to become an audiologist at the request of his Deaf community back in the mid 1980s. He is a member of the Audiology Council of the Deaf Olympics and has always kept the Deaf community’s language access needs in mind in his clinical practice. In addition to NAD, he also supports and presented at the Association of Late Deafened Adults and the Hearing Loss Association of America.

Tawny serves as the Language Policy Counsel at Gallaudet University along with being an Associate Professor in the Department of Deaf Studies. She also serves the community by being the Executive Director of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf. She graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law. In addition to her law degree with family mediation and law certification, she has a Master of Arts in Family Centered Early Education from Gallaudet University. Tawny is a well-known presenter on the local, state, national and global levels when it comes to sign language access, rights and advocacy for deaf children and adults. Her presentations are based on her legal knowledge and a vision building off her rich experience working as the Education Policy Counsel at the NAD for eight years which took her to multiple corners of the Deaf communities with a wide variety of children, families and professionals.

The NAD is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. Established in 1880, the NAD was shaped by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more – improving the lives of millions of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened Americans.

NAD Jr. Chicago is a newly formed and evolving chapter. Our mission is to prepare deaf and hard of hearing students in 7th-12th grade to become future leaders and advocates by building their self-determination. In addition to critical peer support, our current advocacy focuses on expanding ASL offerings in high schools in the Chicago area and expanding movie theater access for all in our community.

Tressy obtained her BA in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and a Masters of Arts in Counseling from Gallaudet University. Tressy has worked in a variety of settings in colleges, universities and public mental health. She has been employed by RID for the past eight years where she currently manages the Ethical Practices System. Tressy is a community advocate and was part of a team leading the passage of Virginia’s LEAD-K legislation. Tressy pulls over to rescue turtles from roads, fosters dogs, is a “chicken tender” and enjoys the therapeutic benefits of gardening.

As of 2022, Lacey serves as Regional Administrator for the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL), Region V. ACL’s Regional Support Centers serve as the focal point for the development, coordination, and administration of ACL programs and activities within designated HHS regions. ACL includes the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Federal focal point and advocate agency for older persons and their caregivers. Within the role of being an ambassador for all ACL programs and supporting partnerships in Region V, Lacey plays a key role in supporting the success of state and tribal grantees under the Older Americans Act. Prior to serving Region V, Lacey served as Regional Administrator for Region VII in Kansas City and an Aging Services Liaison in Chicago with ACL since 2015. Lacey brings a decade of prior experience working within the Aging Network at the local and state levels. Preceding her position with ACL, she served as the Older Americans Act Program Manager for the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services. In that capacity she oversaw the operations of Older Americans Act programs, the Aging and Disability Resource Centers and the Kansas Senior Care Act. She also has experience working at the local level serving in various roles at the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging serving 18 Kansas Counties. Beyond professional endeavors, her passion lies in spending quality time with her Blue Heeler, Dodger. Lacey is a proud Kansas State Wildcat and enjoys hiking, traveling, and working on home projects with her family.

Kevin is a graduate of American University (B.A. – Justice) and of Gallaudet University (M.A. – Deaf Education). He worked in the fields of education, advocacy and leadership at the state, national, and international levels. Previously, he worked as a Legislative Correspondent for the United States Senate, and as an Education Specialist at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Following his work at DESE, he worked for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program of Boston Children’s Hospital as the Outreach and Support Services Coordinator before joining The Learning Center for the Deaf for 5 years. He is currently the Accessibility Relationship Manager for IP Relay with T-Mobile Accessibility. Kevin has led several cultural exchange programs between deaf adults and students in Massachusetts and China/India. In his spare time, Kevin is an avid reader and passionate supporter of all Boston area sports teams.

Stephanie Summers (she/hers) – Stephanie joined Kramer Wealth Managers in 2006. As an advisor for Kramer Wealth Managers, Stephanie focuses on creating a compelling vision with clients and initiates Kramer’s focus on woman advisors. Stephanie has been involved in finance since 1989 as an analyst for Sallie Mae and the Federal Government. Like her associates, Stephanie serves pre-retirees and retirees, corporate executives, business owners and not-for-profit organizations. Stephanie’s assets are her warmth, humor and financial skill. She delights in helping clients truly understand their portfolio and how it functions to serve their dreams. Stephanie holds her series 7, 66, and life insurance licenses. She is, in fact, the very first deaf woman advisor to ever earn the Series 7 General Securities license. Stephanie received her BS degree from Gallaudet University and her MBA from George Mason University. Stephanie has a strong desire to see more deaf women empowered to broaden their financial literacy and take charge of their personal finances. She has served as a board member for Deaf Women United and various non-profit organizations. She is actively involved with other community organizations. Stephanie and her husband, Mark, are parents of two adult twin boys.

Tawny Holmes Hlibok serves as the Language Policy Counsel at Gallaudet University along with being an Associate Professor in the Department of Deaf Studies. She also serves the community by being the Executive Director of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf. She graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law. In addition to her law degree with family mediation & law certification, she has a Master of Arts in Family Centered Early Education from Gallaudet University. Ms. Holmes Hlibok is a well-known presenter on the local, state, national and global levels when it comes to sign language access, rights and advocacy for deaf children and adults. Her presentations are based on her legal knowledge and a vision building off her rich experience working as the Education Policy Counsel at the National Association of the Deaf for 8 years which took her to multiple corners of the Deaf communities with a wide variety of children, families and professionals.

Zito is a professional sign language interpreter and C-Print captionist. She earned her bachelor’s in ASL Interpreting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management. Zito is a founding member of the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE), served as President from 2019-2022, and currently leads the NAIE Credentialing Task Force (CTF) that has been focused on establishing a national certification for educational interpreters. Additionally, she has led and consulted with groups focused on state regulatory requirements for sign language interpreters.

Malibu identifies herself as a Deaf Multiracial ciswoman, a second-year doctoral student in School Improvement at Texas State University. She received her BA in sociology and MA in School Counseling from Gallaudet University. She has provided numerous training, workshops, keynote, and spaces in the past ten years, focusing on multiple issues with different employment and roles in the community. She is known to focus on integrating various issues in her work: education, mental health, interpreting, accessibility, and community works in a trauma-invested space. She has worked in/with different settings in K-12 Deaf Education, nonprofit organizations, and colleges/universities. Malibu worked in three Deaf schools, including Clerc Center, Maryland, and Texas, holding different roles: school counselor, diversity inclusion specialist, OMBUDSperson, Fair Practice Officer, and Coordinator of Equity and Inclusion in the Instruction Division. She was also an outreach, educator, and counselor for three years with a nationally-known agency, SAFE, that focused on anti-violence works. She currently works at National Deaf Center as Strategic Support Specialist. Malibu was found to be deaf at a year old before newborn screening became mandatory. She is the fourth generation deaf on the paternal side. She is the oldest of four deaf siblings with a Deaf mother. She attended four Deaf schools: Iowa, Arizona, Florida, and Maryland. Malibu is a proud mother of three Deaf children, the oldest being Deaf Autistic. They enjoy traveling together, conversing about reality and self-advocacy, bringing diversity to our home through books and conversations, and making the world better, starting with ourselves.

Fred is the outreach coordinator for Sunshine 2.0. He is an experienced performer with acting credits that include Nicholas in “By the Music of the Spheres” at the Goodman Theater, Harry in “Harry the Dirty Dog” at the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts; Witness in “Miracle Workers” and Stranger in “Mad Dancer” at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; “Fall Out Shelter,” “The Dirt Maker” and “The Underachiever” at the Kennedy Center; the title character in “Othello” at Gallaudet University; and Steve in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Sign­Rise Cultural Arts in Washington, D.C. He also performs in his one-man shows, “Fred Michael Beam: Sign Me a Story” and “Black, Deaf Male: Who Am I?,” which toured nationwide. He was a member of “I Didn’t Hear That Color,” the first black deaf play ever produced. His television and film credits include “If You Could Hear My Own Tune,” “The West Wing,” “Secret Dream,” “Little Lonely Monster,” “Deaf Mosaic” and “The New Captain Kangaroo,” for which he won the 2000 Media Access Award. A dancer, director and choreographer, Beam has worked with the Gallaudet Dance Company, the National Deaf Dance Theatre, the DuPont Dance Company, the Penn Vision Dance Company and the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts. He has performed around the globe, including in Africa, Australia, Egypt, England, France, Jamaica, Japan, Sweden, South America and the Virgin Islands. He also was choreographer for the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Open Circle Theater in Washington, D.C. He is executive director of In­visible Hands, Inc., which promotes deaf awareness through performing arts and was a founding member of The Wild Zappers, an all deaf male dance company. He also established Theater Arts Leadership Training for Deaf People of Color at Gallaudet University. Beam established the Black Deaf Expo and has hosted it since 2003, providing the Deaf Black Community the opportunity to stand proud, displaying their culture.

Marvin has taught Deafhood classes all over the USA for over a decade. He is a founding board member of the Deafhood Foundation and led the effort to build the world’s first signing town in Laurent, S.D. He is currently writing books and is a published author. He believes that we will liberate ourselves by understanding our collective Deafhood journey.

Olivia is the Director of Videophone Crisis Line Services at DeafLEAD, Columbia, Missouri. They manage three videophone crisis lines: the Deaf Crisis Line (DCL), the Disaster Distress Helpline – Videophone (DDH VP), and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Videophone (988 VP). They are a life-long Deaf individual who appreciates and values ongoing direct communication, collaboration, and connection for the diverse, inclusive Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Their main goals are to be a continuous advocate in reducing systemic barriers, and ensuring resources are made accessible and provided for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, especially resources that focus on mental health, victim services, suicide, and disaster crisis care. Olivia has their master’s in social work from Gallaudet University. Olivia currently finds themselves settling along the Front Range of Colorado. They are the third generation of their family who is Deaf and communicates using American Sign Language. When they are not at work, you can often find them enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality times with their family.

Ritchie is a dynamic Black Deaf Texan with a passion for cultivating and teaching American Sign Language (ASL). He currently works as a staff interpreter for Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Ritchie has been presenting ASL/Deaf-related workshops for over twenty years. With his experiences as an ASL mentor and ASLPI/SLPI evaluator, he trained Deaf people to become ASL mentors for signers from the Community Interpreter Grant program. Ritchie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language from Gallaudet University and a Master of Science degree in Deaf Education from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He has been a certified Deaf interpreter since 2007. He served on the RID board as Deaf Member at Large from 2015-2017 and provided consulting services ranging from deaf-interpreting to developments of evaluations for future deaf and hearing interpreters to various organizations and agencies. His interests include traveling, storytelling, and video editing.

Mohamed has been working in Robotics Education for the Deaf since 2009 as a Coach, Mentor, Judge, Volunteer and Organizer for more than 1,000 teams and 5,000 Deaf and Hearing students in many robot and programming competitions. Mohamed is working on a robotics education project for Deaf students organized by NTID at the Texas School for Deaf.

Norma is currently holding dual roles of the Associate Ombuds in the Office of the Ombuds and Interim Director of Nuestra Casa/Center for Latine Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, is originally from El Salvador and grew up in Nevada. Additionally, Morán is the chair of the Maryland Advisory Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (MACDHH) under Maryland Governor’s Office of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ODHH) and a long-standing member of the advisory board for the National Center for Disability and Pregnancy Research. Morán obtained a bachelor’s degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s degree at American University, as well as certificates in diversity, equity, and inclusion; restorative justice; racial justice facilitation; and mediation.

Hector Brual and Bridgetta Bourne-Firl are Financial Professionals with WealthWave, LLC, a dynamic company at the forefront of financial education and marketing services. Its mission is two-fold: to eradicate financial illiteracy and to empower entrepreneurs across North America. In summary, WealthWave stands as a beacon of financial enlightenment and entrepreneurial support, aiming to transform the landscape of financial literacy and business leadership across North America.

AnnMarie is a trailblazing leader and advocate with over 20 years of experience championing accessibility and inclusion in information communication technology (ICT). As the first Deaf woman to lead TDIforAccess (TDI), she made history and continues to pave the way for greater representation and accessibility. Prior to joining TDI, AnnMarie served as Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at ZP Better Together, where she leveraged her expertise to drive impactful initiatives. Her efforts not only earned recognition within the company but also set a standard for diversity and inclusion practices in the industry. AnnMarie holds a BS in Business and Communications and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Thomas, solidifying her foundation in both leadership and business acumen. Combining visionary leadership with hands-on experience, she continues to shape public policy and influence decision-making processes to ensure the voice of the deaf and hard of hearing community is heard and prioritized in vital regulatory matters. As CEO, AnnMarie is deeply involved in various organizations dedicated to accessibility and inclusion, including the FCC Disability Advisory Council (DAC), Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN), and the #SafeDeafAI Advisory Group. Her passion for advocacy extends beyond organizational boundaries, as she actively engages as a presenter at conferences and events, advocating for the importance of Communication Video Technology Accessibility (CVTA) and its profound impact on inclusivity in the tech industry.

Tina Childress, PhD (she/hers) – Tina is an Outreach Trainer for the Illinois School for the Deaf and an educational audiologist at CASE Audiology. She has provided numerous training and workshops for students, parents and professionals on a variety of topics related to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Tina has expertise in assistive technology, hearing technology (hearing aids and cochlear implants), apps, accessibility in cultural spaces, aural rehabilitation, and the social/emotional impact of being Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She is also a late-deafened adult with bilateral cochlear implants who communicates in ASL as well as spoken English. She has a passion for mentoring, teaching, and helping others and believes in paying it forward with her dual perspective as a Deaf audiologist by being active in advocacy, teaching, and learning. Her resources can be found on her website.

Roz has published two books and is writing two more. She is an internationally known educator and advocate. She is a past president of the NAD, and a lifelong honorary board member of the World Federation of the Deaf. She has worked as a dean and provost at Gallaudet University and as the director of the National Center on Deafness at CSUN. She has presented all over the USA on human rights, LEAD-K, and how to write stories.

Billy is an interpreter and member of the Deaf community for over 30 years. His commitment to the community has taken him across the country and throughout the world. Over the past 13 years he has primarily focused on working in partnership with Deaf managers, supervisors, and leaders ensuring their communication needs are as seamless as possible. Billy and his wife, Heather have been married for 29 years and have five children.

The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) is a technical assistance and dissemination center funded by the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). When deaf* people have equitable access to education and training, we have more employment opportunities. NDC’s mission is to share information, networks, and strategies to improve continuing education and training for deaf people. Our work is guided by our collective beliefs and commitments that 1) promotes individualized and person-centered approaches to each situation, 2) combines the lived experiences of deaf people with research and data to improve evidence-based decision-making, 3) partners with communities to strengthen relationships, outreach, and engagement with national/state/community members, 4) centers the experience and expertise of deaf people, and 4) identifies systemic barriers and create solutions to make lasting impacts. * We use the term deaf in an all-encompassing manner to include individuals who identify as Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing impaired, late deafened, deafblind, and deafdisabled.

Sammie is DeafBlind, BIPOC, and queer who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sammie grew up mainstream and graduated from the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in 2008. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to study Social Work. She moved to Seattle, Washington in 2012. She worked at the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind as a production lead from 2013 until December 2020. Sammie currently works as DeafBlind Community Specialist under DeafBlind Services for Minnesota for a year and half. She also provides DeafBlind Mentoring program and held various training related with professional, community, protactile, and simulation in a variety of ages. She’s in the process of completing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is an advocate for mental health.

Stephanie joined Kramer Wealth Managers in 2006. As an advisor for Kramer Wealth Managers, Stephanie focuses on creating a compelling vision with clients and initiates Kramer’s focus on woman advisors. Stephanie has been involved in finance since 1989 as an analyst for Sallie Mae and the Federal Government. Like her associates, Stephanie serves pre-retirees and retirees, corporate executives, business owners and not-for-profit organizations. Stephanie’s assets are her warmth, humor and financial skill. She delights in helping clients truly understand their portfolio and how it functions to serve their dreams. Stephanie holds her series 7, 66, and life insurance licenses. She is, in fact, the very first deaf woman advisor to ever earn the Series 7 General Securities license. Stephanie received her BS degree from Gallaudet University and her MBA from George Mason University. Stephanie has a strong desire to see more deaf women empowered to broaden their financial literacy and take charge of their personal finances. She has served as a board member for Deaf Women United and various non-profit organizations. She is actively involved with other community organizations. Stephanie and her husband, Mark, are parents of two adult twin boys.

Under Eugenio Ravelo Mendoza’s leadership, the section has been working for several years to expand to a structured section with the quality of life for DeafBlind, who usually use Protactile and/or American Sign Language between the NAD´s statement (2018): “Bring social change across a variety of categories to become accessible to deaf and hard of hearing; Understand best practices for communication access across a variety of categories and develop position statements outlining best practices; Recognize and reward accessibility leaders in ensuring communication access for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Evon is the Associate Director of the Center for Black Deaf Studies, leads the Center events and initiatives; conduct and oversee outreach activities; coordinate grant activities and reporting; oversee Center operations; and lead Center communication and fundraising. Specifically, she assists with the planning, implementation, and coordination of seminars, lunch talks, lectures, conferences, graduate research workshops, and comparable events; conduct and support outreach activities for K-12, university, and community audiences; and administer grants. She also supports Deaf Studies students, and supervises staff, student employees, and interns. Finally, Evon continues her work to bring the Kendall School Division 2 Memorial project to fruition, and to support other fundraising initiatives. Evon, originally from Arkansas, is a well-known member of the Black Deaf community. She is immediate past president of the National Black Deaf Advocates, and has held other leadership roles in NBDA and its local chapters. For the last 35 years, she has been a renowned performing artist and a widely sought-after presenter and storyteller. As a Gallaudet University student in the 1980s, Evon was the first Black Deaf person to hold a leadership position in the Student Body Government, serving as Vice President during the 1985-1986 academic year. Her master’s degree is in educational technology.

Sheri is a nationally known civil rights advocate on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people in the areas of education, employment, and telecommunication. She has served as the CEO for NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing for more than 31 years. Sheri graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with both her BA and MA, her MA in Special Education. However, her career choices led her to become a life-long education advocate. She is a well-known activist who argued that the LRE (“least restrictive environment”) policy had the opposite effect on deaf students who were isolated when placed in local public setting without support services and specialized instruction by certified teachers of the Deaf. Sheri continues to advocate against such blanket inclusion policies that can escalate harm to learning.As the Director of LEAD-K (Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids) national campaign for policy changes for 0-5yr old Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants and toddlers, she advocated for states’ accountability to ensure Deaf children are kindergarten ready when they arrive to school. The first such legislation passed in California in 2015 which became a model for other states. The new California law required the California Department of Education to disseminate information about language milestones, assess and track language development of Deaf children under 5 years old and publish aggregated language outcomes data in an annual report. To date, 23 States passed their own LEAD-K bills with ACLU’s partnership.

Kim is a Professor in the Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Education (ASLIE) at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID). Kim is currently an Interim Director of NTID Sign Language Assessment & Resource Center. Kim was ASLIE chairperson from 2010 to 2020 and oversees NTID’s Program Assessment Outcomes and Evaluations in NTID’s Academic Affairs division. Her career at RIT/NTID has always had a strong focus on mentoring students and faculty related to their research projects, teaching a research methods course to interpreting students who are in their senior year. Kim’s dissertation topic focused on how deaf children learn through direct instruction compared with mediated instruction via sign language interpreter and has done numerous research in the field of educational interpreting.

Joseph is the President of the World Federation for the Deaf (WFD). (2023-2027). This is his second term as WFD President. He has a BS in Political Science, an MA in History and a PhD in History. Since 2008, he has been working at Gallaudet University. He became a Professor in 2018, in the Department of Deaf Studies where he co-ordinates the Deaf Studies online degree programme and the Deaf Studies masters degree programme. He also teaches Bachelors and Masters level classes and supervises Master’s theses in Deaf Cultural Studies and Deaf History. Prior to this, he worked in the field of research and has contributed to many articles and resources on deaf studies research. He is an honorary academic faculty member of York University. He has contributed to writing four books, 19 book chapters and has also lent his expertise to a vast number of journals. Spanning 2008 – 2024, Joesph has made over 120 presentations during the course of his work and as President of the WFD, covering many topics around deaf issues: deaf human rights, women’s rights, deaf education, sign language research, advocacy guidelines, and sign language rights. He was President of the WFD’s youth section from 1999-2003 and has also volunteered his services on a variety of committees involving advocacy for human rights and sign language rights all over the world. Joseph has also contributed to the development of various sign language media: Apps, DVD’s and webpages, including being the founder and managing editor of Acadeafic.

The Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture (MDHAC)’s mission is to advance and preserve knowledge about Deaf people, their languages, cultures, and experiences in the United States and around the world (as adopted by the Board of Directors September 2017). The term, Deaf people, is meant to encompass all individuals and their various intersectional identities who share similar Deaf commonalities and experiences through their life journey. MDHAC’s core values of Compassion, Community, Principle, Growth, Diversity and Deafhood are reflected in our relationships, strategies, and actions. MDHAC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, incorporated in the state of Kansas in 1988, and is known nationally as the first independently Deaf-run museum about Deaf people that is not affiliated with, or under the umbrella of, a school, government, or other entity in the United States. The Museum, with exhibitions covering Deaf History, opened to the public in 2005. The Chuck Baird Art Gallery expanded MDHAC’s Art programs in 2018 and the Deafhood Institute expanded MDHAC’s Culture programs in 2023. While MDHAC is physically located in Olathe, Kansas, we serve people locally and nationally through our virtual programs and future traveling exhibitions. Our visitors and participants include ages from young children to senior citizens; individuals to large corporations; and all demographics, regardless of whether they are Deaf or non-deaf and signers or non-signers throughout the U.S. and around the world. It is through this wide outreach we push for a global understanding and appreciation of the Deaf and their intersectional identities, and how we are further bound together in 1) promoting human biodiversity 2) addressing oppression 3) reinforcing the existentialism of Deaf people and 4) promoting economic and social justice.

Rachel serves as the Commissioner of the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). Rachel is a visionary and transformative leader, and was the first deaf person to serve as a member of a Mayor’s Cabinet nationwide. Under her leadership, Rachel increased services to Chicago’s disability community and leads inter-agency collaboration with fellow City departments and sister agencies to advance accessibility. Recognizing the need for advances in disability employment, Rachel launched the MOPD Career Center, which serves job seekers with disabilities and partners with businesses on increasing inclusive hiring practices. Rachel has over 17 years of experience as a disability and civil rights attorney, and has held numerous civic and leadership roles. In 2018-2020, she served as the President of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association (DHHBA). A highlight as DHHBA President was making the motion at the U.S. Supreme Court for 11 DHHBA members to be admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar Association; she made the motion using ASL and spoken English. Rachel is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A. American Culture) and the University of Wisconsin School of Law (J.D.)

Hector (he/him) is a Financial Professional with WealthWave, LLC, a dynamic company at the forefront of financial education and marketing services. Its mission is two-fold: to eradicate financial illiteracy and to empower entrepreneurs across North America.