AG BELL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Advocacy & Policy Director
Allison is the Advocacy & Policy Director for the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She is a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation. Allison specializes in the development of listening and spoken language for young children who are deaf and hard of hearing. She provides aural habilitation and parent education services for infants and toddlers and their families throughout Connecticut.
Job Titles:
- President
- President of the Alaska
Andrea Samuel is current president of the Alaska chapter. She has been practicing speech and language pathology for over seventeen years and is currently in private practice working with children with a range of developmental risks and disorders, and their families. She is mother of two children. Her younger child was born with significant hearing loss in 2011 and now listens, talks and attends a mainstream school thanks to her state's EHDI program and LSL intervention. Andrea lives in Anchorage with her husband and two daughters and some furry, four-legged family members.
Como Enfermera Profesional y familiar de una persona sorda entiendo la necesidad de la comunidad con pérdida auditiva en Puerto Rico. Como miembro de la Asociación Alexander Graham Bell Capítulo de Puerto Rico deseo apoyar a las familias en conocer herramientas y recursos para personas sordas y con pérdida auditiva. Deseo ofrecer alternativas de soporte y orientación, así como fomentar alternativas comunicológicas en nuestra población. Nuestra meta principal es que cada persona y cada familia conozca los recursos y alternativas disponibles. Queremos utilizar nuestra voz para impactar las vidas de quienes puedan apoyarnos y así promover acceso a servicios y colaborar en un entorno de unión entre toda la comunidad.
Ashten Chatham, MS, CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd is an Early Interventionist at Magnolia Speech School. Ashten has worked with children with hearing loss and their families for 6 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
- Program Director at Ohio Valley Voices
Carey Ratliff is the Program Director at Ohio Valley Voices, a Listening and Spoken Language Program in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her Masters degree in Deaf Education from the University of San Diego/John Tracy Clinic and is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certified by the Alexander Graham Bell Association. Carey has been working with children with hearing loss and their families for almost 15 years, as a teacher, parent educator, teacher mentor, program administrator and university supervisor. She has presented on topics relating to working with children with hearing loss throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois. Carey is passionate about working with professionals and families to ensure that every child with a hearing loss has the opportunity to listen and talk.
Job Titles:
- Youth Outreach Committee Chair
Casey is the Youth Outreach Committee Chair. Casey is a 7th grader with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. She uses cochlear implants on both of her ears and was raised with listening and spoken language. She wanted to join AG Bell to be youth outreach committee chair because she wants more deaf kids to know that there are other choices rather than only using sign language; that listening and spoken language, sign language, or using both are all okay choices! She would also like more deaf kids and adults to feel like they are seen because she feels, from experience, that there is a great lack of representation and inclusivity for people just like her. She just really wants to be part of and make a difference!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Social Media
Chris Altman is a parent to three with Erica Lucci, chapter president, including Windsor who was identified at birth with hearing loss. He is also a real estate broker with Keller Williams.
Chris Torres is a Realtor with Dorsey Alston Realtors and he specializes in helping people find community with the wide, diverse options of housing in the Atlanta area. He is also hard-of-hearing (HOH) with moderate to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and has first-hand experience as a child that grew into adulthood with hearing loss. Chris is a father to four children. His two youngest are HOH and use hearing aids in day-to-day activities. One of these attend the Atlanta Speech School's Hamm Center and the other is a student at Atlanta Classical Academy. Chris and his family are committed to seeing the best outcome for their children's future living with hearing loss. Understanding and desiring the need for community between parents of children with hearing loss and advocates for the education and instructions of these children is important to Chris. From that perspective he feels that the parents of children with hearing loss have a community where they feel comfortable, welcomed and belong. That they will have a community to help them understand what life will be like for their own children from birth to adulthood and finding the support they desire.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
- President of the AG Bell Hawaii Chapter
Christy Chadwick is the president of the AG Bell Hawaii Chapter. She is a teacher of the deaf and Marriage and Family Therapist. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis where she got her Master's in deaf education, Christy moved to Maui where she taught for a year. Christy now runs an organization called Hawaii Hears and a nonprofit, Deaf Education Awareness Foundation, raising awareness for more services for children who are deaf and their families in Hawaii.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Member of the Board
Colby Kant Harris is a mother of two and a clinical psychologist. Her daughter was born with profound hearing loss and received bilateral cochlear implants at the age of 10 months. As a result of her personal experience, she is passionate about promoting dialogue, education, and connection within the hearing loss community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Speech - Language Pathologist
- Vice President
Debra is a speech-language pathologist and the coordinator for the Communication Disorders Clinic within the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida. She serves as the AG Bell Florida representative on the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and is pursuing her certification as a listening and spoken language specialist.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
Dr. Rachel Cohen is an Educational Audiologist and a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist who supports families with children who have hearing loss.
Dr. Shanna Dewsnup is licensed in Arizona as a Doctor of Audiology and Dispensing Audiologist. She has multiple audiology offices in the Phoenix area called Happy Ears Hearing Center. She has two teenage boys. Her oldest son was born with a severe hearing loss, is legally blind, and has been wearing hearing aids since birth. He inspired her to go into the field of audiology.
Dr. Tosha Strickland is an Idaho native. She obtained her Doctorate of Audiology from AT Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She holds two Bachelor's Degrees, one in English, Business and Spanish from Brigham Young University and one from Utah State University in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education.
She finished her clinical rotation at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas in 2008. As a member of the cochlear implant team at Texas Children's, Dr. Strickland worked closely with 300 plus cochlear implant patients and surgeon Dr. John Oghalia from Baylor College of Medicine. She subsequently has worked at hospitals in Walnut Creek and Berkeley, California.
She currently owns her own clinic, Strickland Ear Clinic, where she specializes in pediatric and adult audiological rehabilitation, cochlear implants, hearing aids, research and community outreach. She holds current licensure in Idaho, Utah, California and Texas.
Ser miembro directivo dentro de la Asociación Alexander Graham Bell Capitulo de Puerto Rico, es un medio para la creación de un ambiente inclusivo y accesible. Es importante que la comunidad oyente reconozca y respete la diversidad y la dignidad de los seres humanos incluyendo las personas sordas. Esto abarca promover diferentes maneras de comunicación que sean asequibles para las personas sordas y brindar una formación de alta calidad para apoyar a la comunidad sorda en la educación, empleo y otras áreas de la vida. Las personas sordas en puerto rico son parte vital de nuestra comunicada y como líder comunitario es sumamente importante crear una sociedad de integración y equidad para todos. Como próximo profesional de la salud el terminar mis estudios académicos simbolizará un desafío más alcanzado. Por tal motivo, debo poseer variedad de herramienta cognitivas en apoyo a mi futura travesía. En búsqueda constante de "superar lo mejor" ampararé todo esfuerzo físico y mental para la realización de este y próximos eventos. Estos desafíos tendrán alto impacto académico en mi persona, además de constatar la teoría en que tengo un mundo inconmensurable por explorar.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Marketing Director of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter
Emily is the Marketing Director of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She is a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in Aural Habilitation at the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation. She works with clients with hearing loss ranging from infancy through adulthood, providing individualized intervention focused on developing listening and spoken language skills.
Job Titles:
- Director
- President
- Project Manager
Erica Lucci is a mother to three and a project manager at a national retailer. Erica's second daughter was identified at birth with hearing loss. The family has been on a listening and spoken language journey and wants to connect with others on the same journey.
Erin Stilwell is native to Arizona with a love for education and writing. She received both her Bachelor's in Communications and her Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University. Erin became involved with AG Bell in 2016, shortly after her daughter, Kendall was diagnosed with sensorineural bilateral hearing loss. She is also a Phonak hEARo and works closely with the hearing loss community. Being an advocate for her daughter has become not only a passion, but a lifestyle for Erin.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Association Relations
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
- Board Member and Treasurer of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter
Gina is a parent board member and Treasurer of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She is the mom of two boys with special needs, one of which has a bilateral profound hearing loss and has bilateral Cochlear Implants.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Speech Language Pathologist
Hannah Wagner is a speech language pathologist practicing in Anchorage Alaska. Her interest in Listening and Spoken Language began in graduate school at Washington State University during a clinical rotation with the H.O.P.E School (Hearing Oral Program of Excellence). Shortly after, Hannah had the unique opportunity to intern with the Cochlear Implant Team at Seattle Children's Hospital. Upon graduating in 2013, Hannah moved to Anchorage, Alaska and has been practicing in early intervention and clinic-based settings. Hannah works as a contracted therapist for the Bristol Bay Infant Learning Program and travels to rural villages (over 25!) each month. Hannah owns a small private practice in Anchorage where she hopes to specialize in supporting children with hearing loss and their families as they journey down the path of listening and spoken language. She has big hopes to obtain her LSLS cert AVT soon! She is very thankful for the opportunity to support the AG Bell Alaska Chapter as Vice President.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
Jason Wigand, AuD is an audiologist and owner of LifeAloud, LLC, a clinical and consulting practice with the mission to empower individuals with hearing loss to self-advocate and communicate more effectively through comprehensive clinical care and increasing public awareness. He has held positions in various private practice and nonprofit settings, including serving as faculty and clinical preceptor for a graduate program in communication sciences and disorders at a major state university. As an audiologist and late-deafened adult and bilateral cochlear implant recipient, Dr. Wigand is passionate about working with individuals and families while they navigate the often tumultuous waters of hearing loss and communication challenges. He continues to serve on various boards of a number of professional associations in the field of audiology.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Outreach Director
Jennifer is a parent board member and Outreach Director of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She has a daughter who has sensorineural hearing loss and wears bilateral cochlear implants. She is currently in school studying radiography and has been wanting to be more involved in learning more about hearing loss and spreading the importance of understanding and awareness when it comes to hearing loss.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
Jessica is Vice President of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She is a Speech Language Pathologist and Auditory Verbal Therapist at the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation. Her areas of interest include mainstreaming children with hearing loss, spoken language development through listening, and the role of rehabilitation in device programming.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social Coordination
Jess Sinkey is the mother of a daughter with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss that wears hearing aids in both ears. She has her Masters in Education and taught Elementary School in Cobb County for 14 years. Her goal as an AG Bell Board member is to make sure that all Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) families in Georgia are able to make valuable, lifelong connections with other families in the DHH community.
Job Titles:
- Development Coordinator at the Auditory - Verbal Center
- Director of Community Engagement
Jonathan Brilling is the Community Engagement and Development Coordinator at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Jonathan is profoundly deaf and wears the Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant and CROS and graduated from the Auditory-Verbal Therapy Program at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Having direct experience with the life of the deaf and hard of hearing, Jonathan has a passion for public speaking and enjoys sharing his story and networking. Every child deserves the chance to be able to learn to listen and speak and his mission is to make sure parents know they have a choice. Jonathan has been on the Board of the Georgia Chapter of AG Bell since 2018. Jonathan also serves on several state committees including Georgia Pathways, EDHI Stakeholders Committee, and the Bill 844 Advisory Committee, to improve the quality of care for deaf and hard of hearing children in the state of Georgia. Jonathan is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Brookhaven/Chamblee and also on their Board of Directors and as well as several networking associations including the Gwinnett Chamber, Dunwoody/Perimeter Chamber, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). In his free time, Jonathan enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hanging out with his family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
- President and Secretary of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter
Julia is President and Secretary of the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She is an audiologist in Connecticut and has worked in early intervention, private practice, educational, and nursing home settings. She has special interests in interprofessional collaboration and community involvement. She is past president of the HLAA Eastern CT Chapter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
Kaitlin graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Masters in Deaf Education and a Bachelor's in Sociology in 2010. She is a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing (LSLS Cert. AVEd) at Sound Start Babies Early Intervention in Mountain Lakes, NJ. Kate works with babies and toddlers, birth to three, in the home and center-based services at the Sound Start Nursery, an inclusive nursery program for toddlers with and without hearing loss.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
Kandice is a triple certified teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing. Her passion for the deaf began with her older brother who is profoundly deaf. She graduated from Converse College in 2010. She is currently pursuing her LSLS Cert. AVed and M.Ed in Educational Leadership. She has a passion for early language development, supporting parents, and creating change.
Job Titles:
- President
- Clinical Associate Professor at the Brown University Medical School
Karen Oliver is a health psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the Brown University Medical School. Her 5-year-old son has bilateral cochlear implants.
Karie is a California native. She moved here with her daughter in 1987 to enjoy the beautiful season changes that Boise and surrounding areas offer. Karie has worked in the Boise/Meridian area for almost 30 years at various medical/dental offices helping patients at the front desk or with their billing/insurance needs. Her daughter is now an adult with two young children of her own. Karie spends time with her grandchildren out of doors as much as possible and still enjoys the changing of seasons that originally brought her to this area. She thoroughly enjoys working at Strickland Ear Clinic as it affords her the opportunity to witness hearing issues being resolved in not only adults and older patients but children who might not otherwise receive aid with their hearing problems. Karie's hobbies are gardening, cooking, watching home improvement shows and spending time with her family.
Kiesha Kennedy has been in the health field for over seven years and she is presently employed as a patient account representative (PAR) at Hattiesburg Clinic. Kiesha is married and is the mother of two beautiful daughters; Karly who is seven and Kayleigh who is two. Kiesha loves serving as an advocate for families with children with hearings loss.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
- Vice President of the AG Bell Hawaii Chapter
Kimi Perez, is the Vice President of the AG Bell Hawaii Chapter. She is a speech language pathologist and LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist. She's been working with children with hearing loss for 8 years at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and children and before that she got her start at Sounds of Success Preschool. Born and raised on the island of Oahu, she left to go to college in California. After working for a few years in a different field, she felt a calling to come back to the islands and help the Keiki of Hawaii. Two years ago she became certified as Hawaii's first and only Certified Auditory Verbal therapist. "So grateful and happy to be a part of the AG Bell Hawaii chapter." - Kimi
Krissy Rule - President, Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
- Treasurer
Krissy Rule is an advocate for listening and spoken language and early intervention in the Western New York area. She has two children, one who has bilateral cochlear implants. Her son's hearing loss was finally identified at that age of three, and she struggled to find listening and spoken resources in her area. Krissy is proud to be a part of AG Bell and share all that she has learned on this journey.
Job Titles:
- Family and Professional Partnership Coordinator
- Supervisor for Babies Can'T Wait
Kristen Craig works as the Early Intervention Supervisor for Babies Can't Wait, District 2. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2017 from the University of North Georgia and then went on to attain her Master's degree in Psychology in 2020 from Arizona State University. She is currently preparing to begin her coursework for her Doctorate in Behavioral Health Management. Kristen has extensive experience in birth-to-three early intervention. Prior to becoming the Early Intervention Supervisor with Babies Can't Wait, Kristen was a special education teacher in grades K-12. She was then a special education preschool teacher at an integrated school for typical and special needs children. She has dedicated her life to serving those who need it the most. In her personal life, she has twins who just turned 9. Her daughter is typical while her son is autistic. Kristen knows the importance, both personally and professionally, of early intervention and supporting families through every milestone. She currently serves on the AG Bell board, partners with Prevent Blindness Georgia, serves as a member of the State Interagency Coordinating Council, and assists with her Local Interagency Coordinating Council. Kristen follows her passions and does everything she can to provide for the families she serves.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
- Speech - Language Pathologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Nazareth College
Kristin Bergholtz is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Nazareth College. She has worked extensively with children who are deaf/hard of hearing and their families.
Lara Monico, MCD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVT is a speech-language pathologist and Auditory-Verbal Therapist at Laskin Therapy Group. She has served children with hearing loss and their families for more than 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Speech - Language Pathologist
- Treasurer
Lauren Seale is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist, Listening and Spoken Language Specialist. She has treated children with hearing loss from birth to 8 years old at the Auditory-Verbal Center since 2013. Lauren previously earned her Master's degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia and her Bachelor's degree in English from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. As part of her graduate studies, she treated children with cochlear implants through the University of Virginia ENT Clinic according to the principles of Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) intervention. Lauren has presented on topics related to hearing loss at the national Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) conference. Lauren is passionate about helping children with hearing loss reach their full spoken language potential.
Linda Lasker, B.A. Early Childhood and Elementary Education, M.Ed. Hearing Impairment, Cert. LSLS AVEd, has been teaching children who are deaf and hard of hearing since 1978 with a concentration on the birth to three populations. She presently holds a position at the Atlanta Speech School in the Early Intervention department of the Katherine Hamm Center where she works with each family demonstrating Listening and Spoken Language techniques during family routines. Linda was the President of AG Bell Georgia from 2017-2021. She is a stakeholder for the state EHDI committee. She actively serves on the board of the Early Intervention Committee for Georgia Pathways. She also is a member of the Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton LICC, and recently co-authored two chapters on auditory verbal practice and early auditory learning.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
Lisa Jolly, M. Ed., is President of the SC Chapter. She is a Parent Education Specialist with Beginnings SC. She participated in Beginnings as a parent while living in Charlotte, NC after the birth of her second child who had complications due to congenital Cytomegalovirus. With the support of her Beginnings Parent Educator, she and her husband were empowered to make choices for her son based on facts and consideration of all options for communication. She is a passionate believer in the power of early intervention and attributes her son's successful use of spoken language to the high quality services received and family and tribes commitment to meeting his needs. She is a founding member of Hitch-Up, a social and educational support group for families of those with hearing loss. Lisa serves on the SC Council of Developmental Disabilities. She passionately educates about ability where many may see disability and firmly believes every person has a gift to use to better the world. Married to her college sweetheart, Steve, they are adjusting to the emptying of their nest and supporting their children as they pursue college and career. The Jolly's and their 2 sons, enjoy spending time visiting the mountains and beaches for family trips.
Job Titles:
- Speech - Language Pathologist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
Lynn is a speech-language pathologist, audiologist, and listening and spoken language specialist. She is the Director of the University of Miami Debbie School Auditory-Oral Education Program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
Marielle is the mother two; her son was born profoundly deaf and was bilaterally implanted at 9 months old. He's been working hard since to successfully develop listening and spoken language skills.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Membership Director
Melissa is a speech-language pathologist and audiologist who has supported families of children with hearing loss, as well as adults. She is also the wife of a bilateral cochlear implant recipient.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Social Science Researcher
Nicole (Nikki) Wanty is a social science researcher at a small, woman-owned research and communication firm that conducts rigorous research to explore complex social problems and construct powerful programs that improve the health and well-being of youth, families, and communities. Nikki oversees programs for (1) parents and teachers of children with cochlear implants entering mainstream school, (2) high school and college students with cochlear implants transitioning from high school to college, and (3) older adults with cochlear implants. In addition, Nikki manages projects on other diverse topics, including: lupus, clinical trials, drug abuse prevention, children with special healthcare needs, arthritis, and oral health.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social Media and Marketing
- Marketing Coordinator at the Auditory - Verbal Center, Inc
Samantha Downton works as the Marketing Coordinator at the Auditory-Verbal Center, Inc. and has experience in Marketing, Graphic Design, Social Media, and Event Planning. She earned her degree in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Atlanta and also attended Berry College and the University of North Georgia. Samantha is profoundly deaf and wears a cochlear implant and a hearing aid and is a graduate of the Auditory-Verbal Therapy program at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Outside of work, she volunteers with several organizations. Samantha has been a member of Kiwanis International since 2012 and is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Doraville-Tucker in the Georgia District. Samantha has been serving as the Georgia District of Kiwanis Marketing Chair/Webmaster/Social Media Chair/District Marketing and PR Competition Chair since 2016. She joined the Georgia Chapter of the AG Bell Board of Directors in 2020 as the Director of Social Media and Marketing. Samantha resides in Tucker, Georgia with her husband, Ryan; son, Cooper; daughter, Madison; and their dog, Emma.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Communications Director and Parent Liaison
Deaf from birth, Sarah has bilateral cochlear implants and grew up in Philadelphia as an AG Bell member. She is now a mom to two hard-of-hearing children with hearing aids, and is a parent advocate for those in Early Intervention.
Job Titles:
- Latino Family Coordinator
Sarah Hudgins is a Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist at the Auditory-Verbal Center where she has treated children with hearing loss from birth to 12 years old since 2021. Sarah previously earned her Master's degree in Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina where she was a part of the Auditory-Verbal/Cochlear Implant specialization track. Additionally, she was a graduate research assistant in a lab that specifically focused on language and literacy outcomes in children with hearing loss. Sarah continues to work with bilingual Spanish speaking families who attend the Auditory-Verbal Center. Sarah has also co-presented on topics related to hearing loss at the A.G. Bell Global Symposium. Sarah is passionate about helping families build their child's listening and spoken language skills.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Sponsorship & Fundraising Chair for the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter
Shea is the Sponsorship & Fundraising Chair for the Connecticut AG Bell Chapter. She is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in Aural Habilitation at the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation. She works with clients with hearing loss from early intervention all the way through high school. Her areas of interest include speech and language acquisition in children with hearing loss, educational impacts, and articulation disorders in children with hearing loss.
Sherri Nighbert is a mother of a child who is deaf and a bilateral cochlear implant user who is currently fully mainstreamed in Kindergarten in Cobb County school district. Sherri's current job as Grant Manager with the grant-funded program, Access to Language (AtL) designed by the Atlanta Speech School. This program uses a Parent Navigator, who guides families with children with hearing loss through the confusing process of inpatient hearing screening, outpatient hearing screening, diagnostic testing, and enrollment into intervention. In addition, Sherri volunteers as the Director of Financial Scholarships for The Jason Cunningham Foundation, which has raised over $300,000 in proceeds to assist children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) to receive LSL services and hearing devices. Sherri is excited about building the DHH Georgia community so no parent or child is ever left behind or feels alone.
Stephanie Farber received her Masters from Washington University in St. Louis, is a teacher of the deaf at Desert Voices Oral Learning Center, and works with a nonprofit called Ending All Roads to Silence (EARS) in India where she helps to provide education on hearing loss, listening devices, and LSL strategies to children with hearing loss and the teachers who work with them.
Job Titles:
- SLP and Auditory Verbal Therapist at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
Susan V. Schmidberger is the parent of 23-year-old Paige Arbeiter, a bilateral cochlear implant user. She is the past president of the New Jersey Chapter of AG Bell and has served as AG Bell's national chapter advisor. In 1997, she helped found a support group for families of children with hearing loss at Long Island Jewish Hospital that still meets every month. She also helps with events for the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech and HLAA's Walk4Hearing.
Tara Spencer is an Idaho native. She has previously been a licensed massage therapist and worked in physical therapy for 4 years. She is married to Mike Spencer and has 4 children, ages 18 to 12. Tara enjoys tennis, cycling and rock climbing; her favorite season is summer and she loves Indian food. She also is an interpreter for Spanish speaking patients.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Membership and Donor Relations