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Contributors
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Gayla Guignard MA, CCC-A/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
Gayla Guignard, M.A., CCC-A/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT has served as AG Bell’s Chief Strategy & Programs Officer since September, 2015. Gayla has worked as a direct service provider, clinical audiology and speech-language pathology supervisor, State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator, and as the inaugural director of Indiana’s Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education (CDHHE). She has served in numerous leadership roles on national committees and work groups and has presented on Listening and Spoken Language and related topics internationally. Gayla’s current work is focused on bringing knowledge forward about listening and spoken language and related areas for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is deeply interested in systems that serve families and individuals and seeks to be involved in systems change as a way to realize potential and improve outcomes for all individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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Ken Levinson
Ken H. Levinson, LOFT Co-creator and Lead Counselor Ken is a CPA and President of Kornetsky, Levinson & Company, CPA's in San Francisco. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of The Children’s Hearing Institute in New York and a partner in another CPA practice in Los Angeles. Ken is a past Chair of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and is currently Chair Elect for a second stint as Chair. He has current and past service on boards of many other organizations. He received the Honors of the Association from AG Bell at the 2006 Biennial Convention in Pittsburgh. His involvements have brought him recognition among his peers as Distinguished Alumni of his high school and as the Public Service Award recipient for the California Society of CPAs. Together with the late Donna Dickman, Ken co-created the LOFT program which debuted in 1996 at AG Bell’s Biennial Convention in Snowbird, Utah. One of his favorite board involvements was as past President of the Board of the San Francisco Circus Center. Ken’s interest in the circus stemmed from his taking a clown class at the Clown Conservatory. Ken’s email address: kenhlevinson@gmail.com
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Catharine McNally
Catharine McNally is the Accessibility Lead at Phase2 Technology. She is a dedicated advocate for using technology to bridge the accessibility divide – constantly adding new uses for accessibility. Her influential work has been recognized through national leadership awards, honors, and national publications. She lost her hearing at eight months old, has used Cued Speech and Listening and Spoken Language since she was eighteen months old and received her first cochlear implant at the age of three. She is the Immediate-Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Catharine’s email address: catharine.mcnally@gmail.com
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Danielle (Dani) Paquin
Danielle is a certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist and Teacher of the Deaf at New England Center for Hearing and Rehabilitation in Hampton, Connecticut. After graduating from Roger Williams University with a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology and a minor in Biology, she went to Smith College for a Masters in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. A native of Connecticut and UCONN Husky/Red Sox fan, Danielle moved to Texas to teach. She taught for 12 years at Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children, teaching Pre-Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. In 2015, she and her family moved back home to Connecticut. Danielle joined AG Bell/DHHS in 1999 and since then has participated in AGBell LOFT as a facilitator for many years. Additionally she has also served on the 2010 Convention Planning Committee, Preschool-Age Financial Aid Scholarship Committee, LEAP Focus Group, and the DHHS board as a Member-at-Large and Advisor to the College Leadership Committee. She is bilaterally implanted and learned Cued Speech while in college. Danielle is currently serving on the National Cued Speech Association (NCSA) board as a co-regional representative, is on the board as a secretary for the Cued Speech Association of New England (CSANE) and is a member of the planning committee for Cue Camp New England, a virtual Cue Camp attended by participants nationwide. Danielle loves to travel and explore the outdoors with her partner Tammy and 9 year old son Oliver. She has completed triathlons, century rides and marathons having raised more than $16,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through her participation in their Team-in-Training fundraising events. Danielle enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, attending her son's sporting events, hanging out at the pool and relaxing by a fire in her backyard surrounded by family, her two pups Tank and Abbott and chickens. Danielle’s email is: danielle_joy@sbcglobal.net
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Ben Case
Ben is a public health professional researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Population Health Institute. He was identified with hearing loss at age 2 as a result of Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome with a profound loss in the left ear, and a severe to profound loss in the right ear, in which he wears a hearing aid. He received his Bachelor's degree in History with a minor in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan, where he also was heavily involved in hearing science research and academic research on disability in medical education. He received his Master's of Public Health from George Washington University, and has worked in global health in Central America, hearing science research at Stanford University, healthcare in Milwaukee, and now population health in Madison, Wisconsin. Ben has been involved with AG Bell since he was diagnosed, including participating in LOFT in 2008, and continues to be involved in the disabilities community in a variety of ways. In his free time, Ben enjoys traveling, reading, outdoor sports, and walking his dog, Winter.
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Hailey Walker
Hailey is the Accessibility Coordinator at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where she provides academic accommodations to students with disabilities. She is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Hailey received both her Bachelor's in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies with a minor in Studio Art and a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling from Assumption College. While at Assumption, she completed an honor thesis on Film Portrayals of People with Disabilities Post 2000 and was a strong advocate for people with disabilities by being the President of the Assumption Disability Awareness Promotion Team.
Hailey was born profoundly deaf in both ears and utilizes Cochlear Implants. She was the first child in Rhode Island to receive a Cochlear implant and was one of the first to have the surgery performed at Boston's Children's Hospital. She attended the LOFT session in 2011 and she was a Bridesmaid for a fellow LOFTee!
A true artist at heart, Hailey has had several art pieces displayed at galleries. Several of her art pieces explored her deaf identity. She also helped her college art professor paint a mural in downtown Worcester, Mass! It is Hailey's aspiration to continue to travel and see art all over the world. Some places she has been are England, Italy, Greece, and Ireland. She is looking forward to visiting Hawaii later this year for her honeymoon.
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Lesley Miller
Lesley is a native Texan currently living in Austin and working as a therapist treating individuals with mood, anxiety, and trauma disorders. Lesley's hearing loss was diagnosed when she was a toddler, and she wore hearing aids until receiving a CI at age 12. She has always been passionate about connecting with and advocating for other individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Lesley was part of the LOFT class of 2011, and this is her third time as a LOFT counselor. She is very excited to be back! Lesley is looking forward to post-pandemic life when she can return to spending time with family and friends and exploring local coffee shops. In the meantime, Lesley enjoys her days watching cheesy shows on Netflix, baking, and playing with her silly and loveable dog, Mia.
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Lindsey Wheeler
My name is Lindsey Wheeler - I am a LOFTee Alum and a pediatric audiologist. I live in Nashville, TN. I enjoy hiking and spending time with my family and dog.
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Matt Browne
After graduating from UC San Diego with a Bioengineering degree and spending a few years in the biotech industry, Matt has since settled in eastern Tennessee with his wife of 16 years and their two children (going on ages 7 and 5). He is currently a Solutions Architect for Sensus, a company that specializes in Smart Grid technology. He was born with severe-to-profound sensory bi-neural hearing loss, wearing hearing aids up until he opted for his cochlear implant at age 16. A glutton for punishment and sometimes too stubborn to ask for assistance, Matt has a tendency to challenge himself with the most difficult hearing situations possible - often spending upwards of 3 hours on the phone at work every day, listening to radio broadcasts and podcasts on a daily basis, being a member of the marching and jazz bands in high school, and discussing what's for dinner with his wife from three rooms away. He was an inaugural member of LOFT in 1996, has spoken on several panels at AG Bell conferences, and has served on the AG Bell scholarship committee. An expert in knee and hip pain, Matt can often be found hiking, running, lifting weights, playing soccer, and exploring the world on foot. During down times, he is a photographer, student of the culinary arts, tech geek, "glamper", and loyalist to the Angels baseball team.
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Rachel Reiner
After graduating from Sonoma State University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in Biology, she volunteered at the California Wildlife Center. During the opportunity she worked closely with the veterinarian staff gaining experience in animal care and rehabilitation. She is currently working as a veterinary assistant at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital with animals for 5 years. Rachel's interests include traveling all over the world to meet new people and learn new cultures. She loves to explore the outdoors with her Husky/Great Pyrenees dog, Auggie, and enjoys hiking and backpacking in Central California mountains.
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Ceil Weatherman
Purpose: To radiate possibility through exceptional service and loving support.
Ceil is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach & Employee Engagement Champion with 35+ years non-profit leadership experience. She consults with individuals, families, teams and all types of organizations. Using proven methods, she helps stakeholders understand and unleash potential that fosters collaboration and propels excellence.
Ceil has experience working with leaders of all ages. She understands the challenges presented by remote working, organizational realignment and job elimination due to downsizing. She has navigated all three successfully by investing in and leveraging her strengths.
Connect@CeilWeathermanConsulting.com
919.601.5161
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Tina Childress
Tina Childress, Au.D., CCC-A is an educational audiologist in the mainstream and residential school settings. Dr. Childress is also an award-winning presenter, adjunct lecturer and mentor for children and adults, and is active on various local, state and national Boards and Committees as well as social media. As a late-deafened adult with bilateral cochlear implants who is fluent in ASL, her areas of expertise include (hearing) assistive technology, accessibility (especially in the performing arts), apps and psychosocial adjustment to hearing loss. She loves a challenge and can often be found in various rabbit holes, especially when it comes to technology.
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Julie Schulte, MA
Julie Schulte, MA is AG Bell's Teen Programs Coordinator. Julie is an audiologist by training and has a sister who is deaf. She has experience in working with children of all ages and their families as a direct service provider. In addition, Julie has been involved in system’s development in her past role as a State EHDI Coordinator.