Shelley Oishi

• Third generation Japanese-Canadian hailing from Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. Currently resides in Austin, Texas.
• Grew up mainstreamed; obtained Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology and Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling for the Deaf from Western Oregon University.
• Lead a team of nine account managers, serving four states, as Regional Director for Purple Communications and ZVRS. The current president of Discovering Deaf Worlds.
• Proud mom of three CODA children, Kailea, Akira, and Mariko.

Learn more about Discovering Deaf Worlds

Amelia Hamilton

• A proud Texas School for the Deaf alumna (2014) and Rochester Institute of Technology (2020) Visual Media and Communications major.
• Currently, Project Manager at Communication Services for the Deaf supporting deaf small business owners and freelancers.
  
• An avid traveler & passionate lifestyle photographer for 7+ years. Visited Panama, India, Guatemala, Korea, Spain, and many places in the United States.
• Loves hiking, cooking new recipes, crafting, spending time with loved ones, and creating with other deaf artists.

Explore Amelia's Lifestyle Photography Work

• Born deaf to hearing parents in Waco, TX, learned first word "turtle" in ASL at age 18 months. Family learned how to sign so we could communicate.
• Worked as an art director at an educational publishing company in San Antonio, TX for 14 years before becoming an independent designer & a small business owner of "Sweet Turtle Boutique" in 2018, an online shop with products designed by me. 
  
• Resides in New Braunfels, TX with deaf husband of 24 years and a 17-year-old CODA daughter, plus 5 fur-babies (2 blind cats, 1 deaf cat, 2 dogs).
• Hosts monthly New Braunfels ASL Social with an average of 80-100 attendees. 

Kari explaining about the ASL Nutritional Facts shirt design      

• Born and raised in Bronx, New York with a proud heritage of Puerto Rican roots from San Juan and Ponce.
• Business owner of JazMaria Boutique since 2014.
• Served as an advocate for SAFE Alliance (Austin, TX) since 2019.
• Passionate about uplifting others and connecting with people in a positive way.

Please see my Linkedin Profile

• Singleton, is the third of six generations of Deaf Singletons, which include a few who are currently students or staff members at Texas School for the Deaf.
• A longtime graphic arts teacher in Oregon and California, he was California Deaf Teacher of the Year in 1985.
  
• Co-founder of Camp Taloali in Stayton, Oregon where Youth Leadership Camp is held for students who are deaf and hard of hearing.
• Singleton is an active leader involved in several Deaf organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf.

Meet Buddy and his wife, Bernice, of 65 years        

• Born in North Carolina, Myers lost his hearing due to spinal meningitis at age 8. He is a Gallaudet University graduate ('61) with a master's degree from California State University - Northridge ('69).
• In the 1960s, he was involved in space research with NASA which focused on the prevention of motion sickness and human survival in space.
• With 47 years in rehabilitation and community services, Myers was executive director at the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and director for the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services at Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.
• Myers has also served on a number of boards, including the National Association of the Deaf.

Learn more about Xploration Outer Space

• An abstract illustrator who resides in Austin, Texas.
• Born in Manila, Philippines. She graduated from National Institute for the Deaf with an Associate Degree in Art and Computer Design in 2002.
• Known for her Sakura Pigma Micro pen illustrations and incorporating the sign for the number nine in her work. See if you can find them!
• She draws every day and sells her mesmerizing work!

Visit Jennifer's Website

• Transplanted from Rochester, NY to Humble, Texas. Graduated from Texas School for the Deaf in 2018.
• An advertising and public relations student attending RIT, and anticipates to graduate Spring 2023!
  
• Currently a member of Deaf Austin Theatre. He wrote a short play which was recently showcased.
• Enjoys playing soccer as a right defender.
  
  

View Tarqiue's portfolio            

• Houston, Texas native; fifth generation Deaf family.
• Texas School for the Deaf graduate - Class of 2008.
  
• Known for his creative and innovative persona pushing new ASL performance boundaries and art.
  
• Narrator, National Deaf Center's DeafVerse - the first and only ASL-accessible video game.
• Super Mario Kart story earned him the Fan Favorite Award at the 2017 ASL Elements national ASL competition!
  
  

Visit Visual Vernacular             

• Alumnus, Texas School for the Deaf - Class of 2017.
• Full-time student at the University of Texas - Austin, majoring in Bilingual Pre-K to 6th grade Education with a specialization in Literacy.
• Intern, 2019, Orlando Florida: Spring Advantage Disney College Program; worked as Park Greeter and Parade Audience Control cast member.
  
  
• Avid traveler; has visited four of the seven continents!

Please see my LinkedIn Profile

• My brother and I come from a large proud Mexican-American family.
  
• I graduated from a local public school in Corpus Christi, Texas.
  
• Holds a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with Emphasis in Early Childhood Education and a Master's degree in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.
  
• Taught at Texas School for the Deaf for six years. Currently teaching ASL at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas.
• Enjoy daily lunch with a TSD graduate, from the class of 1944!

Teaching ASL to Spanish Speaking Families              

• My sister and I were both born Deaf, and there are three Deaf siblings in our family of eight children.
• Alumni of TSD, Class of 1994.
• Activist, Advocate, and Deaf Interpreter (DI) for Deaf and Hard of Hearing community for over 20 years.
• Enjoys writing and reading poems.
• Married for 19 years to a Deaf Canadian woman; we have two boys.

A poem written by Jaime

• Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Proud heritage of Afro-Caribbean roots hailing from Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago.
  
• Oversees the Training and Education department at the Texas Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services based in Austin, under the Health and Human Services Commission.
  
• After mainstreaming all the way through high school and learning ASL at age 14, she received her undergraduate degree from RIT/NTID and graduate degree from Gallaudet University in Developmental Psychology and Psy.S in School Psychology.
  
• She enjoys reading, yoga, travel, cooking new recipes, and dog walking!
  

Signed the song "Here Right Now" by Rhea for Deaf Awareness Month 2019

• Andrés Otalora, commonly known as Flash, is a native New Yorker with a Colombian heritage.
  
• While studying graphic design at Gallaudet University, he took a course on film and literature which opened his eyes and inspired him to become a filmmaker.
  
• Since then, like all humble beginnings, he began shooting weddings and getting involved in theater, which then evolved to becoming Director of Photography, Director, and Editor for films.
  
• He interprets each cinematic shot as a blank canvas to be painted. His love for filmmaking is only growing as he continues to make it his life’s art.
  
  One of the best film he produced: "In the Can"

• Born Deaf and learned ASL at two years old.
  
• Hold Bachelor's degree in Consulting and Change Management from the University of Texas and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Houston Law Center.
  
• The first Deaf, Pakistani-American, female attorney in the country and licensed in the state of Texas.
  
• Inspired by "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" - Walter Bagehot.
  
  

Please see my LinkedIn profile

• Grew up hard of hearing and became late deafened later in life. Attended aural schools.
  
• Inaugurated Deaf Rehabilitation program at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) legacy institution where he is now the Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs at UTRGV Division of Health Affairs.
  
• Served on gubernatorial appointments related to people with disabilities since 2011, currently serves on TSD Governing Board.
  
• Inspired by "We will be forever known by the tracks we leave" - Dakota.
  
  

UTRGV offers ASL as a major now

• We have a younger sister who is hearing and an interpeter at Convo.
  
• Aaron and I are 9th generation twins in our family! Guess what? We have switched classes before!
  
• I work as teacher assistant at Texas School for the Deaf (elementary) and recently became assistant coach for High School Track and Field. I participated in Pan American Deaf Track and Field twice when I was younger.
  
• When I started at TSD the students were at awe of me because I was the only male person of color (POC) working at elementary department.
  
  

Texas School for the Deaf

• My twin brother, Wesley, and I were born at Fort Hood (military base) where our hearing loss was detected at an early age. Our father served in the Army.
  
• Wesley and I graduated from Texas School for the Deaf. We enrolled at 4th grade.
  
• I work as solar installer with Axium Solar installing solar panels at solar farms and roofs. I am truly proud of what I do, and having started a family!
• Often when I share with hearing people about my job they find it hard to believe that I work in solar energy!
  
  

Axium Solar: Why we hire deaf employees

• Deaf since age two after contracting spinal meningitis.
• Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Georgia Chapter, in 2007 recognizing his accomplishments, including a stint at Northwestern University (1992-1996) and two Deaflympic gold medals (1997, 2001).
  
• Works as a software engineer on the Accessibility Technology & Innovation team at IBM Design Program Office in Austin, Texas.
• Enjoys volunteering at Texas School for the Deaf, including helping out with activities that promotes STEM principles, wrestling team and serving on the TSD Foundation Board.
  
  

IBM Accessibility Research

• Born deafblind due to CHARGE syndrome, was a mainstreamed student of Plano RDSPD and graduated as AP Scholar.
• Attends the University of Texas at Austin, dual majoring in Psychology and Human Dimensions of Organization.
  
• Served as Disability and Inclusion Agency Director (2018) and Academic Policy Director (2019) in the UT Student Government.
• Passionate about leadership, accessibility, and advocacy, is the president of National Disability Rights Organization, Deafblind Citizens in Action and a member of the FCC Disability Advisory Committee.
  
  

Learn about Deafblind Citizens in Action

• Karlie was born deaf and raised in Austin, Texas by wonderful and supportive parents.
  
• Was mainstreamed in a public school that has oral and signing program at Round Rock ISD.
  
• Completed her dream attending Texas State University to study Family and Child Development (class of 2017) and becoming Deaf Education teacher at the same elementary school she attended!
  
• Started a non-profit organization in 2011 called Run to Hear and received the Kelly Davison Youth Philantrophy Award.
  
  

Run to Hear

• Kody was born deaf.
• Attended Tarleton State University for B.S. in Environmental Engineering and University of Texas in Arlington for M.Eng in Water Resource Engineering.
• Currently employed with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department.
• Is involved with Texas School for the Deaf-sponsored Discovery Leadership for STEM topics with high school students.
  
  

Learn more about Austin Watershed Protection

• Comes from a second-generation Deaf family whose parents immigrated from Ghana, West Africa and is a twin herself.
• Obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Engineering from RIT and is currently employed by Texas Instruments.
• MA degree focused on developing a device that recognizes ASL fingerspelling using machine learning/artificial intelligence.
• Enjoys giving back to the Deaf community by presenting, doing researches, or participating on panels on various topics.

Meet Jo and her twin sister!

• Discovering Deaf community, at age 17, was the best thing that happened to her socially, emotionally and professionally.
• As a mother, she immersed in language acquisition of young children, wanting her son to be able to communicate bilingually.
• Her son (CODA) uses both ASL and English to communicate the most abstract and complex thoughts. Hard work, but worth it!
• As Executive Director of the Deaf Action Center, she mentors other d/Deaf individuals to find their sense of self-worth & talents.
  
  

Deaf Community Wants to Dialogue

• Had chickenpox as infant, might caused deafness. Raised in a hearing, supportive and loving family who believes in him!
• Born in Mexico, learned Spanish & Mexican Sign Language. Learned English and ASL when moved to Texas.
• Loudest and proudest member of the Fighting’ Texas Aggie Class of 2017. Whoop!
• Work as a Civil Engineer in Training (E.I.T.) at Gessner Engineering, LLC working towards Professional Engineer license.
  
  

Featured In Cy Ridge High School

• Profound, sensorineural bilateral hearing loss since age 3, cause unknown.
• Raised using spoken language and speech-reading wearing bilateral hearing aids. Bilateral cochlear implants in 2003 & 2005.
• Internationally-certified accessibility professional working for a major assessment company’s accessibility group.
• Currently a first-year Ph.D. student at Texas Tech University, studying Technical Communication & Rhetoric.
  
  

Texas Tech Provides Web Accessibility

• Born Deaf to a Deaf family in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
• His father, Ben, founded Communication Service for the Deaf. Chris became CEO of CSD 5 years ago.
• Today, leads 1000 employees at CSD, the largest Deaf-led nonprofit in the world serving Deaf people.
• Passionate about cultivating opportunities, and embracing Deaf people as an important part of human diversity.

Forbes: CSD Serving Deaf Community

• Achieved her dream since 5 years old: first Deaf female police officer in Texas sworn in.
• Received cochlear implant at age 5, and underwent extensive speech therapy while mainstreamed with interpreters and CART.
• Lives by the motto: "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam" which means "I will either find a way or make one".
• Mother to a beautiful little girl and two furry dogs.

Dalhart Police Department Hires Deaf Officer

• Late identified (age 5) with a progressive hearing loss, after her sister did not pass the newborn hearing screening.
• Raised with the Hands & Voices motto, “What works for your child is what makes the choice right”.
• Currently a second-year audiology student at the University of Texas at Dallas and loving every second of it!
• Passionate about researching the quality of assistive listening devices and best practices for hearing protection.

Meet Lydia Berger

• Born deaf with severe sensorineural hearing loss.
• Lip reading without hearing assistance through formative school years.
• Worked as registered nurse in ICU/ER before going to Medical School at Creighton University.
• Currently a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician.

Deaf Doctor Pens Memoir

• Born deaf due to hereditary factors and raised in a large signing Deaf family.
  
• The creator and founder of "The Daily Moth," an online news show in ASL for the Deaf community.
• Attended Gallaudet University and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper, the Buff and Blue.
• Married for 8 years to a Canadian woman, we had a new baby girl in 2016.

The Daily Moth

• Deaf since infancy but with Mom's encouragement and Dad's inspiration, faced all challenges with optimism and success.
• Enjoys the blessings of faith in God, a wife, sons, and good work so life is good.
• Followed in his Dad's footsteps and is a police officer currently working for Tarleton State University.
  
• Has two mottos. Be determined, dedicated and commited. And be fair, firm and consistent.

WFAA ABC

• Is a proud hybrid of Washingtonian and South Californian.
  
• A true believer in helping dreams come true and a co-owner of Pepperbox Coffee.
• Consider Jesus his foundation of life.
• Married to a Costa Rican woman and enjoys His blessings with her.

Pepperbox Coffee