Tina Childress is an educational audiologist. Childress is a late-deafened adult who went from hearing to deaf over the course of 9 months. After her hearing loss 9 months later, she received her first cochlear implant (2000) and became a bilateral recipient 5 years after that. Ironically and serendipitously, Childress was already an audiologist when […]
In a world that can sometimes underestimate and overlook deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, Jim Hauck’s story stands as a testament to the power of determination and the strong human spirit. His journey began with adversity and culminated in a remarkable career of service. Hauck entered the world with single-sided deafness. Society labeled him as “mentally […]
In the world of competitive swimming, Brooke Thompson is making waves as a remarkable athlete and an inspiration for the deaf community. Thompson, while only a college freshman achieved numerous accolades as a member of the US National Team. She has become a beacon of hope for those facing similar challenges. “I was born deaf. […]
In the realm of medicine, few individuals possess the unique combination of personal experience, expertise, and compassion that defines Dr. Chad Ruffin. As an ear, nose, and throat specialist, Dr. Ruffin focuses primarily on cochlear implants and hearing restoration surgery. His profound understanding of deafness and hearing loss stems from his personal journey as a deaf […]
Dr. Danielle Rose is a pediatrician in Salisbury, North Carolina. Behind her warm smile and compassionate demeanor is a personal journey shaped by deafness and hearing loss, both of which challenged and inspired her in countless ways. Driven to overcome communication barriers and make a difference in the lives of others facing similar challenges, she […]
Safe’N’Clear is highlighting its first CODA as part of the Deaf Leader Series. Read Brad Klein’s story as a proud CODA understands first-hand the importance of inclusivity and equity… Brad’s first memory of his parents being deaf was when he was about 3 or 4 years old. His mother took Brad and a friend to […]
Dr. Renee Polanco Lucero says that her mother had one of the biggest influences on her outlook. When she was young, her mother told her, “You have three strikes against you: you have a hearing loss, you are a woman, and you are Chicana. This doesn’t mean that you cannot do what you set out […]
Dr. Andrew Donald loved math, science, and basic anatomy in elementary school. He naturally thought medicine would be a good career fit. Although, his ideas about a career path evolved once he entered a deaf school classroom. Watching his deaf teacher signing ASL, he picked up on a small but important detail. “I noticed that […]
Shari Eberts was in her mid-20s when she began noticing her hearing loss, but her journey began long before that. For years, she watched her father struggle with hearing loss. Stigmatized by his hearing loss, he did almost anything to keep his deafness a secret. Just like her dad, when she first noticed her hearing […]
We are excited to introduce Ibrahim Dabo who is a motivational speaker skilled at turning strife into courage with the purpose to influence others. Born in Sierra Leone, Dabo encountered hardships including the losses of his father and father figure and an escape from his war-torn home country as a young teenager. In 2013, Dabo […]
