Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) is pleased to announce that Kimberly Minard has been hired as a deaf specialist as the organization expands the team. In her role, Minard will provide services such as community development and outreach and education to deaf individuals, so that they can become empowered as self-advocates. She will also provide consultancy, advocacy, and consumer education on issues of public health, public safety, and equal access.

ACDHH serves as a statewide information referral center for issues related to people with hearing loss and aspires to be a national leader in communication access, support services, and community empowerment throughout the state.

Previously at The Valley Center for the Deaf for 15 years, Minard graduated from Gallaudet University with a Communication Arts degree in 1991 and serves on the board for The Phoenix Deaf Women Organization and Deaf Women United.

In addition, the Commission has also promoted two individuals in response to the growing need for education and engagement within the Arizonan public community.

Beca Bailey has been promoted to Community Engagement Liaison.  An experienced deaf specialist, her primary responsibilities in her new role include providing outreach, research, and advocacy to the wider Arizonan community and to legislature to support the leadership team in providing for the needs of persons who are hard-of-hearing, deaf, deaf-blind, or who have speech difficulties.

Bailey graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BSc in Social Work in 1996 and holds an Arizona General Deaf Interpreter license.  A deaf person herself, she understands the challenges the deaf face on an everyday basis and continues to be an advocate for equal access and the improvement of services for populations impacted by communication barriers.

Michele Michaels, BA, CPM, has been promoted to hearing healthcare program manager. A passionate advocate for persons with hearing loss, her key responsibilities include providing program management, research and analysis, outreach and education, training, resources, client empowerment, and information and referral to over 1 million hard-of-hearing Arizonans. Michaels has been with the ACDHH since 2007.

Michaels began working in the field of hearing loss 24 years ago after a 12-year career in broadcasting. A hard-of-hearing person herself, she graduated from Arizona State University in 2000, and holds a position on the Speech and Hearing Professionals Advisory Committee at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is a frequent national and local speaker on topics related to the hard-of-hearing community.

“We’re thrilled to be able to grow such a passionate team in an area that is breaking new ground educating and improving technology and quality of life for deaf and hard-of-hearing Arizonans,” said Carmen Green, ACDHH’s deputy director. “With Kimberly’s expertise, and Beca and Michele’s credentials and background, together we will continue to help further the Commission’s goal of improving public awareness of deaf equality, people, and culture.”

Source: ACDHH

Image: ACDHH