2026 SERID Presenters

Keynote Presenter

Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger

Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger are deaf mountaineers, educators, storytellers. They are athletes for Mountain Hardwear, SCARPA, Smartwool and Hestra. Both were born into multigenerational deaf families and raised in the deaf community. Growing up, there was limited deaf representation in the outdoors, and they faced barriers to outdoor education due to communication challenges. It wasn’t until after college that they taught themselves how to climb mountains by studying YouTube videos and communicating with other climbers on the mountains using paper and pen.

Over the past ten years, Scott and Shayna have climbed the world’s highest peaks together. They became the first deaf Americans to summit Mount Everest and Lhotse, and in doing so, the first deaf individuals to complete a back-to-back double ascent of 8,000-meter peaks in just 26 hours. They also became the first deaf individuals in the world to summit three additional 8,000-meter peaks, Makalu, Manaslu, and Kangchenjunga, and were part of the first all deaf team to summit Denali.

Scott and Shayna launched the project Seeing Beyond: Seven Summits with the goal of becoming the first deaf individuals to complete the Seven Summits while raising awareness, improving access to information and education, increasing deaf and disabled representation, and inspiring their community to explore the outdoors.

Presenters

Cindy Camp

Cindy Camp is the Marketing & Communications Specialist with DCMP (Described and Captioned Media Program). She holds a Master’s degree in English, is a nationally certified interpreter, and C-Print captioninst and trainer. She has provided access services to students who are deaf and hard of hearing for over 35 years.

Charlene Crump

Charlene Crump is the State Coordinator for Communication Access and Training Services with the Alabama Department of Mental Health and oversees the national Mental Health Interpreter Training project. She is a nationally certified interpreter, Qualified Mental Health Interpreter-Supervisor, and holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with additional certifications in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services programming. A co-developer of the Communication Skills Assessment, Crump is a frequent presenter and published author on topics related to mental health interpreting and communication access.

JC Jerome Smith

JC Jerome Smith is a dedicated advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. He is passionate about helping people achieve their personal, educational, and employment goals while promoting greater awareness and understanding within communities. Through his work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, he encourages self-advocacy and helps create more inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.

Amanda Gerson

Amanda Gerson is the Vocational Rehabilitation Outreach Manager at Gallaudet University with more than 15 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation and disability services. Her career has included roles as a VR Counselor, Supervisor, Manager, and Statewide Coordinator for VR and Transition Services, including leadership of a DeafBlind Services Unit. Amanda works closely with students, families, VR agencies, and university partners to support educational and employment success. As a Sibling of a Deaf Adult (SODA), she brings both personal and professional insight to her advocacy for communication access, equity, and opportunities for Deaf individuals.

Miranda Beard

Miranda A. Beard is a nationally recognized speaker, author, certified executive leadership coach, and certified emotional intelligence coach. As President of B&B Consultants Inc., she provides leadership coaching, consulting, and professional development to organizations across the country. A former President of the National School Boards Association and longtime school board leader, Miranda is passionate about helping professionals build resilient teams, strengthen communication, and create thriving workplace cultures.

Dr. Kasee Straaton-Gadke

Dr. Stratton-Gadke is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Institute on Disabilities at Mississippi State University and a Professor of School Psychology. For more than 20 years, she has worked with individuals with CHARGE syndrome, their families, educators, and support teams, focusing on communication, behavior, and educational supports. She also leads the Bulldog CHARGE Syndrome Research Lab and serves on the Professional Advisory Board for the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation.

Mariann Christman

Mariann is a nationally recognized educator and educational leader with more than 20 years of experience serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. A third-generation Deaf educator, she brings expertise in Deaf education, educational leadership, and the development of the Quill Model, emphasizing connection and student success. Christman has taught at schools for the Deaf, public schools, and college programs, and regularly provides training and consultation to educators, schools, and families across the nation.

Trisha Zyrowski

Trisha is an advocate, educator, and leader in Deaf education with nearly a decade of experience as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She serves as Director of Outreach and Development for Carter Hears! and Quill Model Enterprises, leading initiatives that expand access to quality services and support for Deaf and hard of hearing students and their families. Trisha also works as an instructional coach and adjunct professor, focusing on language acquisition, evidence-based practices, and family-centered early intervention.

Kambree Chickaway

Kambree is a Personal and Vocational Adjustment Counselor (PVAC) with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Choctaw Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program. With eight years of experience in healthcare, education, and vocational rehabilitation, she is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve meaningful employment and greater independence. Kambree is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling at Jackson State University and is committed to expanding vocational and educational opportunities within Native communities.

Mary Lundy Meruvia

Mary is the Program Director for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program. She has served the tribe since 1988 and has been a longtime leader in Native American rehabilitation services through her work with CANAR. Meruvia is also an active member of state and national rehabilitation organizations and serves on the Mississippi State Rehabilitation Council.

Rylina Dey

Rylina Dey, EIPA 4.0 & WT passed, B.A.,  joined Carter Hears! as a Language Facilitator in 2022. She currently serves as a bimodal facilitator and as the Carter Hears! Director of Communications. She has a B.A. in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), she has two deaf parents and has grown up bilingual with American Sign Language as her first language. Growing up interpreting for her parents and peers when needed, she has developed the natural ability to recognize when additional support is needed for communication. This experience is a huge benefit in her role as a developmental approach is used in the role of Sign Language Facilitator and Educational Interpreter.

Holly May

Holly May lives in Columbia, SC. She is currently in private practice and doing freelance interpreting. Holly has been working as an interpreter throughout her career specializing in mental health and emergency response. She has been working as a therapist for over 25 years working primarily with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Holly holds her South Carolina License in Professional Counseling (LPC), Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPCS), North Carolina License in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (LCMHC), License in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Qualified Supervisor (LCMHC-QS), Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CCHt), National Interpreting Certification (NIC) as well as is a Qualified Mental Health Interpreter (QMHI).

Aileen Pagán Welch

Aileen Pagán Welch was born in the Bronx with family roots in Utuado, Puerto Rico, and identified as Deaf in early childhood. She is trilingual in English, Spanish, and ASL. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communications and Human Resource Development from RIT, and later completed a Master’s in Counseling and Rehabilitation at the University of South Carolina. Aileen previously served as the Regional Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf with SC Vocational Rehabilitation and is now a National Board Certified Counselor and LPC A practicing at All Access Counseling in Columbia. She is active in community leadership, serving on the Beginnings SC board and participating in several professional organizations supporting Deaf and counseling communities.

Nicky Gillies

Nicky Gillies is the Project Director for the Louisiana DeafBlind Project, housed at LSU Health’s Human Development Center, and a certified American Sign Language interpreter. She has been fortunate to work with Louisiana’s DeafBlind community in a variety of roles since her career began in 2009.

Roger C. Williams

Roger is the owner of Hands On Interpreting, LLC, providing consulting and training focused on Deaf mental health services. A retired Executive Director of the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center, he has decades of experience in mental health, interpreting, and advocacy. He is a nationally recognized presenter, co-developer of the Communication Skills Assessment, and an award-winning leader in Deaf services who remains active in advocacy and professional organizations.

Shonna Magee

Shonna holds degrees in Interpreting and Rehabilitation Counseling and has more than 29 years of experience in sign language interpreting and Deaf services. She developed the Deaf Services program for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and helped establish interpreting policies for emergency management across the state. Throughout her career, she has taught interpreter education and emergency management at the college level. Ms. Magee served as Vice President and President of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) from 2024–2025 and has been a keynote speaker at numerous regional and national conferences. She currently serves as Director of Operations for SIGNature Access Solutions LLC and SIGNature CEUs LLC.

Dr. Caroline Solomon

Dr. Caroline M. Solomon is the first woman to lead the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), serving as president and overseeing its strategic, academic, financial, and external affairs. A renowned scientist and educator, she has dedicated her career to supporting Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in STEM and previously served as a professor and dean at Gallaudet University. Solomon holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Washington, and the University of Maryland and has presented her research nationally and internationally. She is also a former Deaflympics swimmer and was inducted into the Deaflympics Hall of Fame in 2020.

Todd Czubeck

Todd Czubek, is a Senior Lecturer in the Deaf Education program at Boston University where he is the director of bilingual education and school partnerships. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Boston University and brings over 15 years of classroom experience to his work as a teacher educator and researcher. Internationally recognized as an expert in ASL/English bilingual education, Dr. Czubek has led numerous initiatives aimed at improving teaching strategies, applied literacy in ASL and English, and educational outcomes for Deaf students. He is the co-author of the Bilingual Grammar Curriculum and one of the nation’s leading trainers in bilingual pedagogy. His work focuses on school reform, bilingual program development, and the role of visual modality in rethinking literacy, composition, and genre for Deaf children.

Ashley Benton

Ashley Benton, is an advocate with more than 25 years of experience serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities. She serves as Director of Field Services for the Helen Keller National Center and has extensive experience in mental health, state government, and DeafBlind services. Benton holds an MSW with a Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind specialty from East Carolina University and has served in several state and national leadership and advocacy roles.

David Volper

David Volper serves as a Regional Representative with the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), where he has worked since 2019. He has more than a decade of experience in vocational rehabilitation and services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals, including previous work as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Florida. Volper holds a bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Kentucky.

Adam Garfinkel

Adam Garfinkel, is a Deaf educator, educational leader, and transition specialist with more than 20 years of experience supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. His work focuses on self-advocacy, career readiness, independent living, and successful postsecondary transitions. Adam is passionate about evidence-based practices and collaboration among educators, families, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and community partners.

Erin Salmon

Erin Salmon is a Regional Interpreter with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. A nationally certified interpreter for more than 15 years, she has spent the past decade specializing in mental health and is a Qualified Mental Health Interpreter–Supervisor. Erin is passionate about improving communication access for Deaf individuals, particularly in behavioral health and developmental disability settings.

Kelly Spell

Kelly Spell is a Certified Qualified Mental Health Interpreter with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Since joining DBHDD in 2022, she has provided communication access for Deaf individuals in behavioral health and developmental disability settings. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ASL/English Interpreting and two RID national certifications: NIC and Ed: K-12.

Jasmine Lowe

Jasmine Lowe is an ASL Regional Interpreter with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. She is a nationally certified interpreter (NIC) and Qualified Mental Health Interpreter–Supervisor (QMHI-S) with experience in both education and behavioral health. Jasmine is committed to expanding communication access and creating more inclusive services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.

Charity Reedy Warigon

Charity Reedy Warigon has more than 35 years of leadership experience in Deaf education, transition services, higher education, and workforce development. She has worked with thousands of schools, Vocational Rehabilitation agencies, and community partners to improve transition planning and employment outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. She currently serves as Superintendent of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind and is the founder of 360 Degree Academy, which developed a federally aligned Pre-Employment Transition Services curriculum used nationwide.

Dawn Sonntag

Dawn Sonntag is the CEO of Caption Consulting, an accessibility agency supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard-of-Hearing, and auditory processing disorder communities. With more than 10 years of experience in communication access, she leads a nationwide network of over 400 service providers offering CART, TypeWell, ASL interpreting, and related services. Dawn is a national speaker on accessibility, technology, advocacy, and inclusion and serves on the NCRA CART Captioning Committee.

Dr. Wyatte Hall

Dr. Wyatte Hall is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the University of Rochester. He directs the Visual Language Access and Acquisition Lab which focuses on the relationship between early childhood language experiences and quality of life outcomes across the lifespan in deaf populations. He also directs the Language Deprivation track of the Deaf Child Resilience Center at Gallaudet University. Dr. Hall also co-directs the Future Deaf Scientists program, a national STEM internship experience for deaf high school students.

Marilyn Trader

Marilyn Trader, MSW, is the Regional Services Coordinator for the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), supporting Kentucky, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee. She has extensive experience serving individuals who are DeafBlind, Deaf, and hard of hearing through vocational rehabilitation, mental health, and advocacy. Marilyn collaborates with state agencies, community organizations, and educational partners to strengthen services and expand employment, training, and support opportunities for individuals who are DeafBlind. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Social Work from Gallaudet University.

Kelly Sterling

Kelly serves as Director of the Office of Deaf Services within the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. He has extensive experience supporting the Deaf community through behavioral health, clinical social work, and residential schools for the Deaf. Kelly holds a BSW from Evangel University and an MSW from Appalachian State University and is a licensed clinical social worker in Georgia and North Carolina. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) who grew up using American Sign Language, he brings a strong understanding of Deaf culture and is committed to expanding access to quality services across Georgia.

Dara Baril

Dara E. Baril, M.A., serves as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program Lead with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. With more than 23 years of experience, she has held leadership roles in Deaf Services across Ohio, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. Her expertise includes Deaf mental health, crisis intervention, clinical supervision, and statewide service coordination. She earned her master’s degree in School Counseling and Guidance from Gallaudet University.

Laura Robison

Laura Robison is the Program Specialist for Deafness and Communicative Disorders with North Carolina’s Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD). With more than 26 years at EIPD, she has served in several counseling and leadership roles supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. In her current position, she supports staff serving communities across all 100 North Carolina counties. Laura holds a BS in Psychology and an MS in Education with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Counseling for the Deaf from Western Oregon University.

Candice Tate

Candice M. Tate, Ph.D., HSP-P, is a licensed psychologist and Program Director of Deaf Services at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, North Carolina. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina School for the Deaf and operates a telehealth clinical practice. With more than 20 years of experience in behavioral health, Dr. Tate specializes in improving mental health services, policy, and workforce capacity for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals. Fluent in American Sign Language, she is committed to advancing culturally and linguistically accessible care.