Welcome to the NKFC Workshops site! We hope that you will join us at at our first-ever annual conference!
Here's a sneak preview of what NKFC has been working on to provide a variety of topics to be covered during the workshops ...
The topics that are currently scheduled to be shared are but subject to change: ~ Language, Culture & Identity ~ Family Communication & Dynamics ~ Education & Home-School Partnership ~ Community Relationships ~ Child, Youth & Adolescent Development ~ Public Policy, Acess & Advocacy ~ Family Financial Planning ~ Program/Organizational Models & Best Practices
Click here to open the NKFC Keynote and Feature of Speakers and their workshops information.
Keynote Speaker: Lisa E. Flynn - Brinks
Lisa E. Flynn-Brinks
Lisa E. Flynn-Brinks is the founder of CM7’s KODA Camp. She
is currently the Foundation Director. In 1996, she was the Registrar/Bookkeeper,
and became Executive Director from 1997 to 2001. She served on the
Mark Seven Deaf Foundation (M7DF) Board of Directors from 1993 to 1997, and
2000 to 2007. In 2007, she chaired CM7’s 25th and KODA Camp’s 10th Anniversary
Reunions.
Lisa is proud of her four grown children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
and two grandchildren. Her youngest daughter was one of the sixteen campers
during KODA Camp’s first year. Lisa is an Assistant Principal at the Maryland School for the Deaf, and continues to
work on her doctoral dissertation in Special Education Administration. During
her spare time, Lisa likes to spend time with her family, reads, and enjoys
diverse outdoor activities. She resides in Frederick, Maryland
with her husband, Dr. Andrew Brinks, their pooch Spice, and cat Lucky.
Keynote Speaker: Krista Leitch Walker
Krista Leitch Walker
Krista is a coda
from a multigenerational Deaf family, and as a result, has always lived a
bilingual-bicultural life. She has a strong, personal interest in
promoting Deaf parents' rights and involvement in their hearing
children's
education. Recently, she conducted a
research
study on the subject in Ireland
as part of a Fulbright scholarship.
Krista is very excited and honored to be a part of the 2010 NKFC Conference, and hopes that the conference will provide a much-needed forum
for
the exchange of research, ideas, and best practices for improving the
quality
of life for Deaf parents and their hearing children.
Krista and her husband, Steve, are the parents of three (Deaf and
coda) adult children: Joshua, Stephanie and Kris. The family enjoys
travel,
long walks with their dogs, playing crazy games, and debating a myriad
of
topics. Krista is currently studying for a Ph.D. in educational
administration at Gallaudet University and works
as the director of the Center for Professional & Organizational
Development
at Montgomery
College
in Maryland.
Koda Bilingual Language Development; Experiences and Research
(panel workshop)
Deborah Chen Pichler: Holds Ph.D. in Linguistics is an Associate
Professor and Chair of the Department of Linguistics at Gallaudet University.
Her research focuses on first and second language acquisition of ASL, including
bilingual acquisition by codas.
Ronice Muller de Quadros: Holds PhD in Linguistics is Professor of Linguistics
at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Her research focuses mainly on syntax
and language acquisition in Brazilian Sign Language. Diane Lillo-Martin:
Holds PhD in Linguistics is Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of
Linguistics at the University
of Connecticut. Her
research focuses on the structure and acquisition of American Sign Language.
Helen Koulidobrova: Holds PhD Candidate from University of Connecticut,
Department of Linguistics.
The Birth of an Organization, KODA West and Understanding your Teen Koda
Lauren Maucere: Co-founder and co-director of KODA West. A graduate from California State University,
Northridge with a BS in Environmental and Occupational Health. She is
currently obtaining her teaching credentials to work with deaf children.
Lauren is serving on the board of Our Community, a non-profit organization
serving Burbank’s
deaf and hard of hearing and KODA children and their families. Lauren is a deaf
mom to two hearing children Daniela (8) and Gianni (5).
Lisa Chahayed: Co-founder and co-director of KODA West. Lisa was born and
raised in Michigan,
in an oral program and learned ASL as a student at RIT/NTID where she
graduated. Lisa began acting and dancing. Eventually she moved to Los Angeles, California
where she founded and directed the dance troupe, Prism West. Lisa taught ASL
and coordinated the TRIPOD Family Sign Program for ten years. She currently is
teaching ASL at Pierce College, Glendale
Community College, John Burroughs
High school in Burbank
and at Taft High School. Lisa is a proud mother of
two hearing daughters, Monessa (15) and Linnea (13).
A Future Full of Opportunities-College Planning
Stephanie Summers: First and only deaf woman to hold a stockbroker
license. She works with deaf and hard of hearing clients as well as hearing
clients all over the U.S through Kramer Financial. Stephanie joined Kramer
Financial firm in the fall of 2006 to serve the increased demand of clients who
have desired to work with a female advisor. Stephanie is has a BS degree from Gallaudet University,
and her MBA from George
Mason University.
Stephanie currently resides in Maryland
with her husband and is a mother of twin boys (9).
Managing Family Finances
Howard Knight: He attended Gallaudet
University, and later
graduated from University of Houston Bauer College of Business in 1998. He went
to work in the corporate tax division at Service Corporation International and
later at M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center. He became a
Certified Public Accountant in 2004. He is noted for his quick response to the
IRS tax controversy and eliminated over $3.5 million in taxes. Howard has been
mentioned in the Houston Chronicle and involved in the Diversity Council with
executive management. Having spent over 12 years in the corporate world, Howard
left and started his own CPA firm. Howard resides in Houston with his wife, Tracy and with their
children.
Why Is ASL So Important For Hearing Children?
Jeanine Wiesblatt and Kayla Wiesblatt: Mother and Daughter
duo!
Presenter Jeanine Wiesblatt is a Deaf graduate student at McDaniel
College (formerly Western Maryland
College) in the field of Deaf
Education and resides in Westminster,
Maryland with her Deaf husband,
David and KODA daughter, Kayla. She grew up in the Niagara
Falls area in Ontario, Canada and attended Ernest
C. Drury
School for the Deaf in Milton, Ontario and also Alberta School
for the Deaf in Edmonton, Alberta. After more than a decade working in
the Deaf community and tending to her family, she returned to Gallaudet University
in 2005 and majored in Communication and Deaf Studies and graduated with Honors
in 2009. Her hobbies includes reading, games, socializing, being involved in
advocacy activities, movies, cooking/baking, researching, and spending time
with her family and dogs.
Co-Presenter: Kayla Wiesblatt is a KODA daughter of Jeanine Wiesblatt at the
age of thirteen, and attends Westminster
West Middle
School in Westminster,
Maryland in the seventh grade.
Since a baby, Kayla has interacted with other KODAs and Deaf children. She
participated in KODA activities such as day camps, NLLC (National Literacy
& Leadership Camp) and attending Deaf community events. Other than her
parents, she has Deaf grandparents, Deaf uncle and aunt and a Deaf great-uncle.
She considers herself native ASL signer because she signed before she started speaking
and enjoys fun things related to ASL usage. Kayla’s hobbies include listening
to music, dancing, reading, shopping and movies.
Identity Development of Hearing Children of Deaf Parents
Audrey Frank: Has been a clinical social worker at various schools and mental
health agencies since 1982. As she is licensed in Maryland
and District of Columbia,
she has her private practice, providing individual, couple and family therapy
for nine years. Audrey has also taught graduate and undergraduate social work courses
at Gallaudet University for eight years. As
Gallaudet’s Presidential Fellow, studying for a PhD in Clinical Social Work at
Walden University, the topic of her dissertation is “The Experience of Being
the Only Hearing Sibling in an All-Deaf Family”. Audrey is married to
Dave, an independent financial advisor. They have three children: two
deaf daughters and one hearing son.
Two Worlds Collide: Creating Meaningful Connections
Keri Ogrizovich: An ASL program coordinator at the University of Vermont,
where she graduated with a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and
her Masters of Education degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. In 2007, just two
years after Keri was hired, she successfully convinced the Arts and Science
Curriculum Committee and faculty at her university to accept ASL as a foreign
language. Keri is a member of Deaf Women United and a member of the
American Sign Language Teaching Association where she holds a Qualified
Certificate. She is also a certified Deaf Interpreter and currently does some
freelance work during her spare time. She resides in Northwest
Vermont with her husband, Nick, their two young sons, two dogs and
chickens.
Literacy Interactions in CODA Homes: Being Aware of the Cultural Divide
Dr. Lisalee D. Egbert: Is an Assistant Professor at California
State University,
Sacramento in
the Deaf Studies Program. Her passion is researching literacy, Deaf Education,
Interpreting and Bilingual Reading Education. Her research goals include
a focus on bilingual/multilingual language development in natural and home
contexts. She aspires to triangulate and homogenizing the diverse fields
of research in order to provide insights into the Deaf world and thus, adding
to the development and understanding of the beautiful and complex world of
Deafhood. Dr. Lisalee D. Egbert and her husband are both deaf and proud parents
of three KODAs!
East Meets West: Amy Crumrine and Lauren Maucere
Amy Crumrine: Is currently a teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools
and works closely with middle school and high school children there. She is
also a part time intensive employment trainer for the State of Maryland and works
closely with deaf and hard of hearing clients in assisting them in pursing
their career endeavors. While Amy is the founder and past President of MM-KODA
(now MD-KODA), and one of the founders and co-chairs of the National KODA
Family Conference, Amy's passions include: working with teenagers, promoting
Cued American English with conjunction to American Sign Language, reading
novels and doing scrapbooking projects. Amy and her husband, Roy, reside in Montgomery County, Maryland
and they have two children (KODAs) together.
Lauren Maucere: Is a co-founder and co-director, KODA West. A graduate
from California State University,
Northridge with a BS in Environmental and Occupational Health. She is
currently obtaining her teaching credentials to work with deaf children.
Lauren is serving on the board of Our Community, a non-profit organization
serving Burbank’s
deaf and hard of hearing and KODA children and their families. Lauren is a deaf
mom to two hearing children Daniela (8) and Gianni (5).
Lisa E. Flynn-Brinks
Krista Leitch Walker