Executive Board of Directors

Laura Scott, J.D.- Director

Laura is the proud mother of two. Her seven year-old daughter has a hearing loss. Laura is the Parent Consultant for Michigan’s EHDI program and the Coordinator for the state’s Guide By Your Side Program. She also is an attorney who hales from the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She has founded two non-profit organizations and is passionate about connecting people with resources and working with community organizations.

 

Rebecca Calaman, MA, NCC , LPC- Co-Director

Becky is the parent of 3 young adults, one of whom is Deaf and currently in graduate school. She is also the Outreach Director at Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD) and the former Director of the Families in Transition Program at Deaf Community Advocacy Network (DEAF C.A.N.!).  She holds a BA in Sign Language Studies from Madonna University (Livonia, MI), an MA in counseling from Oakland University (Rochester, MI), has national counseling certification and is a licensed professional counselor. She has served on various Boards and is a member of state and national organizations dedicated to the needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.

 
 

Deborah Love-Peel- Secretary

 

Lindsay Shields, BA- Treasurer

Lindsay has a great deal of passion for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. She joined the advisory board of Michigan Hands & Voices earlier this year. She has a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Western Michigan University. She also has studied American Sign Language, having completed four levels of sign language studies

Board of Directors

Melissa Alford

Melissa Alford lives with her husband Bryce and two children -- Austin (8) and Alexandra (4).  Austin was diagnosed with a moderate to profound hearing loss at age 2 1/2, which progressed to a severe to profound level by age 7.  In December of 2004, Austin received a cochlear implant at the University of Michigan .  Professionally, Melissa is a human resources director and actively involved in the community.  She serves as a Guide-By-Your-Side mentor and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

 

Sonya Adams

My name is Sonya Adams and I have two sons. Ethan (2002) is hearing, and Ryan (2003) has profound Auditory Neuropathy and/or Auditory Dys-synchrony. I have been an active member of MHV since 2004. I am a stay-at-home-mom and a Parent Mentor in the Guide-By-Your-Side Program for the State of Michigan’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. I live with my family in western Wayne County.

Advisory Board

Linda Wright

A private practice Audiologist in DeWitt, MI who also handles Educational Audiology for intermediate school districts in two counties. Areas of interests are: diagnostic hearing testing, hearing aids, FM systems, Auditory Processing Disorder, newborn hearing screenings, and education to patients/families regarding hearing loss concerns. She holds a doctorate in Audiology. Dr Wight oganizes the membership databases, emails announcements, and mails the newspaper/newsletter.

Vicky Hovinen

Vicky Hovinen has a BA in Deaf Education from Michigan State University. She has been Deaf since birth. She is a founding member of Michigan Hands & Voices. Vicky is an active member of Michigan American Sign Language Teachers Association. She has taught ASL to Michigan State University students and hearing parents/siblings of deaf children. She is also a substitute teacher in the D/HH program and Michigan School for the Deaf since 1994. Vicky has a deaf husband and a hearing son (2000).
 

Jill Elfenbein

Jill Elfenbein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences at Michigan State University . She holds clinical certification in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Elfenbein teaches courses on topics related to the assessment and treatment of hearing loss, maintains a small, pediatric caseload, and conducts research on the genetics of hearing loss.

Ellen Milne

Ellen Milne earned her BA in Deaf Education from Mighigan State University and a MA in School Guidance and Counseling for the Deaf from Gallaudet University .  She has worked for the Lansing School Disctrict for the last 16 years working with hearing impaired children as a teacher, counselor and sign language interpreter at the elementaly, middle and high school levels.  She has also taught American Sign Language to hearing students at the high school and college levels.  Ellen is a founding board member and active in Hands and Voices.  She and her family volunteer as foster puppy raisers for Paws with a Cause, an organization that provides service dogs for people with hearing impairments, mobility challenges and seizure disorders.

Janna Bennett

My name is Janna Bennett. I am a sign language interpreter on the board, currently holding a Michigan QAIII. I have been interpreting for 8 years now - freelancing in eduational, medical, Government etc. I have also taught at Lansing Community College in the Sign Language / Interpreter Training Program, under the direction of Brenda Cartwright. I am happy to be a part of Michigan Hands and Voices!

 

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