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About

 

 Mission Statement

To empower deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families through education, advocacy and community involvement.


 

Whom We Serve

We Serve a Diverse Community of Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons serves a diverse range of people, including the deaf, deaf-blind, late-deafened, hard of hearing, parents with deaf and hard of hearing children, children of deaf and hard of hearing parents, educators, sign language teachers and students, hearing aid users, people with cochlear implants, people with tinnitus, and people with auditory processing disorders.

Statement on Inclusion

In order to accomplish our mission, at Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons we believe that we must be responsive to the needs of everyone in the community who may receive services, regardless of their race, ethnic origin or disability. We will create and implement programs using our awareness of cultural differences and treat all with respect. Furthermore, we will create an organizational culture that values people of all racial/ethnic and disability backgrounds and that is based on our organizational values of respect, integrity, and honesty. Our commitment to inclusiveness will be evident in our organizational policies and procedures, as part of our strategic plan, and within our organizational goals.   

Mission Driven

We Are a Mission Driven and Diverse Organization

We are passionate about empowering deaf and hard of hearing persons and their families to positively change their lives through improved communication. The NVRC board and staff are diverse and reflect the many facets of self identification. While our board is required to have at least 51% of its Directors be deaf or hard of hearing, the overwhelming majority of the Board and staff are deaf or hard of hearing.

Some board and staff identify as Deaf, some deaf with cochlear implants, some hard of hearing, and some hearing. Many sign ASL. We are people from different generations—Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y. Our generational experiences have also shaped our perspectives. The diversity of the deaf and hard of hearing persons we serve and our own auditory and cultural diversity contribute to the uniqueness of NVRC.

Community Based

We are a Community Based Organization

Established in 1988 and founded by local leaders in the deaf and hard of hearing community, the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons exists to serve the deaf and hard of hearing community in Northern Virginia. Current communities served include the community-based of Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and the City of Falls Church.

With more than 250,000 persons with hearing loss, and over 5,000 deaf persons within these communities, the Washington DC Metro area is one of the most dense populations of deaf and hard of hearing persons in the country. We provide deaf and hard of hearing Northern Virginians—along with their families, friends, coworkers, employers, and the businesses and agencies that serve them—the tools and resources they need for success and independence in our communities.

Our Board

Board of Directors


The board is charged with determining NVRC's mission and purpose: selecting, supporting and evaluating the Executive Director; ensuring effective planning; monitoring and strengthening programs and services; ensuring adequate financial resources; protecting assets and providing proper financial oversight; building a competent Board; ensuring legal and ethical integrity; and enhancing NVRC’s public standing. The by-laws require that 51% of the 15-member Board be deaf or hard of hearing. Board members serve a 1-3 year term, meet once a month, and are elected at the Annual Meeting in December.
2023-2024 - Executive Committee
Brad Staton, Chair
Jonathan Kiell, Vice-Chair
Charles Sterling, Treasurer
Pam Gannon, Secretary

Board Members Wendy Batkin, William Boyd, Lori Daly, Tom Dowling, David A. Jara, Kristie Ketchum Ph.D., Terry Lynch, Jill Moebus, Brittany Morris, Erik Nordlof, Jeremy Smith, Melanie Williams

Our Staff

NVRC Staff


Dr. Eileen McCartin

Eileen McCartin, Ph.D., Executive Director

Eileen has served on the NVRC Board of Directors since 2014 as Chair and Vice-Chair, participating on several committees, planning educational and fundraising events, writing grants and supporting NVRC's mission. As a person with a progressive hearing loss since childhood and a bilateral cochlear implant user, Eileen has dedicated her personal and professional energy and expertise to working with and for others who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Eileen has degrees from New York University, Gallaudet University and George Mason University. She has taught deaf and hard of hearing students from preschool through college age at local public schools and at Gallaudet University. As a school administrator, she was knowledgeable, organized, and experienced in leading teams to positive outcomes. Eileen has given numerous presentations related to hearing loss and has led peer-to-peer support groups. She is experienced in assistive technology and is well-acquainted with the changing technology available to support those with hearing loss. She is fluent in American Sign Language and has some experience with Cued Speech.

Debbie Jones

Debbie Jones, Resource and Technology Manager

Debbie came to NVRC in January 1995 and is most often the first point of contact for NVRC. Debbie answers consumer questions such as where to find audiologists, Sign Language classes, interpreters or support groups. She is also in charge of the Demonstration Room, and is the person to talk to about assistive devices and technology for persons with hearing loss. Additionally, Debbie provides technology trainings to individuals with hearing loss, as well as outreach trainings for businesses, agencies, and organizations that work with deaf and hard of hearing persons.

Bonnie O'Leary

Bonnie O'Leary, Certified Peer Mentor,
Outreach Manager

Bonnie joined NVRC in January of 2002, focusing on outreach to senior citizens who have hearing loss and education for hearing families, caregivers, and supervisors.  She completed her two-year certification as a Peer Mentor and Certified Hearing Loss Support Specialist at Gallaudet University in 2007. A late-deafened adult, Bonnie has led the development of NVRC's 3-part outreach series for seniors, "I Can't Hear You!", and applies her own personal experience with hearing loss to her outreach work. She also co-created the "Miscommunication or Missed Communication?" workshop teaching communication strategies for families and caregivers.  During her "hearing" years, Bonnie worked in advertising in New York and London and owned a 24-track recording studio in Burke, Virginia. She has two grown children, a passion for cats, and enjoys all forms of needle arts, cooking, and Scrabble.

Cheryl Gault

Cheryl Gault, Office Programs Coordinator

Cheryl joined the NVRC staff part time in July 2021. Prior to joining NVRC, Cheryl worked at Northern Virginia Community College in Disability Support Services. She was the data manager and the captioning and accessible documents coordinator, providing access for students with disabilities. Cheryl has extensive knowledge in assistive technology.

She has a B.S. degree in Management Information Systems from East Carolina University. She was a programmer/analyst developing software and provided help desk/customer support for federal agencies for 19 years. Deaf since birth, she is fluent in spoken English and ASL. In her free time, Cheryl loves to travel.

Barbara Silber

Barbara Silber, Finance Manager

Barbara joined the NVRC staff part time in January 2021. She retired from the Federal Government in December 2020 with over 30 years of experience in accounting, auditing, budgeting, and finance. She has a B.S. degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University, and is a former Certified Public Accountant in the state of Virginia. She has had a progressive hearing loss since childhood and currently wears bilateral cochlear implants. She was previously on the board of NVRC for 2 years and has been involved with the hard of hearing community since the 1990s.