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Our Georgia chapter of AG Bell focuses on the importance of creating connections with each other. Our goal is to create meaningful lifelong connections for families and individuals with hearing loss who are pursuing a listening and spoken language outcome. Through strengthening and expanding GA Bell, we hope to raise the bar within our organization and advance towards our vision of connecting, educating, and empowering families of children with hearing loss who are learning to listen and talk.

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Officers

Sherri Nighbert

President

Sherri Nighbert is a mother of a child who is deaf and a bilateral cochlear implant user who is currently fully mainstreamed in Kindergarten in Cobb County school district. Sherri’s current job as Grant Manager with the grant-funded program, Access to Language (AtL) designed by the Atlanta Speech School. This program uses a Parent Navigator, who guides families with children with hearing loss through the confusing process of inpatient hearing screening, outpatient hearing screening, diagnostic testing, and enrollment into intervention. In addition, Sherri volunteers as the Director of Financial Scholarships for The Jason Cunningham Foundation, which has raised over $300,000 in proceeds to assist children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) to receive LSL services and hearing devices. Sherri is excited about building the DHH Georgia community so no parent or child is ever left behind or feels alone.

Linda Lasker

Immediate Past President

Linda Lasker, B.A. Early Childhood and Elementary Education, M.Ed. Hearing Impairment, Cert. LSLS AVEd, has been teaching children who are deaf and hard of hearing since 1978 with a concentration on the birth to three populations. She presently holds a position at the Atlanta Speech School in the Early Intervention department of the Katherine Hamm Center where she works with each family demonstrating Listening and Spoken Language techniques during family routines. Linda was the President of AG Bell Georgia from 2017-2021. She is a stakeholder for the state EHDI committee. She actively serves on the board of the Early Intervention Committee for Georgia Pathways. She also is a member of the Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton LICC, and recently co-authored two chapters on auditory verbal practice and early auditory learning.

Chris Torres

Vice President

Chris Torres is a Realtor with Dorsey Alston Realtors and he specializes in helping people find community with the wide, diverse options of housing in the Atlanta area. He is also hard-of-hearing (HOH) with moderate to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and has first-hand experience as a child that grew into adulthood with hearing loss. Chris is a father to four children. His two youngest are HOH and use hearing aids in day-to-day activities. One of these attend the Atlanta Speech School’s Hamm Center and the other is a student at Atlanta Classical Academy. Chris and his family are committed to seeing the best outcome for their children’s future living with hearing loss. Understanding and desiring the need for community between parents of children with hearing loss and advocates for the education and instructions of these children is important to Chris. From that perspective he feels that the parents of children with hearing loss have a community where they feel comfortable, welcomed and belong. That they will have a community to help them understand what life will be like for their own children from birth to adulthood and finding the support they desire.

Nicole Wanty

Secretary

Nicole (Nikki) Wanty is a social science researcher at a small, woman-owned research and communication firm that conducts rigorous research to explore complex social problems and construct powerful programs that improve the health and well-being of youth, families, and communities. Nikki oversees programs for (1) parents and teachers of children with cochlear implants entering mainstream school, (2) high school and college students with cochlear implants transitioning from high school to college, and (3) older adults with cochlear implants. In addition, Nikki manages projects on other diverse topics, including: lupus, clinical trials, drug abuse prevention, children with special healthcare needs, arthritis, and oral health.

Lauren Seale

Treasurer

Lauren Seale is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist, Listening and Spoken Language Specialist. She has treated children with hearing loss from birth to 8 years old at the Auditory-Verbal Center since 2013. Lauren previously earned her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia and her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. As part of her graduate studies, she treated children with cochlear implants through the University of Virginia ENT Clinic according to the principles of Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) intervention. Lauren has presented on topics related to hearing loss at the national Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) conference. Lauren is passionate about helping children with hearing loss reach their full spoken language potential.

Jessica Sinkey

Director of Social Coordination

Jess Sinkey is the mother of a daughter with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss that wears hearing aids in both ears. She has her Masters in Education and taught Elementary School in Cobb County for 14 years. Her goal as an AG Bell Board member is to make sure that all Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) families in Georgia are able to make valuable, lifelong connections with other families in the DHH community.

Jonathan Brilling

Director of Community Engagement

Jonathan Brilling is the Community Engagement and Development Coordinator at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Jonathan is profoundly deaf and wears the Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant and CROS and graduated from the Auditory-Verbal Therapy Program at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Having direct experience with the life of the deaf and hard of hearing, Jonathan has a passion for public speaking and enjoys sharing his story and networking. Every child deserves the chance to be able to learn to listen and speak and his mission is to make sure parents know they have a choice. Jonathan has been on the Board of the Georgia Chapter of AG Bell since 2018. Jonathan also serves on several state committees including Georgia Pathways, EDHI Stakeholders Committee, and the Bill 844 Advisory Committee, to improve the quality of care for deaf and hard of hearing children in the state of Georgia. Jonathan is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Brookhaven/Chamblee and also on their Board of Directors and as well as several networking associations including the Gwinnett Chamber, Dunwoody/Perimeter Chamber, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). In his free time, Jonathan enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hanging out with his family.

Samantha Downton

Director of Social Media and Marketing

Samantha Downton works as the Marketing Coordinator at the Auditory-Verbal Center, Inc. and has experience in Marketing, Graphic Design, Social Media, and Event Planning. She earned her degree in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Atlanta and also attended Berry College and the University of North Georgia. Samantha is profoundly deaf and wears a cochlear implant and a hearing aid and is a graduate of the Auditory-Verbal Therapy program at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Outside of work, she volunteers with several organizations. Samantha has been a member of Kiwanis International since 2012 and is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Doraville-Tucker in the Georgia District. Samantha has been serving as the Georgia District of Kiwanis Marketing Chair/Webmaster/Social Media Chair/District Marketing and PR Competition Chair since 2016. She joined the Georgia Chapter of the AG Bell Board of Directors in 2020 as the Director of Social Media and Marketing. Samantha resides in Tucker, Georgia with her husband, Ryan; son, Cooper; daughter, Madison; and their dog, Emma.

Kristen Craig

Family and Professional Partnership Coordinator

Kristen Craig works as the Early Intervention Supervisor for Babies Can’t Wait, District 2. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2017 from the University of North Georgia and then went on to attain her Master’s degree in Psychology in 2020 from Arizona State University. She is currently preparing to begin her coursework for her Doctorate in Behavioral Health Management. Kristen has extensive experience in birth-to-three early intervention. Prior to becoming the Early Intervention Supervisor with Babies Can’t Wait, Kristen was a special education teacher in grades K-12. She was then a special education preschool teacher at an integrated school for typical and special needs children. She has dedicated her life to serving those who need it the most. In her personal life, she has twins who just turned 9. Her daughter is typical while her son is autistic. Kristen knows the importance, both personally and professionally, of early intervention and supporting families through every milestone. She currently serves on the AG Bell board, partners with Prevent Blindness Georgia, serves as a member of the State Interagency Coordinating Council, and assists with her Local Interagency Coordinating Council. Kristen follows her passions and does everything she can to provide for the families she serves.

Sarah Hudgins

Latino Family Coordinator

Sarah Hudgins is a Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist at the Auditory-Verbal Center where she has treated children with hearing loss from birth to 12 years old since 2021. Sarah previously earned her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina where she was a part of the Auditory-Verbal/Cochlear Implant specialization track. Additionally, she was a graduate research assistant in a lab that specifically focused on language and literacy outcomes in children with hearing loss. Sarah continues to work with bilingual Spanish speaking families who attend the Auditory-Verbal Center. Sarah has also co-presented on topics related to hearing loss at the A.G. Bell Global Symposium. Sarah is passionate about helping families build their child’s listening and spoken language skills.

2021 Events

Chapter Resources and Information

A.G.Bell is committed to equipping you with the tools you need to take action. Here, we provide you with resources for further learning that can help you ensure your child has the opportunity to develop language on par with children who have no hearing loss.

Families, Adults, and Professionals

AG Bell

AG Bell GA Committee: Elementary

GA AG Bell Teens

GA AG Bell College

GA AG Bell Adults

GA AG Bell Professionals

GA AG Bell Committee: Spanish-Speaking Families

Let Georgia Hear - Georgia’s Initiative for Children’s Hearing Aid Insurance

Overview: Founded in 2011, Let Georgia Hear is a parent-led initiative working to ensure that every parent in Georgia can provide access to hearing aids for their children. Many Georgia families are unable to provide hearing aids for their children who are deaf or hard of hearing in order to improve access to their children’s communication. Hearing aids can cost as much as $6,000 per pair and must be replaced every 3-5 years. This is the equivalent of roughly $42,000 per child who requires hearing aids before they reach the age of 21 – a hardship for any Georgia family regardless of household income.
Website: https://www.letgeorgiahear.org/
Location(s)/Contact: info@letgeorgiahear.org

Georgia Hands & Voices

Overview: Hands & Voices is a parent driven organization that supports families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology.
Website: http://gahandsandvoices.org/
Location(s)/Contact:
- PO Box 669276
- Marietta, GA 30066
- 678-310-5886

Listening Device Manufacturers

Company Phone Number
Oticon 1-800-526-3921
Phonak 1-800-777-7333
Resound 1-800-248-4327
BONE ANCHORED HEARING AID MANUFACTURERS:

Company Phone Number
Cochlear Americas BAHA 1-800-523-5798
Med-El 1-888-633-3524
Oticon Medical 1-888-277-8014
COCHLEAR IMPLANT MANUFACTURERS
Company Phone Number
Advanced Bionics 1-877-829-0026
Cochlear Americas 1-877-883-3101
Med-El 1-888-633-3524

Support Groups

AG Bell Georgia Action Groups
- Birth to five
  - Overview. Support and resources for caregivers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children birth to 5 years of age who are learning to listen and talk.
  - Website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/georgiabellbirthtofive
- Elementary
  - Overview. Support and resources for caregivers of elementary school aged deaf and hard-of-hearing children who use spoken language.
  - Website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/georgiabellelementary
- Middle and high school (teens)
  - Overview. Support and resources for deaf and hard-of-hearing teens who use spoken language (caregivers also welcome).
  - Website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/georgiabellteens
- College, young adult, and adults
  - Overview. Support and resources for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults who use spoken language.
  - Website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/georgiabelladults
- Professionals
  - Overview. Support and resources for professionals who serve deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults, with a focus on teaching listening and spoken language skills (teachers of the deaf, speech-language pathologists, early interventionists, audiologists etc.).
  - Website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/georgiabellprofessionals
- Spanish-speaking families
  - Overview. Support and resources for Spanish-speaking caregivers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and teens who are learning to listen and talk.
  - Website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2022948767962782

Gallery

GA Governor Brian Kemp proclaims March 3, 2020 as Georgia Hearing Day
More Pictures