B.C. Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are a parent/professional collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods, believing that families will make the best choices for their children if they have access to good information and support. Our goal is to support families in achieving successful outcomes for their children. We believe: “What works for your child is what makes the choice right.”
We unequivocally condemn racism and prejudice of any kind. BC Hands & Voices has always strived to be a welcoming, inclusive, prejudice free, and anti-racist organization. No one person and no one organization is perfect and we will continue to listen and learn about these complex issues that face our members and our communities. Actions speak louder than words. The actions of BC Hands & Voices will endeavor to support and uplift all of our members.
Board of Directors
BC Hands & Voices’ board of directors is a diverse group of parents and professionals. We are mothers and fathers; we are hearing, hard of hearing and deaf adults; we are specialists in infant development, education and language – all working together to provide parents in BC the support they need. We feel very proud and honoured to be part of such a wonderful organization.
KIM SHAUER is the Coordinator of the BC Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side (GBYS) program and also provides service coordination through the BC Early Hearing Program (BCEHP). She supports families following a child’s identification as deaf or hard of hearing, connecting them to early language services, resources, and trained Parent Guides and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Guides. Kim is dedicated to ensuring families feel informed, supported, and empowered along the way.
AMY HO’s first language is Chinese. Having raised a daughter who was born with hearing challenges, she is familiar with the issues facing ESL families with children who have similar conditions. She has intimate knowledge of community resources and services that parents can use to help with their child’s development. As a parent guide with the GBYS program and fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, Amy is ready to share her knowledge and experience with parents facing similar challenges.
CATHERINE KALCHBRENNER joined the BC Hands and Voices team as the administrative assistant though she’s also a Parent Guide with the “Guide by Your Side” Program. She takes care of many behind-the-scenes tasks such as sending out email announcements, updating the website, and managing the membership database. Catherine has a background in International Business along with some teaching experience. Catherine and her partner have two kids; her eldest wears a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid. Her whole family is also currently learning ASL. She is thrilled to be a part of H&V, helping other families on the same journey.
JOY SANTOS is mom to Teanna, who is profoundly Deaf, and uses both a Cochlear Implant and hearing aid. Upon learning that her daughter was Deaf, Joy immediately took an interest in learning more about the subject. She picked up American Sign Language and involved herself in the community. Joy currently runs a Family Childcare in Richmond, and is a licensed Early Childhood Educator. As a board member, she is excited to be with a group of positive and proactive individuals, and enjoys being affiliated with an open-minded organization that focuses on supporting the well-being of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
LEVI TRAXLER was born and raised in Ohio with his 4 siblings, 3 of whom are Deaf. He is profoundly Deaf and he completed his degree in Early Childhood Education at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Soon after, he moved to Canada to join his wife. The couple recently welcomed their second child. Levi is currently working at Provincial Family Services under Provincial of Deaf / Hard of Hearing Services as a Family Navigator. He is enjoying his role as a father, husband, and a contributor to the community.
NICOLE EICH lives in the lower mainland with her partner and daughter, who is hard of hearing. She manages foundation granting and charitable giving programs, and believes in giving back to the community. Her family uses speech and ASL to communicate and has benefited greatly from being involved in their local Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Nicole has been on the editing committee for BC Hands & Voices since 2017.
SUSAN LANE worked in early intervention for 32 years, supporting families of deaf and hard of hearing children both directly and indirectly. Prior to her retirement in 2015, Susan was the Intervention Coordinator for the BC Early Hearing Program for several years. Throughout her career Susan believed in the importance of parent-led organizations that provide support and information to parents of young deaf and hard of hearing children and advocate on behalf of families. She is happy to support BC Hands & Voices as a volunteer editor for our various publications.
NORA MALDONADO and her husband have two children – the eldest is Deaf, has a cochlear implant, and uses ASL to communicate. Nora has worked both locally and abroad with refugees, speaks Spanish as a second language, and now works in Public Health. Nora aims to “meet families where they’re at” – using an approach that respects values, goals, lived experience, and culture when helping families map a path forward.
TERRY TYLKA has enjoyed being a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and recently retired from active teaching after 48 years! A graduate of UBC, she has worked with children from birth to university age, and their families, in a variety of settings. She has always believed that family-centered care and teamwork are the basis for success. Working in early intervention programs has been especially close to her heart. Terry is enjoying her retirement with her family, and loves participating in the lives of her three beautiful grandchildren. She is happy to volunteer her time as an editor for BC Hands and Voices and continue to learn from H&V families.
MICHELLE CHRISTENSEN is a dedicated mother to two young boys. Her youngest has unilateral hearing loss due to the absence of an auditory nerve on his right side, identified through newborn screening. When they received this news, Michelle and her family found valuable support and knowledge through various deaf and hard of hearing organizations. Motivated by her own experiences, she is committed to helping others in similar situations. As an experienced accountant, her role as BC Hands and Voices Treasurer fits well with her mission of providing families the information and support they need to best help their deaf and hard of hearing children.
ZEN THARANI lives in Victoria, BC with wife, 2 kids, and a dog. His eldest son identifies as a deaf person with cochlear implants. His family’s journey was profoundly impacted by the “Guide By Your Side” (GBYS) program, a cornerstone of support that eventually inspired his wife to become a GBYS guide herself, extending a hand to parents embarking on similar paths. One of his key motivations for accepting this role is the noticeable lack of engagement of dads at the board level. It’s his hope that by stepping into this space, he can bridge that gap and inspire more dads to join this supportive community.
SARAH FRANCESCUTTI lives in Victoria BC with her husband and daughter who wears hearing aids. Sarah is bilingual in French and English, and has learned some ASL to communicate with her daughter and others. She has military experience, is a Disability Management Advisor for the federal government and is passionate about enhancing diversity and inclusion within organizations through her leadership coaching business. The support provided by the incredible people within the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community has been astounding and Sarah is excited to give back through contributing to the H&V Board.
STELLA LEE lives in Burnaby with her two sons and husband. Her older son is hard of hearing with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. During the early intervention years, Stella had the opportunity to work/learn with all three early intervention agencies. She is a teacher who has worked with children with diverse needs and is interested in continuing to learn more about the deaf/hard of hearing community.
