Presenter Bios

Dusty Jessen, Au.D. has been an audiologist in a busy ENT practice for more than 12 years. In 2013 she wrote and published a handbook (Frustrated by Hearing Loss? 5...Dusty Jessen, Au.D. has been an audiologist in a busy ENT practice for more than 12 years. In 2013 she wrote and published a handbook (Frustrated by Hearing Loss? 5 Keys to Communication Success) to help people cope with the challenges related to hearing loss. This book is being used by hearing care professionals around the country. Dr. Jessen is passionate about providing a fun and simple way for people to... Read More >

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Eliot Greenwald is a Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Disability Rights Office, where he has worked since January of 2011.  He participates in proceedings involving telecommunications relay services (TRS), television closed...Eliot Greenwald is a Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Disability Rights Office, where he has worked since January of 2011.  He participates in proceedings involving telecommunications relay services (TRS), television closed captioning, real-time text, and implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), including advanced communications services, video description, TV user interfaces, Internet captioning, emergency information, 911 calling, hearing aid compatibility, and the National Deaf-Blind Equipment... Read More >

Dr. Ellen Lafargue is the Director of CHC’s centers of excellence: Shelley and Steven Einhorn Audiology and Communication Centers and Berelson Hearing Technology Center. Having begun her career at CHC...Dr. Ellen Lafargue is the Director of CHC’s centers of excellence: Shelley and Steven Einhorn Audiology and Communication Centers and Berelson Hearing Technology Center. Having begun her career at CHC more than 30 years ago, Dr. Lafargue specializes in state-of-the-art hearing device evaluation and fitting on adults. The Hearing Review named Dr. Lafargue among the Best Hearing Hearing Healthcare Professionals in the U.S. Dr. Lafargue received her Master’s Degree in... Read More >

Erik Strand created MachineGenius, Inc. in 2017 with the express purpose to modernize and automate the Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) approach. MachineGenius’ smartphone app, Olelo Captioned Calls,...Erik Strand created MachineGenius, Inc. in 2017 with the express purpose to modernize and automate the Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) approach. MachineGenius’ smartphone app, Olelo Captioned Calls, was the first FCC-conditionally certified IP CTS provider to generate call captions exclusively using Automated Speech Recognition (ASR). Over the last fifteen years, Strand has used ASR to design and build at-scale call transcribing systems. He began his professional career... Read More >

Author and award winning speaker, Esther Kelly, has developed and implemented numerous programs designed to meet the unique needs of her clients, presenting her acclaimed “Hearing Loss in Action –...Author and award winning speaker, Esther Kelly, has developed and implemented numerous programs designed to meet the unique needs of her clients, presenting her acclaimed “Hearing Loss in Action – Beyond Methodology” to countless groups, organizations and community colleges. Ms. Kelly has given many workshops at Hearing Loss Association of America National Conventions. Among her books, videos and DVDs are, “A Sign Signals Manual”,  and her award winning video, “You... Read More >

Gael Hannan is a writer, actor and public speaker who grew up with a progressive hearing loss that is now severe-to-profound. She runs the Hearing Foundation of Canada’s award-winning Sound Sense...Gael Hannan is a writer, actor and public speaker who grew up with a progressive hearing loss that is now severe-to-profound. She runs the Hearing Foundation of Canada’s award-winning Sound Sense hearing awareness program for elementary students across Canada. As a passionate advocate for people with hearing loss, her work includes speechreading instruction, hearing awareness workshops for youth and adults, and sensitivity training for corporations and community groups.  Gael is a... Read More >

Prior to specializing in Info and Communication Technology accessibility, Gary was an ASL Interpreter. He’s been with the NIH since 1993. He’s a hearing aid and captioning user and a...Prior to specializing in Info and Communication Technology accessibility, Gary was an ASL Interpreter. He’s been with the NIH since 1993. He’s a hearing aid and captioning user and a strong advocate for accessible technology as a means to address un/underemployment as well as healthcare disparities experienced by Deaf and disabled persons. His role at the NIH allows him to promote meaningful access to both live and prerecorded videos through... Read More >

Geoff Plant has worked as a therapist with adults with hearing loss since 1974, first in his native Australia, and since 1993, in the U.S. He was originally trained as...Geoff Plant has worked as a therapist with adults with hearing loss since 1974, first in his native Australia, and since 1993, in the U.S. He was originally trained as a teacher of the deaf and on occasions still works on the development of speech and listening skills with children with hearing loss. He founded the Hearing Rehabilitation Foundation (HRF) in 1996, a nonprofit dedicated to providing and promoting speech... Read More >