About the Deaf Service Center
Mission:
The mission of the Deaf Service Center is to empower Southwest Florida's deaf and hard of hearing citizens and their families through education, advocacy, and community involvement. Find out more about DSC's programs and services.
Funders:
The Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida is partially funded by the following organizations:
The Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida, Inc. was founded in 1983 as the Speech and Hearing Association with the mission to “benefit communication-disabled people and to educate the community regarding their needs.” Over the years, the mission was revised and the focus became to “offer programs and services to improve the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing citizens of Southwest Florida.” Our current mission statement demonstrates a clearer commitment to the residents of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties.
DSC Board:
PRESIDENT:
Linda Corn
VICE PRESIDENT:
Judy Bero
SECRETARY:
Carol Duby
TREASURER:
Carolyn Dahman
BOARD MEMBERS:
Terri Chaviano
Scot Goldberg
Sharon Brotherton
Maria Larocco
The mission of the Deaf Service Center is to empower Southwest Florida's deaf and hard of hearing citizens and their families through education, advocacy, and community involvement. Find out more about DSC's programs and services.
Funders:
The Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida is partially funded by the following organizations:
- Lee County Human Services
- The Gannett Foundation
- Southwest Florida Community Foundation
- City of Cape Coral
- Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce
- Cape Coral Community Foundation
The Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida, Inc. was founded in 1983 as the Speech and Hearing Association with the mission to “benefit communication-disabled people and to educate the community regarding their needs.” Over the years, the mission was revised and the focus became to “offer programs and services to improve the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing citizens of Southwest Florida.” Our current mission statement demonstrates a clearer commitment to the residents of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties.
DSC Board:
PRESIDENT:
Linda Corn
VICE PRESIDENT:
Judy Bero
SECRETARY:
Carol Duby
TREASURER:
Carolyn Dahman
BOARD MEMBERS:
Terri Chaviano
Scot Goldberg
Sharon Brotherton
Maria Larocco
DSC Staff:
Executive Director and Director of Programs:
Lori Timson (QA 2) began working at the Deaf Service Center in 1998. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Educational Sign Language Interpreting from the University of South Florida in 2001. As the DSC Director of Programs, Lori schedules interpreting assignments, provides outreach presentations, coordinates & teaches American Sign Language classes, and provides interpreting services.
FTRI Telephone Equipment Loans Program Coordinator:
Dianna Druding is the DSC Program Coordinator for the Florida Telecommunications Relay equipment distribution and outreach program.
Shared Reading Project Program Coordinator and Data Entry Clerk:
Lisa Myhand has been involved with the Deaf Service Center for the past several years in many roles - board member, volunteer, and currently as our Shared Reading Project Program Coordinator and Data Entry Clerk. She was born in Titusville and grew up in Fort Myers. Lisa is a graduate of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and was crowned homecoming queen during her senior year. She graduated Edison Community College in 2003 with her Associate of Science degree. In December 2009, Lisa graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Director of Finance:
Marie Jordan - bio coming soon
Interpreter Coordinator and Staff Interpreter:
Farida Hunter (QA 1) joined DSC as a staff interpreter in 2011 and became the Interpreter Coordinator in 2012. She has lived in the Southwest Florida area since she was a teenager and learned sign language because her younger brother is Deaf. Farida has a B.S. degree in Special Education from the University of South Florida and worked as a teacher in Hillsborough County for several years. She is excited to be a part of the DSC team!
Receptionist:
Michelle Edwards - bio coming soon
Website Designer:
Amy Sanchez (CI/CT, NIC Advanced, BEI Advanced) joined the Deaf Service Center team in 2005. From her fantastic home in Texas she designs the DSC website. Amy is a Florida native and began interpreting in 1994. Her Bachelor of Arts degree is in Deaf Education and Elementary Education from Flagler College. She graduated with honors from Gallaudet University with her Master of Arts degree in Interpretation. Amy has experience interpreting in a variety of settings, including medical appointments, business meetings, conferences, video relay service, theater, k-12 schools, undergraduate courses, and graduate courses. She currently works with Sorenson VRS as a Professional Development Specialist.
Executive Director and Director of Programs:
Lori Timson (QA 2) began working at the Deaf Service Center in 1998. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Educational Sign Language Interpreting from the University of South Florida in 2001. As the DSC Director of Programs, Lori schedules interpreting assignments, provides outreach presentations, coordinates & teaches American Sign Language classes, and provides interpreting services.
FTRI Telephone Equipment Loans Program Coordinator:
Dianna Druding is the DSC Program Coordinator for the Florida Telecommunications Relay equipment distribution and outreach program.
Shared Reading Project Program Coordinator and Data Entry Clerk:
Lisa Myhand has been involved with the Deaf Service Center for the past several years in many roles - board member, volunteer, and currently as our Shared Reading Project Program Coordinator and Data Entry Clerk. She was born in Titusville and grew up in Fort Myers. Lisa is a graduate of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and was crowned homecoming queen during her senior year. She graduated Edison Community College in 2003 with her Associate of Science degree. In December 2009, Lisa graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Director of Finance:
Marie Jordan - bio coming soon
Interpreter Coordinator and Staff Interpreter:
Farida Hunter (QA 1) joined DSC as a staff interpreter in 2011 and became the Interpreter Coordinator in 2012. She has lived in the Southwest Florida area since she was a teenager and learned sign language because her younger brother is Deaf. Farida has a B.S. degree in Special Education from the University of South Florida and worked as a teacher in Hillsborough County for several years. She is excited to be a part of the DSC team!
Receptionist:
Michelle Edwards - bio coming soon
Website Designer:
Amy Sanchez (CI/CT, NIC Advanced, BEI Advanced) joined the Deaf Service Center team in 2005. From her fantastic home in Texas she designs the DSC website. Amy is a Florida native and began interpreting in 1994. Her Bachelor of Arts degree is in Deaf Education and Elementary Education from Flagler College. She graduated with honors from Gallaudet University with her Master of Arts degree in Interpretation. Amy has experience interpreting in a variety of settings, including medical appointments, business meetings, conferences, video relay service, theater, k-12 schools, undergraduate courses, and graduate courses. She currently works with Sorenson VRS as a Professional Development Specialist.
