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Rocky is the founder and director of AZTI, establishing the
Arizona’s first Total Immersion program in June of 2003.
Rocky was born and raised in Colorado, where he took his
first sign language class. In 1991 he and his new bride
moved to South Carolina, where he established friendships
within the Deaf community. Rocky attributes his fluency in
ASL to interaction, instruction and influence by Deaf
friends. It wasn’t until the De Buano’s moved to Phoenix
that Rocky decided to continue his education in Deaf Culture
and interpreting.
Formal education includes:
- A.A.S. in Interpreting and completion of the IPP
from Phoenix College.
- B.S.E. Special Education, Rehabilitation & Deaf
Culture, University of Arizona
- 4 year diploma- Ministerial Studies, Berean
University
- RID Nationally Certified Interpreter
Rocky serves as a free lance interpreter and is the owner of Arizona
Sign Language Interpreting for the Deaf LLC (ASLID).
If you are an interpreter and would like to obtain work,
click here.
Additionally, Rocky is an accomplished public speaker and has
presented many workshops on interpreting and Deaf topics. During 2006
Rocky presented two workshops at RID’s region 5 conference in Anchorage
Alaska, was the keynote speaker for the Kansas State Interpreters
Conference, in addition to many other local, state and national speaking
engagements.
To see a listing of Rocky’s current topics click here.
Rocky is married to a beautiful young lady name Jessica,
who also signs, and has the worlds best daughter named Logan
Hope. The De Buano’s make their home in Peoria, AZ.
Joan graduated from Gallaudet University in 81' and St. Joseph in
93.' She holds an MA in Special Education and Elementary Education and
currently works as a teacher at the American School for the Deaf in
Hartford, CT. Joan has taught ASL for more than 30 years and is known
for her instruction in advanced Sign Language classes for Universities
and Interpreter training. Joan actively serves the community as a tutor,
mentor and provides Deaf awareness to the hearing communities in CT, MA,
RI, HN, VT, NY, AZ, DC. Joan has taught workshops in over 30 states.
Joan is also a professional actor and story teller and has performed for
organizations such as Miss Deaf Pageant, National Deaf Seniors
Convention, National ASLTA, White House council on Disabilities as well
as colleges and high schools. Other credits include:
- Member of RID, NAD, CAD, GUAA-CT, ASLTA, CRIDDERS, SOUND OFF
Theatre
- Previous work with the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), Deaf
Works and the Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Impaired in
CT.
- CDI interpreter
- ASL conultant for Bushnell Theatre and Hartford Stage
Robert DeMayo is a professional actor and is well known for his
contributions to Deaf theater throughout the United States. Robert is a
native of Connecticut but currently resides in Philadelphia (the city of
Brotherly Love). Currently, Robert works at the Amaryllis Theatre Co. as
an ASL production artistic associate. Robert has traveled thought out
the United States and has performed on numerous stages in a variety of
settings. His professional resume of Deaf theatre includes:
- NTID’s Sunshine too
- Cleveland Sign Stage Theatre
- New York Deaf Theatre
- NTD National Theatre of the Deaf
- Robert was instrumental in the founding of a community theatre
called “Sound Off” and was a performer in the hit production of
“Murder by Pager; Who did it?" and “Jim and Judy’s Deaf Wedding.”
Robert is also known for his work as a freelance performer, ASL
consultant, Translator of English based scripts into ASL, and an HIV/
AIDS educator.
Robert has many years’ experience as a total immersion staff member
and is known for his unique style of teaching. Robert believes “learning
should be fun” and had mastered the art of teaching classifiers, facial
expression, mouth morphemes and characterization. This will be Robert’s
third year on AZTI staff.
I was born in Bemidji, Minnesota where I spent my early
years. I studied at Minneapolis Design & Art College and St.
Paul TVI, now named St. Paul College. My professional career
in Minnesota began as a Media Artist designing and
implementing cartoon animation, storyboard and illustration
at Deaf Media Project. As a Commercial Artist for Wendell's
Inc. I designed commemorative coins. Later, at Crosfield
Dicomed Inc. I began my work as a Computer Graphics Artist
with responsibilities of meeting with clients, assessing
their needs, creating and managing computer graphics
projects, and presenting concepts and artwork. Upon coming
to Phoenix, where I now live, I furthered my education at
Glendale Community College studying in-depth technical
processes, computer graphic art, photography and 3D
animation. While in school here, I began tutoring students
in English as a second language and ASL I and II classes.
For three years now I have been teaching at Restoration
School of Ministry where currently I teach ASL Levels I, II
and III classes. In 1980, I had a goal of starting my own
business as a professional Computer Graphics, 3D Artist and
Designer, hence the beginning of Rom's Creative Studio. I
invite you to visit my newly created website:
www.romscreativestudio.net .
Steven Simmons currently resides in Salem Oregon where he teaches
high school at the Oregon School for the Deaf. Steven holds a Masters of
Science in Deaf education from Western Oregon University and his BS
degree from Springfield College in Mass. In addition to his skill as a
profession teacher, Steven offers a variety of experiences as a unique
background to the AZTI team. Steven is well known for his teaching style
and ability to help each student reach his or her signing goals.
Steven’s experience in teaching ASL includes:
- Coordination adult education classes in the Salem area,
- ASL consultant/tutor,
- Instructor for the immersion program in Washington, Connecticut
as well as Arizona.
Additionally, Steven is a member of ASLTA and serves as a
representative for the Deaf community in Portland Oregon area.
Robin received her B.A. degree from Gallaudet University in
Washington, D.C. She is currently a full-time American Sign Language
Lecturer at Arizona State University. She has taught ASL and Deaf
Culture for the past 21 years at local community colleges and
universities in both Arizona and Massachusetts. She also works for the
Distance Opportunities Interpreter Training Center in Denver, Colorado
as a Mentor. She has been a mentor for interpreting students, working to
improve and upgrade their skills for the past 8 years. She provides
workshops for educational interpreters, has been a consultant for
parents of Deaf children, and has spoken to various companies and
organizations about ASL and Deaf Culture.
Robin has two beautiful daughters. Nicolette is 7 years old and is
hearing and Kay-Lin is 4 years old, from China, and deaf.
Donna is currently employed by the Department of Speech & Hearing
Science at Arizona State University. She was previously in Atlanta,
Georgia where she worked full time at the Atlanta Area School for the
Deaf as a behavioral specialist, teacher, and outreach coordinator.
Before that, Donna served as Director of Educational Resources Center on
Deafness, Southeast Region, for Gallaudet University and as Community
Outreach Coordinator for the Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired.
In addition to her professional career, Donna has acted in several
theatre performances and video productions which will no doubt enhance
her work with our ASL Programs.
David Bailey |
