Rona lisa Notton - Spokane, Washington
Rona lisa is a hearing child of deaf adults (CODA). She grew up with deaf parents and grandparents and is very comfortable in the deaf world. She received her college education in Massachusetts with a degree in elementary special education. Rona lisa taught hearing impaired and deaf students at the Learning Prep School in West Newton, MA. for several years. While working at LPS, Rona lisa attended graduate school at Boston University in Psycholinguistics. She mostly did research on language acquisition of hearing children of deaf parents. Although fascinating, her interest shifted to working more with deaf adults. Eventually, she decided to move to Washington, D.C. to continue her education at Gallaudet University (the only undergraduate University in the United States for hearing impaired and deaf students. Gallaudet University is also a graduate school for specialization in areas of deafness). This is where she formalized her deaf education and ASL training for two years. Rona lisa received her Masters of Arts in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling for the Deaf.
Just after graduate school, Rona lisa gave birth to her son, Jeremy. Before the recognition of the benefits of learning signs at an early age…Rona lisa was already “on it” and using baby ASL signs with Jeremy right from the hospital!! Jeremy was also fortunate to have all of his family members using signs as much as possible. He started signing words at six months and two word utterances at the age of eight months. Needless to say, we were all delighted in his ability to communicate – not to mention the joy in seeing his grandparents communicate with their grandson. Two years later, Rona lisa’s daughter, Marissa was born and she followed in Jeremy’s footsteps! The most amazing phenomenon was watching Jeremy and Marissa communicate with each other using signs when talking. Because of Marissa’s excellent communication skills – perhaps, fortunately…no one knew that she was hearing impaired until the age of 3 years old. She really had us fooled.
Much has happened since then…
Jeremy graduated from Santa Clara University in CA. and Marissa graduated from University of Puget Sound in WA. They are both successful business entrepreneurs.
After raising her children, Rona lisa went back to work as the Family Service Coordinator for ECEAP (Early Childhood Assistance Program) at the YWCA. She loves her job and has always been able to use her love of signing to teach the kiddos, teachers… and soon to the ECEAP parents (so they don’t feel too left out)!!! The interest seems to be “snowballing” so Rona lisa checked out various “You Tube” sites regarding infant and toddler signs.
“I was immediately amazed and fascinated when I saw Laura and Fireese Berg sign together over the years!!! I further investigated Laura’s “My Smart Hands” program and found it to be exactly what I wanted to do. After talking with Laura at length, I loved it even more…and now I am proud to say that I am a part of it –
“My Smart Hands” Regional Coordinator and Instructor!!!
I am still in the process of starting up classes – and finding locations… so stay tuned for my website and more details to follow.
You can reach me at:
509-951-4717
509-448-5852
