The Current Arkansas Deaf Leadership Council Members
•Arkansas Association of the Deaf (AAD)
•AR Dept of Health’s Infant Hearing Program (IHP)
• AR Interpreter Licensure Board
• Arkansas Deaf-Blind Community (ADBC)
• Arkansas Deaf Career Center (ADCC)
• Arkansas Deaf Heritage Center (ADHC)
• Arkansas Educational Interpreters
• Arkansas Hands & Voices (H&V)
• Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID)
• Arkansas Rehab Services (ARS)
• Arkansas School for the Deaf (ASD)
• ASD Alumni Association (ASDAA)
• CAYSI (Children and Youth with Sensory Impairments)
• Deaf United Organization (DUO)
• Jamar Kavon Hildreth Foundation Inc.
• Listen With Your Eyes Dance Troupe
• Little Creek Behavioral Health
• Little Rock Association of the Deaf (LRAD)
• Little Rock Black Deaf Advocates (LRBDA)
• Little Rock Deaf Community Center (LRDCC)
• North Central AR Association of the Deaf (NCAAD)
• Northwest AR Association of the Deaf, Inc.
• Partners for Inclusive Communities
• Professor of Audiology and Otolaryngology
• Sign Language Interpreter Network (SLIN)
• Sorenson
• Special Education Division ADE (SED)
• TAP Telecommunications Access Prog. ARS
• UALR Interpreting Education Program (IEP)
• UALR’s Sign Language Club (SLK)
Arkansas Department of Health’s Infant Hearing Program (IHP)
The Arkansas Department of Health’s mission is “To protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans”. The Infant Hearing Program strives to implement the missions intent by serving as the state’s early hearing detection and intervention program coordinating a system of care to assist in identifying children birth to three years with a hearing condition and connecting Deaf or Hard of Hearing children to early intervention services.
Representative: Nidhi Patel (Outreach Coordinator)
Nidhi Patel is an outreach coordinator for the Infant Hearing Program (IHP) in Arkansas’ state assist in identifying children birth to three years with a hearing condition and connecting Deaf or Hard of Hearing children to early intervention services. Providing follow-up to families and healthcare professional with children that do not pass the newborn hearing screening to ensure infants are receiving additional evaluation and appropriate connection to intervention services in the recommended 1-3-6 timeframes. Additionally, efforts to develop educational martials and engage to coordinate all stakeholders (PCPs, audiologists, early interventionist, and parents) in providing services for children birth to 3 years of age. Also, educates and trains stakeholders in accordance with the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommendations and evidence-based practices to promote optimal outcomes for children at risk or identified with a hearing condition.
Representative: JR Courtright (Director)
J.R. Courtright, currently works at the Arkansas School for the Deaf as the Director of Ark. Deaf Career Center since 1998. He is a graduate of the Arkansas School for the Deaf, class of ’87. He graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in 1990. J.R. married Cheri who is a Child of Deaf Adults (C.O.D.A.) and A.S.L. professor at Pulaski Tech College and they have three children. The oldest one is hearing (C.O.D.A.), the middle one is Deaf and last one is hearing (C.O.D.A.). J.R. is an advocate for the Deaf community by being a leader in his community since 1985. Currently, he is currently a member of Little Rock Association of the Deaf, Little Rock Community Center, Arkansas Association of the Deaf and National Association of the Deaf. He has provided trainings regarding Deafhood, Deaf culture, and ASL and many related parenting classes for houseparents and staff at ASD and other Deaf schools.
Representative: Allyson Caruthers
Arkansas Hands and Voices (H&V)
To provide Arkansas families with the necessary resources, networking, and information in order to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children.
Representative: Belinda Kittrell, Guide By Your Side (Parent Guide & Board Member)
I joined the Arkansas Hands and Voices family in 2010 shortly after my daughter was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. I needed information and wanted to talk to families who also had children who were deaf and hard of hearing. This organization has provided me with support, information, and a loving group of friends.
Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID)
Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID) is a non-profit organization which provides professional development opportunities to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters within the state to help them maintain their state license and certifications/credentials that they possess as well as ensure they have the skills needed to provide the best interpretation to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities that we serve.
Representative: Nick Winchell (ARID President)
Nick Winchell (He/Him) is an Arkansas Licensed Interpreter and has been interpreting within the Arkansas Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing communities since 2015. He currently holds Mid-America Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) and EIPA credentials. Nick has worked in a variety of settings; his favorite setting to interpret is anything related to the practice of medicine.
Nick began his studies at Adirondack Community College, Queensbury, NY; However, he relocated to Central Arkansas in 2012 to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) Interpreter Education Program. He received a B.A. degree in ASL/English Interpretation in 2015.
While at UA Little Rock, Nick served as a student representative for the ARID Biennial conference in Springdale, Arkansas (2013) and Little Rock, Arkansas (2015). He also served as President and Member-at-Large for the campus organization, SLK (Sigma Lambda Kappa), the sign language club sponsored by UA Little Rock for students.
Nick has served as the President (2012-2023) and Treasurer (2017-2019) & (2019-2021) for the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID) Board of Directors and served on the ARID Biennial Fundraising Committee Chair (2017). He also enjoys mentoring students in his free time. Nick is excited to have the opportunity to serve as ARID President again for the 2023-2025 term and see what he and his board can do to advance our profession within the state of Arkansas!
Representative: Holly Ketchum (Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coordinator/VR Counselor)
Holly Ketchum, a native of Little Rock, obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Since 2001, she has worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coordinator at Arkansas Rehabilitation Services. In addition to her work, she serves on the Advisory Council for the Telecommunication Access Program (TAP). She had served on the Advisory board for Interpreters between Hearing individuals and Individuals who are deaf and Hard of Hearing for 4 years. She had served as an officer and board member with the Arkansas Association of the Deaf (AAD) for more than 25 years, and, she had served as a board member for the National Association of the Deaf for almost six years. She has taught ASL courses for the Interpreter Education Program at the UALR since 2001.
Children and Youth with Sensory Impairments (CAYSI)
1401 West Capitol Ave. Suite 450 Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-4221
Communication Plus+ Interpreter Services, Inc.
The current Chairperson of the Arkansas Deaf Leadership Council is the CEO of Communication Plus+ Interpreter Services Will Gorum.
Representative: Will Gorum (CEO)
Will Gorum began his interpreting career 28 years ago in his home state of Louisiana and moved to Little Rock in 2001. He majored in ASL/English interpreting and minored in educational interpreting at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Interpreter Education Program. Will holds multiple nationally recognized interpreter certifications from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) including the Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration (CI and CT), the Oral Transliteration Certificate (OTC), National Interpreter Certification: Master (NIC: Master), Ed: K – 12 certificate, and Court Interpreter Certification from the Texas Board for Evaluation of Interpreters. He has also worked as a speech-to-text captioner since 2001. Will is the current President/CEO of Communication Plus+ Interpreter Services, Inc.
Jamar Kavon Hilreth Foundation Inc.
Our mission is to provide scholarship opportunities to individuals who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing, and/or diagnosed with a disability, as well as those having an interest assisting people with disabilities. We also provide and support programs educating the hearing community on interacting with the deaf/hard-of hearing to promote inclusive environments.
Shey Anderson is the Aunt of the late Jamar Kavon Hildreth and has over twenty years in the human resources profession.
Little Creek Behavioral Health
Little Creek Behavioral Health in Conway, Arkansas, offers Deaf Connections at Little Creek, a comprehensive, personalized mental and behavioral health program for children and adolescents who are deaf or have partial hearing loss. This specialized residential treatment track accepts patients ages 6-17.
Representative: Traci Ketchum (Case Manager)
Traci is the Case Manager for the Deaf Connections program. Traci moved to Arkansas from Austin, Texas in February to join the Deaf Connection team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has 25 years of experience working with Deaf children and Deaf clients. Traci loves the outdoors, enjoys spending time with her Deaf family fishing, hiking and takes advantage of the outdoors by taking long walks with her dogs, Asher and Aspen.
Little Rock Deaf Community Center (LRDCC)
The objectives of LRDCC shall be:
- To promote the educational, cultural, and social interests of the Deaf in the general area of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas.
- To actively promote and advance the educational, cultural, vocational, and economic standards of the Deaf within the scope of Section 501 (3) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Representative: JR Courtright (President)
J.R. Courtright, currently works at the Arkansas School for the Deaf as the Director of Ark. Deaf Career Center since 1998. He is a graduate of the Arkansas School for the Deaf, class of ’87. He graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in 1990. J.R. married Cheri who is a Child of Deaf Adults (C.O.D.A.) and A.S.L. professor at Pulaski Tech College and they have three children. The oldest one is hearing (C.O.D.A.), the middle one is Deaf and last one is hearing (C.O.D.A.). J.R. is an advocate for the Deaf community by being a leader in his community since 1985. Currently, he is currently a member of Little Rock Association of the Deaf, Little Rock Community Center, Arkansas Association of the Deaf and National Association of the Deaf. He has provided trainings regarding Deafhood, Deaf culture, and ASL and many related parenting classes for houseparents and staff at ASD and other Deaf schools.
Representative: Cheri Courtright (Director of Interpreting)
Cheri Courtright is the Director of Interpreting, for the geographical locations of Arkansas/Oklahoma, Sorenson Communications, the world’s leading communication service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Mrs. Courtright recruits and trains new interpreters, manages working interpreters on a variety of platforms such as Video Relay Services, Video Remote Interpreting and on-site/in-person.
The UA Little Rock – Interpreter Education Program (IEP)
The UA Little Rock Interpreter Education Program prepares interpreters and transliterators of American Sign Language (ASL) and English, oral transliterators and interpreters for persons who are DeafBlind to work in a variety of community settings with diverse populations. The program assumes a leadership role in disseminating knowledge, resources, and service to the Arkansas community, to the region, and throughout the United States.
School of Counseling, Human Performance & Rehabilitation (CHPR)
College of Business, Health and Human Services (CBHHS)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Representative: Dr. Meagan Beaty (Program Coordinator)
Dr. Meagan Beaty is the Program Coordinator for the Interpreter Education Program(IEP) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She graduated from the IEP in 2013 and has worked in the Interpreting and Deaf Communities ever since. Dr. Beaty has worked with local, regional, and national organizations to support the growth and development of interpreting students. She looks forward to working with the DLC to do the same for the Deaf communities of Arkansas.
Meagan Beaty, Ed.D, NIC | Assistant Professor
Coordinator | Interpreter Education Program
501.916.6254 office | 501.916.3169 Adm. Asst. | 501.916.8129 fax
Pronouns: she/her/hers
David Yerby provides photography content that is tailored to the client’s creative needs by producing high level, high quality imagery to be used on multiple platforms and mediums to efficiently capture the audience’s attention and to show a body of work that focuses on a client’s story, message or campaign. Focused on the editorial, advertising, non-profit, and personal branding markets, Yerby provides his clients with an eye-catching body of work using diverse methods of photography styles and techniques.
Representative: David Yerby (Photographer)
David Yerby is an award winning editorial and commercial photographer based in Little Rock. Born Deaf and a business owner for over 20 years, his journey as a photographer has taken him all over the country producing a diverse body of photography work for his clients and notable people such as four US Presidents. Some of his clients and publications are Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, TIME, Vogue, Newsweek, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Arkansas Business Publishing Group, AY Magazine, Arkansas Life, Arkansas Razorbacks, Clinton Foundation, Converse, Hollister, The Grammy Awards, Billboard, America Red Cross, Getty Images, Associated Press, and more.
david@davidyerby.com
501-282-0753