We are excited about our upcoming #CDRchat Twitter session happening this Thursday, September 15^th at 2pm EST! We will be discussing Deaf Insight and Advocacy. Co-hosting this #CDRchat discussion are Jonathan Dollhopf, our Deaf Systems Advocate, Ray Kenney, longtime advocate and also owner of Sign Language Connection, and Sean Gerlis, President of Empire State Association of the Deaf.

We are looking forward to discussing Deaf Insight & Advocacy! Join us in the twitter #CDRchat on September 15^th at 2pm!

How to participate:
– When the chat begins, check out the live-stream: http://twubs.com/CDRchat or search #CDRchat on Twitter for live tweets.
– Follow @CDRNYS, @nojjon21, @SeanGerlis, and @Ray12350 on Twitter.
– Use the hashtag #CDRchat when you tweet.
– Check out the article explaining how to participate in a Twitter chat! https://storify.com/RutiRegan/examplechat

Twitter Co-hosts:

Jonathan Dollhopf
@nojjon21

Jonathan Dollhopf started as Deaf Services Coordinator for Southern Tier Independence Center in Binghamton from 2008 to 2014. Prior working as Deaf Systems Advocate at Regional Center for Independent Living, RCIL, he lived in Seoul, South Korea for nearly a year. While he was living there, he taught American Sign Language (ASL). Currently Jonathan is heavily involved with our other Systems Advocates and meets with legislators, city councils, and more to discuss accessibility issues. He is also on the Deaf Police Integrative Committee that aims to improve the communication among the police and Deaf community in Monroe County.

Sean Gerlis, SILAN
@SeanGerlis

Sean Gerlis is a native of the New York City area and is the 3rd generation of his family to be deaf. Sean has 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry building innovative products and services that transform communication capabilities for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Along with New York’s local interpreting community, Sean co-founded SILAN Communications, sign language interpreting referral agency in New York City and has been promoting higher standards of quality in interpreting through workshops and community education. As a subject matter expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sean is heavily involved with access for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind in New York State. Sean is also involved in the Text-to-911 program in the southern part of New York. During his spare time, Sean provides workshops on ADA-related topics concerning effective communication. Sean is currently providing Effective Communication workshops across the country and lives in West Nyack with his two boys. He serves as President of the Empire State Association of the Deaf, Treasurer for the New York City Metro Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, contributing member to both different organizations, Deaf Justice Coalition and Special Needs Advisory Group of the Office of Emergency Management Agency in New York City.

Raymond T. Kenney, CDI
@Ray12350

Raymond T Kenney, CDI, has been a longtime advocate. Ray has an extensive background too numerous to include. Just a few highlights. He has served with Empire State Association of the Deaf as its President for 3 terms and he had just completed 10 years of service to Regional Center for Independent Living, RCIL, and Center for Disability Rights, CDR, including a one year term as Chair of their Board of Directors. Ray was also a member of Deaf Advisory Council for Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. He has been Certified Deaf Interpreter, CDI, for several years and owns Sign Language Connection, Inc.