5.18: DEAF TALKS

WSRID & Deaf Spotlight are excited to bring back Deaf Talks. Deaf Talks focuses on highlighting the kaleidoscope of insight and experiences within the Deaf/DeafBlind communities. This is a community event for sharing ideas, exploring new concepts and introducing attendees to the latest knowledge, concerns, and inspirations in the Deaf/ DeafBlind communities.  

To get CEU, the CEU option will show up in your cart after you select a ticket. 

MC: Stephanie Mathis, WSRID President

Presenter Lineup

• Guthrie Nutter, How Art Supports Language Acquisition: A Personal Experience
• Paul Glaser, Life as a Deaf Teacher in Mainstream Settings
• Sev Huffman, We Adapt, We Thrive: AI and the Deaf Community
• Rogan Shannon, Roll for Accessibility
• Jacob Shamberg, We Are as Goofs: Art, Play, and AI
• Wilma Dennis, Intersectionality & You
• Kellie Martin, The Invisible Burn 

 

Presenter: Guthrie Nutter, How Art Supports Language Acquisition: A Personal Experience 

Summary: Through a series of personal stories, Guthrie will share how art in different mediums played a large role in supporting bilingual language acquisition in ASL and English. 

Bio: Guthrie currently works at CSD and Gallaudet University. In the span of 25 years, they have received Broadway and TV credits, along with working with Deaf Spotlight on numerous projects. Guthrie has credited the Pacific Northwest as an integral part of their formative years, culminating in completing a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. They currently reside in Washington DC. 

IG: @guthrienutter  

 

Presenter: Paul Glaser, Life as a Deaf Teacher in Mainstream Settings 

Summary: A Deaf teacher in a mainstream setting has been facing unique challenges, offering a diverse perspective and serving as a role model for both colleagues and students. Considerations/challenges will be mentioned during the presentation.  

Bio: Paul Glaser is an Ohio native, but Washington State is his home. He graduated from Gallaudet University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Communications Studies in 2003. Then Paul attended Rochester Institute of Technology for his master's degree in Deaf Education with a focus of mathematics in 2005. During his graduate career, he focused on collecting and researching math signs for K-12 settings. 

 

Presenter: Sev Huffman, We Adapt, We Thrive: AI and the Deaf Community 

Summary: Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are shaping how people communicate and access information—but they weren’t built for the Deaf community. This session explores how Deaf individuals adapt these technologies, develop unique usage patterns, and how we can thoughtfully harness AI’s potential while advocating for more inclusive design. 

Bio: China-born, US-educated. From mainstream to Deaf schools, I found my passion for computer science and embraced my Deaf identity. Now a software engineer, adjunct professor, researcher, and columnist, I bridge accessibility and tech. Outside work, I swim, doodle, and seek adventures with loved ones. 

 

Presenter: Rogan Shannon, Roll for Accessibility 

Summary: The Deaf and signing community is full of storytellers. Yet, we’re very underrepresented in the tabletop roleplaying game community. How can these communities learn from each other? 

Bio: Rogan Shannon is a homegrown PNWer, a Deaf interpreter, a queer and disabled advocate, a bibliophile, a gamer (TTRPG and board games), and a creative. Their creative work includes digital art, various physical media, acting and improv, and making YouTube videos about various topics, including books, queerness, and being deaf.  

IG: @shan_no_nosays 

 

Presenter: Jacob Shamberg, We Are as Goofs: Art, Play, and AI 

Summary: We Are as Goofs: Art, Play, and AI explores our innate, god-like impulse to imagine, play, and create—and why our creative instincts matter more than ever as AI tools flood the scene. Time to get weirder, wilder, and feral.  

Bio: Jacob (they/them) is a multi-disciplinary artist who has worked in fashion, film, architecture, design, and app development. They are currently goofing off with creativity, language, and technology, chasing weird magic wherever it wants to play. 

IG: @deafspark 

 

Presenter: Wilma Dennis, Intersectionality & You 

Summary: This PowerPoint explores intersectionality through a Black Deaf lens, introducing Kimberlé Crenshaw and the history of the concept. It features visuals, examines gendered racism, stereotypes, and cultural pressures, and briefly explains why understanding intersectionality is essential for recognizing layered identities and systemic inequalities. 

Bio: Wilma Dennis is a proud Black & Filipina woman, she is the ADWAS Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator. She is a mom and enjoys music and dancing! 

 

Presenter: Kellie Martin, The Invisible Burn  

Summary: In this presentation, I share my personal journey navigating creative burnout while living with chronic illness, recovery, managing high-stress roles in the nonprofit arts world, and growing my own art business. In a time where doomscrolling, political turmoil blurs, and uncertainty feel ever-present, keeping up with the creative world can feel exhausting and overwhelming. I reflect on how burnout shows up in my body and work, and how I’ve learned—often the hard way—to prioritize rest as a constant practice, not just a reward. This talk offers gentle strategies for finding joy, reclaiming energy, and making peace with the quiet in-between spaces, especially when everything feels too much or impossible. Rest can help us to feel hope and joy without any shame. 

Bio: Kellie Martin is a Deaf queer nonbinary illustrator, thespian, and queer artist. They have worked with Deaf Spotlight for 8 years, leading the Art & Design Program to uplift Deaf artists and the creative community. Their work centers identity, mental health, and whimsical storytelling through ASL and visual art. 

IG: @kelliemartinart