Advocacy for Incarcerated Deaf Individuals

Dr. Mei Kennedy brings personal and professional insight to her advocacy work, shaped by firsthand experience navigating the U.S. justice system while supporting her Deaf father during his seven and half years of incarceration in federal prison. A third-generation Deaf parent and the mother of a hearing son with autism, Dr. Kennedy champions inclusive practices across multiple communities.

She holds a doctorate in Instructional Design for Online Learning and consults on the integration of technology to enhance educational access for Deaf students. Dr. Kennedy serves as an impact advisor for the documentary Being Michelle, which spotlights the story of a Deaf woman with autism incarcerated in a system that failed to accommodate her. She is also a co-producer of the documentary Walker, which expands on the narrative first explored in the short film Breaking Silence, chronicling a Deaf father’s journey to becoming a prison chaplain after his daughter was incarcerated.

Her leadership extends to national organizations, having served on the boards of Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) and Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD).

Lisa Gonzales serves as the Statewide Deaf Access Specialist for the California Department of Developmental Services, where she leads strategic initiatives to advance accessibility and expand services for Deaf individuals across the state. With decades of experience as a Deaf interpreter and advocate, she began her full-time career with the Los Angeles Superior Court, providing interpretation services across diverse legal settings—including children's court, dependency court, and criminal trials—supporting victims, witnesses, defendants, and plaintiffs alike.

Her role frequently extended beyond the courtroom, collaborating with attorneys during jail visits to conduct mental competency assessments and prepare for trial. Lisa’s commitment to justice and accessibility continued at the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), where she served as Advocate Supervisor. In this capacity, she worked extensively with Deaf inmates housed in California Department of Corrections facilities, directly supporting over fifty individuals to ensure appropriate accommodations were implemented. Her efforts contributed to statewide reforms aligned with the Armstrong Remedial Plan, promoting systemic improvements in accessibility within the prison system.

In 2025, Lisa was recognized with the Outstanding Leadership for DeafPlus Individuals award by NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to linguistic access, human rights, and transformative advocacy for the Deaf community across institutional systems.

Stefanie O'Brien's professional expertise lies at the intersection of criminal justice and interpreting. Her academic credentials include an M.A. in Interpreting Studies, an M.S. in Criminal Justice: Law & Public Policy, and a B.S. in Occupational Studies with an emphasis on Emergency Services. Stefanie holds associate degrees in Interpreting Preparation (IPP), ASL/Deaf Studies, Language, and Liberal Arts and is currently pursuing a D/HH Educational Specialist teaching credential.

In Stefanie's recent Action Research Project at Western Oregon University, published in April 2025 as "Navigating the Labyrinth Through a Cultural Advocacy Perspective: Exploring a Staff Sign Language Interpreter’s Role in a California Prison," Stefanie delved into the multifaceted role of a Staff Sign Language Interpreter within a California women's correctional institution. This 3-year qualitative study specifically examined how an interpreter facilitated communication through sign language, ensured ADA compliance, advocated for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) inmates, provided ad hoc educational instruction, and mediated communication disparities, ultimately highlighting the intricate interplay between legal mandates, institutional constraints, and power dynamics in such a specialized setting.

Stefanie's professional background includes extensive freelance interpreting work across diverse environments, including medical, K-12, and post-secondary settings. Additionally, Stefanie brings over 16 years of experience in law enforcement and over four years of service at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. Stefanie is also a certified ADA Coordinator.