Beyond the Spectrum: Community of Voices

Bee Vicars, a Deaf ADHDer,  is a full time Deaf Studies lecturer at Sacramento State University, and has adult children who are also neurodivergent. She is a culture researcher, consultant, and advocate who has advised on a variety of topics that lead to a greater cultural understanding of the Deaf community, particularly from the different Deaf intersectional and disability lenses.

Presently she serves as a moderator for a number of social media groups which focuses on providing support to members of the Deaf community in developing their own Deaf identity, as well as support for Deaf consumers who use ASL interpreters.

Isis Dixon received her BA in Deaf studies and Interpreting from Bethel University, of Mishawaka. Excluding her sojourn in Arizona as a child, she has been a lifelong resident of South Bend, Indiana. Isis Dixon has worked as an interpreter for 16 years,14 of which, as a Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreter for Sorenson Communications. During this time, Isis has interpreted for the NAACP Hazel B. Luncheon, The Human Rights Commission and concerts for: Blues Bash, National Women’s Music Festival, Kidz Bop, and grammy-nominated recording artist Flo Rida. Since 2020, until present, Isis has devoted time mentoring and supporting minority Interpreting Training Program (ITP) students. When she’s not interpreting and or supporting students, she enjoys: creating art, writing poetry, dancing, nature walks, music, family, and spending time with her grandson, which is the highlight of her life.

Hi I am Nykk! I am Queer DeafBlind Transman. I have a few rare medical conditions including JRK +\- genetic defect. I also have Autism/ ADHD OCD and cPTSD. I am often told that I'm resilient & full of integrity. Due to my conditions, I get around with my very large 140lb guide dog or my white cane. I feel accomplished with 2 double MA degrees in law and psychology + an advanced certificate as a dialectical behavioral therapist (DBT). I have multiple peer reviewed and research publications as well as poem, prose & short stories. You can often find me near water or nature. I love a good thrill/ high adrenaline adventure. I also skateboard, snowboard, do competitive horseback (barrel racing & pole bending in rodeos). I am also one of the nations limited number of DeafBlind mentors / trainers that works with PLI and Tactile Communications to train interpreters and fellow DB persons on the amazing language of Protactile and of DeafBlind culture and DB technology/ communication access and technology training. I am always willing to be reached out to if you need support or a friend!

Picture Description: A selfie of Nykk, a light skinned mixed race masculine presenting queer, while waiting at the bus stop. They have a fade haircut with curly hair on top. Nykk is wearing a grey Reebok rain coat with a white shirt under that has print black flowers patterns. Nykk has dark wide frame RX glasses with transition lens, 3 gauge piercings in each ear, a septum and lip piecing as well. They have earbuds in that are custom made and amplified so they can “rattle their ears” to the best of some loud music- their favorite band is NF.

Amanda Kennon, MA, NIC, is a freelance interpreter, mentor, and presenter in the Philadelphia, PA suburbs. She received her B.A. in Interpreting and ASL/ Deaf Studies from Maryville College and her M.A. in. Interdisciplinary Studies: Individualized Studies: Ethics and Interpreting from George Mason University, completing her Capstone Project, “Ethics & Professional Identity: A Proposed Curriculum for Students in Interpreter Education Programs.” During her seventeen-year career, Amanda has worked in a variety of settings, mentored students and novice interpreters, and served on the VRID Board in multiple roles.   Parenting a neurodivergent child spurred her to explore the neurodivergent community and her own neurodivergence. Recently diagnosed with ADHD, she is continually learning about herself and reflecting on her personal and professional journey.

Laura Maddux Polhemus (she/her), PhD, NIC Advanced, BEI Advanced, has been involved with the Deaf community for more than 23 years as an ASL student, interpreter, interpreter educator, and friend. Laura gained her BBA in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University before adding an AAS in Interpreter Training from Tyler Junior College. She studied Applied Linguistics at Texas Tech for her MA, and her thesis focused on having ASL students and Deaf students of English help each other with their language learning from a distance. Laura received her PhD in interpretation from Gallaudet University in 2015, during Her dissertation resulted in a publication, “Source Attribution in ASL-English Interpreter Education: Testing a Method”, with the International Journal of Interpreter Education. While obtaining her PhD she was diagnosed with ADHD, and has been on a journey to discover what that means in her life and work ever since. She has also investigated self-talk in interpreters, and published “The Committee in My Head: Examining Self-Talk of American Sign Language-English Interpreters” in Translation and Interpretation Studies. She has also done research on how novices and experts experience self-talk and how to improve interpreting students’ self-efficacy. Laura was heavily involved in planning and running the 2015 and 2019 World Association of Sign Language Interpreters Conferences. She has presented for CIT, RID, Critical Link, TSID, and more. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Bethel University in Mishawaka, IN where she searches out methods to teach her increasing number of neurodivergent students.