About Us
Mailing Address:
The Michigan Chapter of AG Bell Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
P.O. Box 250137
Franklin, MI 48025
E-mail: Listening@miagbell.org
Website: http://www.miagbell.org
Area Representatives:
If you are interested in finding out more about Michigan AG Bell, please contact the appropriate person below:
Detroit – North and West Metropolitan area
Shon Halacka, President: ShonHalacka@miagbell.org
Detroit – East and South area
Mark Reeve: reeve.mark@att.net
Jackson and Southern Michigan
Becky Selenko: rjselenko@frontier.com
Mid-Michigan area
Julie Steele: juliesteele@miagbell.org
2011-2013 Michigan Chapter Board
The 2012-2013 Board of Directors was elected by ballot at our General Membership meeting held in conjunction with our 2011 Fall Conference in Okemos, Michigan. During this meeting, our by-laws were also updated, primarily to allow for electronic communication and voting, and to hold our General Membership meeting biennially rather than annually. Thank you to the membership for your support of these items.
SONYA FRITZ: I am the mother of Jonathan (age 20) and Brittany (age 17). As a stay-at-home mom for several years, I was very involved in both of my children’s education. I decided six years ago to return to school to finish my degree in education that I had started several years prior. In April of 2011, I walked across the stage at Eastern Michigan University to receive my B.S. Special Education, Hearing Impairment degree. Since then I have substitute taught in Washtenaw and Monroe counties and this summer had the privilege of being Co-Director of the MI A.G. Bell Summer Camp. Currently, I am working at the University of Michigan Pediatric Otolaryngology Department supporting Otolaryngologist, Audiologist, and Physician Assistants.
SHON HALACKA: I was elected President of MI AG Bell in May 2010. I am the parent of three adult children with hearing losses ranging from severe to profound. I also serve on the Board of Trustees of New Horizons Rehabilitation Services, am a Governor’s Appointee to the Michigan Rehabilitation Council, and serve as a Guide in the Guide By Your Side Program under the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. When I find free time, I enjoy sewing, reading and gardening.
DIANE HODGIN: I am married with two wonderful children; Lila (7) and Jenna (5). Lila was diagnosed with LVAS which has lead to bilateral hearing loss. She wears hearing aids and uses an FM system at school. I am also a nurse and I currently work part-time at Troy Beaumont hospital. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
ELISABETH “LIZ” MCCOURT: I have always loved to work with children and sought a career that would allow me to do so. I graduated from Wayne State University with a Master of Arts degree in speech language pathology in 2010. I currently work for the Beaumont Health System as a speech-language pathologist at the Center for Childhood Speech and Language Disorders.
KERRI OLSSON: I work for Macomb County as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. After attending the “Chili Saturday with MI AG Bell” board meeting, I wanted to get more involved!
KERRI OLSSON: I am a teacher of the hearing impaired in Macomb County. I currently work with students with hearing impairments in grades K-2. I enjoy working with my students and seeing the achievements they make on a daily basis. I received my bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in Elementary Education with a Hearing Impaired Endorsement. I also have a Master's degree from Oakland University in Reading and Language Arts with a Reading Specialist Endorsement. In April of 2012, I will earn my second master's in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University. I have a 19 month old boy who also keeps me very busy!
BECKY SELENKO: I have been a board member for several years now. I’m the mother of two children. My youngest was identified at birth with profound hearing loss, and at age one received a cochlear implant. Today, he is an early elementary student at our neighborhood school. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family as well as playing and coaching tennis.
DANIEL SERAPHINOFF: I was diagnosed at the age of 4 years with a severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. I attended the auditory aural program in elementary school, and later was mainstreamed. I am currently working as an electronics engineering laboratory technician at Continental Tire Company. I hold a private pilot’s license. My hobbies are Ham radio, snowmobiling and off road go-carting. I’m married to Christine and we have 2 children. My best experience was getting my hearing restored in 2009 and 2010 with a pair of Advanced Bionics cochlear implants!
HUMA SOOFI: My family moved to Michigan several years ago. I have three children and my daughter, Ayla, has sensori-neural hearing loss and is a successful bilateral cochlear implant user. Ayla has been fully mainstreamed since preschool and now attends her local elementary school. When we first moved to Michigan, I found AG Bell to be a great resource for meeting other parents and for getting information about services available in the area. I have been on the board for several years now.
JULIE STEELE: I currently serve as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Michigan Chapter in addition to my full time position as a teacher consultant for the deaf and hard of hearing for the Lapeer County Intermediate School District. I earned my Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Michigan University, my Master's Degree from Saginaw Valley State University and received my Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification in 2009. In my free time, I enjoy sports and spending time with my twin sons.
TERESA SUNDBERG: I am a Teacher Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the Macomb Intermediate School District. I earned my Bachelor's Degree and Early Childhood Endorsement from Eastern Michigan University and a Master's Degree from Mary Grove College. My youngest son was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss in both ears and has a cochlear implant. I also have a hearing loss in one ear. I enjoy getting outside and playing sports with my husband and two sons.
HEATHER VAN DE STEENE: I'm a graduate of the K-12 HI program at EMU, and am currently completing a MA in Early Childhood Education at EMU. I have served as the AG Bell Summer Camp Director, and Co-Chair since 2009. I currently teach in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program in Oakland County. I have a brother who is Deaf, who inspired me to teach D/HH students. In my free time I enjoy playing softball, hiking, photography, rescuing Italian Greyhounds, running marathons, sewing and spending time with my husband and daughter.
MARK REEVE: I’m a non-voting member of the Michigan Chapter. I have an adult daughter with hearing loss and was the audiologist at the Lutheran School for the Deaf. I have been continually active with the Michigan Chapter since the 1980’s and was instrumental in developing the Newborn Hearing Screening Program in the State of Michigan. I have been an integral part of our summer camp program for 25 years.
SID KRAIZMAN: I’m a non-voting member of the Michigan Chapter. I was one of the original founders and did all the legal work to obtain our status as a Michigan non-profit corporation. Along with Mark, I was instrumental in developing the Newborn Hearing Screening Program in the State of Michigan. I have an adult daughter with hearing loss. I have been actively involved since 1982 and have been instrumental in running our summer camp program for 25 years. I’m an attorney and have served as a Michigan special education hearing officer.