Dr. Suzette Garay- is a Deaf Person of Color (DPOC) and a third generational Latina(x) from South America, Nicaragua and a third member of a family who was born Deaf.  She holds the following degrees: BA, MA. PSY.S, and a Ph.D.  Her major areas of studies are Special Education with an emphasis on Deafness and Learning Disabilities, Psychology, and teaching of American Sign Language.  She is currently a retired Educational Psychologist who has worked with DHHDB+ children for more than 15+ years and currently teaches several online diversity & culturally responsive courses and through her own business at Diversity Academy and previously through the CAITE Behavioral Health Interpreter Program.  She also owns a private consultation practice working with many families, individuals, and private business owners about interpreting, accessibility, diversity, and advocacy with diverse DHHDB+ consumers.

Dr. Garay has the following qualifications: 25+ years of direct teaching, evaluating, and mentoring with Special Education students, ASL/Interpreter students, community/educational interpreters, and/or community business members whom use American Sign Language for communicating with their DHHDB+ consumers.  She also has a long history of invaluable personal experiences and success teaching, evaluating, and mentoring diverse deaf individuals and/or consumers from underprivileged socio-economic backgrounds.

She has taught distance education online courses and workshops in ASL Linguistics, Special Education, and disability social justice issues throughout the Midwest and at the international or national levels.  She is also a nationally certified American Sign Language Instructor and state certified master consultant and professional development trainer who enjoys working with families and very young children teaching them how to utilize American Sign Language with preverbal babies and those with communication disorders.  Dr. Garay can be reached for future workshops and/or consultations at www.thediversityacademy.com.