Personalized Coaching for Parents

Djenne-Amal N. Morris, BA/DEI Cert., brings passion, humor, and lived experience to her role as a national and international parent/professional trainer, facilitator, and motivational speaker whose view of the world is not as it is, but as it could be.

As a mother of a son with CHARGE Syndrome, she strives to build an atmosphere of support and empowerment for all families of children with disabilities and the professionals who serve them. This has led to a 40-year career in exciting roles as a mentor for children and adults who are deaf with disabilities, parenting skills trainer, Women’s Ministry Leader, Deaf-Blind Family Specialist, and Parent Educator. She currently is the Family Faculty/Multicultural Advisor for the NC-LEND program at UNC-Chapel Hill. She recently completed two terms as President of the Board of Directors for Hands & Voices Headquarters. Djenne received her certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University and is a Disability/DEIAB Consultant for her non-profit organization, Today With Djenne, LLC. (www.todaywithdjenne.com)

Djenne and her husband Michael of 32 years have 3 children. Malik, 28 a graduate of the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf. He is independent and living his best life in a group home for Deaf young men. Imani, 29, is a future MPH focusing on Maternal and Child Health. Her youngest Zakiya, 22, is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and a future Audiologist.

Rana Ottallah is a parent of a deaf daughter and a dedicated Special Education Advocate, who interacts effectively with individuals and parents of children with disabilities, schools, districts and the State Department of Education to ensure Free and Appropriate Education for DHH students and students with disabilities, and appropriate home and community services.

Rana is passionate about Deaf Education reform, and Language access for diverse populations in the Greater New Orleans Area, and around the state of Louisiana.

Michael Morris is the proud father of 3 adult children and has been married to Djenne-Amal Morris for over 32 years.  Michael graduated from Wesleyan University in CT., with a BA in English. He soon realized that what he loved best about communications was listening more than talking, leading him to careers in full-time ministry, digital media sales, life coaching, and Human Resources. Michael is a Certified Life Coach and an ordained minister.  He believes in the power of education, family, advocacy, and community. 

Karen Putz has a BS and MA in the counseling field. She is a certified Mindvalley Life Coach and the author of several books, including "The Parenting Journey, Raising Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children."

Karen specializes in helping families with grief and emotions on the parenting journey. 

Karen has advocated at countless IEP meetings over the years and is known for asking the question, "Is there any reason we cannot try this?" when advocating for students. 

60 minutes of coaching available at $100. 

Testimonials:

Karen Putz, thank you so very much for all your help and guidance during the nerve wracking IEP meeting. Our son gets to stay in the DHH program. YEAH!!!!! You're awesome and appreciated. Much thanks from N and family. 

Yiesell Huerta is a mother of three young boys. Her middle son, Marcus was identified at birth with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Marcus attends the California School for the Deaf, Riverside and communicates using both ASL and English spoken language. 

After acquiring her B.A., Yiesell decided to focus on raising her Deaf son. She quickly discovered her passion for offering support and resources to other parents. Yiesell has worked with families of Deaf children for over 12 years. She applies both her professional and personal experience as an advocate to empower parents to advocate for their own children. 

Yiesell is the Latino Outreach Coordinator at American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC), the Vice President for CA Hands & Voices and the Camp Director for The Inland Valley DHH and Microtia Atresia Family Camp. She is not only passionate about supporting parents of DHH children, but also the professionals who serve them. Yiesell has presented at various conferences regarding the importance of family support and involvement. To better serve and improve Latino family involvement, Yiesell believes there is a demand for heightening awareness of the Latino culture and family dynamics.

Michelle Hu has been a pediatric audiologist for over 14 years working specifically with the diagnosis, hearing amplification, cochlear implant evaluation, programming and aural rehabilitation. Something unique about her is that she grew up hard of hearing herself. She was fit with hearing aids at age 3 years and now utilizes bilateral cochlear implants. She is the creator of Mama Hu Hears, a safe space to share, laugh, learn and inspire others about living life with hearing loss. Her personal experience lends to her uncanny ability to relate and be a role model for others with hearing loss and source of strength and hope for parents of children with hearing loss. As a military spouse and mother of three, Michelle strives to balance family life, clinical practice and entrepreneurship. During maternity leave with her second child, she found herself missing the relationships created in the clinic with patients and parents. Thus Mama Hu Hears was created as a space where she shares personal and professional experiences with hearing loss and the field of audiology. You can find her most active on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mama.hu.hears/, on Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/mamahuhears or website: www.mamahuhears.com.

When thousands of deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) individuals and parents of DHH children reached out to her for help, guidance and to share their stories, Michelle knew she had to do something more. She has created an essential guide for hearing parents of DHH children. Titled “My Child Has Hearing Loss, Now What?” This program supports anxious and doubtful parents through their family’s DHH journey. Her mission is to serve and empower children/families - especially those who are underserved and underrepresented. Her course is available at www.mamahuhears.com.

Parent Coaching Services:

Each and every deaf/hard of hearing journey is different.

It can be difficult to navigate challenges, emotions, and the overwhelming amount of information. You are not alone and you do not have to experience the journey alone! I work to support clients during difficult times times, help them understand evaluations/processes, and build the confidence needed to navigate challenges. I can offer my opinion and share personal/professional lived experiences. I work with individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. I will take the time to get to know you, your values, your experiences and your goals. 

Private coaching services are offered virtually via Zoom.

A Calendar link for booking will be provided after payment. Sessions are 60 minutes.

Rachel Coleman is the Emmy Award nominated host, and co-creator of “Signing Time!”, the video series that teaches basic American Sign Language vocabulary to families in an engaging and musical way. The series has been broadcast to millions of viewers through such platforms as PBS stations, Netflix, Nick Jr. In 2015, after raising over a million dollars, Rachel launched www.mydeafchild.org providing an innovative online American Sign Language curriculum, free of charge, to parents living within the U.S., raising deaf children ages 35 months and under.

From 2018-2021 Rachel was the Executive Director of the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC), the oldest national non-profit organization providing resources to parents of Deaf children. After learning that their 14 month old child, Liam, was profoundly deaf, the Colemans were told not to have high expectations for their child. They refused to accept that, and for the past 28 years they have been influential in creating a world where, through sign language, children can communicate their needs and be fully understood regardless of their abilities.

Rachel lives in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, with her husband Aaron and their 23 year-old daughter Lucy, who has spina bifida and cerebral palsy. Liam Coleman (they/them) is 28 years old. Lives in Rochester, New York with their partner, Lee (they/them). Liam works in video production with a crew that is entirely Deaf, at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Rachel is a certified yoga instructor and is currently enrolled in culinary school. 

Tabitha Palmer, MS, is the proud mother of three amazing children, of whom the oldest is Deaf. She has worked with families for almost 20 years, providing coaching, resources, guidance, and support to families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She has experience supporting families of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf plus additional disabilities. 

Her work history includes working for Ohio School for the Deaf, Ohio Center for Deafblind Education, Ohio Hands & Voices, Hands & Voices Headquarters. She has participated in many community organizations and/or advisory committees such as, LEAD-K, Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness, Ohio Alliance of Organizations, and is a former member of the State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children (SAPEC) and former co-chair of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Sub-committee. She co-authored Communication Planning Guide for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and is SKI HI certified.  

Outside of The Parent Circle, Tabby is a group fitness instructor and a homebody. You’ll find her at home caring for her family and pets, growing plants, watching true crime documentaries or ghost hunting shows, searching for Bigfoot, paddle boarding, and hiking the local metro-parks! 

Areas of support include Parent Coaching, IEP and records review, IEP Meeting Prep, and IEP Meeting Advocacy. Cost is $100 per hour.