Among presenters scheduled to participate at JDC Conference 2013 held in Washington, DC May 30-June 2nd:
Rabbi David Kastor graduated from Gallaudet University with BA in Computer Science in 1986. He married an Israeli deaf woman, Tchia. He received his smichas (rabbinical ordination) from Ner Yisrael of Baltimore and Pirchei Shoshanim. He started the Ahavas Israel school of the deaf in Frederick, Maryland and taught there for 2 years. He has worked for deaf Jewish outreach, Our Way under Orthodox Uniion for 25 years.
Ortal Meir, a master student in Critical Disability Studies at York University, Toronto, Ontario CA. She has an experience working in the fields of tax law and disability rights advocacy in Israel. She was a vice-president and president at Israel Deaf Sports Organization in 2009-2012. She was a counselor at Rama summer camp, WIS, USA in 2005. She served in the Israel Defense Forces in 2002-2004.
Deborah S. Mayer, St. Louis, MO, MA, CRC, PCC, Owner, Crossroad Solutions Coach, LLC, is a professional certified leadership and life coach recognized by the International Coach Federation. Deborah coaches one-to-one and leads interactive workshops, conferences and retreats on life and leadership development for Deaf and hearing communities. She designs highly interactive coaching and partnership programs that maximize potential and empower individuals to achieve the greatness in them. Deborah teaches professional online coaching courses at Gallaudet University and through her company, Crossroad Solutions Coach.
Ellen Mansfield, Born Deaf in Manhattan, New York but grew up in New Jersey for 7 years. Went to public school where Ellen learned poorly without sign language and interpreters. Spent all summers in Goldens Bridge countyside, north of New York City. She earned a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Ellen has led a life filled with art and experiences with a background in drawing, painting, batik, ceramics, and many other media that have brought her onto her current journey. When she moved to Maryland, she began to recognize just how much her Deaf identity had been part of her artwork. Life was starting to blossom as she was surrounded by Deaf culture and sign language, which developed increasingly colorful images including watercolors , oil paintings and tile paintings in her artwork. Ellen had commissions for handpainted tiles for mural decorations, kitchen backsplashes, fireplace mantel surroundings, and murals behind ranges
for past 20 years. She led many workshops in ceramics, drawings and paintings for over 200 Deaf children, children of Deaf parents, and adults. Ellen keeps a home studio called Ellen
