Karen Putz

Since 2003, I have been working as a Deaf Mentor in early intervention, providing support and information to families with deaf and hard of hearing children.  For many of the families I’ve worked with, I’m the first deaf/hard of hearing adult that they’ve had the opportunity to meet.  Naturally, families are full of questions.  “What will it be like for my child?”  “What is it like to be deaf/hard of hearing?” “What are some of the things I can do to help my child reach his/her fullest potential?”

My background is in counseling and I have my M.A. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.  I grew up hard of hearing and I became deaf at the age of nineteen.  My first venture into the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community began shortly after.

I’m also a mom to three deaf and hard of hearing kids, so I’ve experienced the mountain of IEP papers that get collected each year.  The “A” word is very much a part of my daily vocabulary (now wait a minute, I mean A as in Advocacy) and I work to empower other families to advocate for and with their child.