In honor of National Deaf Awareness Week, Hamilton Relay is pleased to recognize Louise Osborne as the 2009 Deaf/Hard of Hearing leader for the State of Georgia.
The achievements and contributions of Louise Osborne over the years have been extraordinary. She is a dedicated and dependable individual who has a strong voice within the deaf and hard of hearing communities and the breadth of her experience has expanded across a multitude of organizations, programs and events.
From 1964 – 1965, Louise was Class President and President of JR. NAD at the Georgia School for the Deaf. She was the first deaf graduate from both, Floyd Junior College and Berry College in Rome, GA. Louise embraced the role of President of the Deaf Awareness Club while attending Floyd Junior College and was Vice President of the Class of 1971 at Gallaudet University.
Louise served as Secretary for the Southern Sports Association of the Deaf and was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Southern Sports Association of the Deaf for her excellence as an officer. Additionally, she was inducted into the Georgia School for the Deaf Alumni Association for the sport of basketball and was Chairperson for Georgia School for the Deaf's 150th and 160th Anniversaries.
Louise has tremendous organizational skills and takes on great responsibility. She has worked as the Coordinator of the Interpreter Training Program at Dekalb Community College and as the Coordinator of Prison Ministry to deaf and hearing individuals. She also directed the deaf productions of "The Curious Savage" and "The World's Greatest Deaf Talent Show."
Among the above mentioned accomplishments, Louise was - and still is - a great educator. She worked at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf as well as the Georgia School for the Deaf as a Paraprofessional Educator, Teacher, and Home Life Director and was recognized in the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" in 2005. After 28 years of service with the Georgia Department of Education, she retired. Louise enjoys teaching Sunday School for individuals who are deaf at Live Oak Baptist Church in Cave Springs.
Furthermore, Louise is very loving and devoted to children; she is a strong advocate for the rights and needs of children who are deaf and is President of the Floyd County Adoptive and Foster Parent Association.
Currently, Louise is a major supporter of Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired, Inc., and provides support to local senior citizens who are deaf.
Louise has been described as loving, supportive, loyal and faithful to serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, family and friends. We are pleased to recognize and share her remarkable triumphs.
This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.
About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton Relay offers a variety of services including Telecommunications Relay Service, Captioned Telephone and Internet Relay services. Hamilton provides Telecommunications Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 16 states, the District of Columbia, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin Islands. More information is available at hamiltonrelay.com.