Through her skills as a published author, educator and advocate, Claire has impacted the lives of many individuals with hearing loss. She is a role model to children and teens who experience hearing loss and to their families, friends and educators with whom they associate with every day. Claire is open about the personal challenges she has faced in her own hearing loss and elicits hope, humor and sensitivity towards hearing loss through her books, workshops, and community involvement.
From 2003-2012, Claire authored the column "Swimming in the Mainstream" and is the author of 18 published books. Her books speak to children, teens, and adults with hearing loss as well as to parents of children with hearing loss and include:
- All Alone Except For My Dog Friday
- Yes, I Wear A Hearing-Aid
- Nick's Mission
- Nick's Secret
- Going With The Flow
- What Works For Me: Young adults with hearing loss talk to teens
- Taking A Second Language
- Summer Jobs And Beyond: A Guide for Teens with Hearing Loss
- 101 Ways To Encourage Self-Advocacy In Children With Hearing Loss
- Full Face: A Correspondence About Becoming Deaf in Mid-Life
- Many Ways of Hearing: 94 Multitasked lessons in Listening
For 10 years, Claire worked and taught at Clarke School for Hearing and Speech. She taught art for 4 years and served 8 years as a member of the Clarke Mainstream Services staff. Claire was instrumental in starting the Four Rivers Charter Public School and served on the board of the Four Rivers Educational Foundation for five years.
From 2005-2009, Claire coordinated the "Making Connections" program for teens at the Annual Clarke Mainstream Conference. She has also designed and organized workshops for teens on topics that include wellness, looking for jobs, interviewing and problem solving. She started a program called "Mainstream Buddies" which matches Clarke 8th grade students who have hearing loss with 8th grade students who are hearing.
Furthermore, Claire remains active as a member of the AG Bell Association and the Hearing Loss of Association of America. We commend Claire for her many talents and her dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals with hearing loss.
This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.
About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton Relay offers a variety of services including Telecommunications Relay Services, Captioned Telephone and Internet Relay services. Hamilton provides Telecommunications Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 17 states, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin Islands. More information is available at hamiltonrelay.com.