What We Do

History | Equity Leadership Team | Board of Directors | Admin Staff

The mission of Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) is to foster inclusive and accessible communities through communication, advocacy, and education. We envision an inclusive, accessible world where everyone is understood and respected.

We offer a comprehensive array of programs that foster effective communication for individuals and families affected by hearing or speech differences. Our services include:

History

A historical picture of HSDC, with a woman and small child signing to each other.

HSDC has been serving the Puget Sound area for over 80 years, and family and community have been fundamental parts of the agency since the very beginning. Originally a partnership between mothers of children with hearing loss and a social club for hard of hearing women, HSDC was incorporated in 1937 as the Seattle Chapter for the Hard of Hearing. In the 1950s, our name changed to the Seattle Hearing and Speech Center, which remained the only independent nonprofit west of the Mississippi for children and adults with communication differences until the mid-1960s.

Over the years, the HSDC began to incorporate more programs for the local Deaf community, who favored sign language over spoken language. During the 1960s and 70s, HSDC introduced what was, at the time, a controversial program that taught children with hearing loss American Sign Language (ASL).

By the 1980s, the Deaf community had become such an essential part of the agency’s programming that our name was changed to Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center. In February 2016, we dropped the “ness” and became Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center to reaffirm our commitment to the local Deaf community.

Today, HSDC has a main office in Seattle and satellite offices in Bellingham and Tacoma. The majority of our clients are in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties, but we serve thirteen counties in total across Western Washington. Many of our services are offered for free or at reduced costs, allowing local individuals and families in need to receive high-quality communication access and care.

Equity Leadership Team

Click on a staff member’s picture to learn more about them.
  • Ariele Belo

    Ariele Belo

    Co- Executive Director & DHHS Director

  • Dino Christianson, Jr.

    James “Dino” Christianson, Jr.

    Client Advocate | North Sound

  • Buddy Elledge

    Buddy Elledge

    Graphic Designer & Social Media Connector

  • Gina Gallaway

    Gina Gallaway, NAD IV

    Director of Interpreting Services & Logistics Manager

  • Pamela Grossman

    Pamela Grossman, MA

    Rosen Family Preschool Director

  • Andrea Klarman

    Andrea Klarman

    Support Specialist

  • Lindsay Klarman

    Lindsay Klarman, MNPL, NIC-A

    Co-Executive Director

  • Athina Manganzini

    Athina Maganzini, MS, CCC-SLP

    Director of Clinics | Speech-Language Pathologist

  • Brady Painter

    Braden Painter, MA

    Qualified Deaf Interpreter, ASL & Interpreting Services Specialist

Board of Directors

Brian Campbell | Freelance ASL Interpreter Bonnie Lau | University of Washington School of Medicine
Patrick Conway, Vice President | Microsoft Mona Leung, Interim Treasure & Finance Chair | Finance Unity Technologies
Melanie Fish | University of Washington Vaishali Murthy | Community Volunteer & College Counselor
Josh Goldschmid | Boeing Hanna Richheimer | SEIT, NYC Department of Education
Laura Gramer | Accessibility Advocate Laurie Rosen-Ritt | Deaf Educator & Community Volunteer
William Harkness, President | Boeing Bill Schiffmiller, Secretary | Akoio, LLC
Christa Kemp | Salal Credit Union Shawna Thompson | BECU

Admin Staff

Click on a staff member’s picture to learn more about them.
  • Ariele Belo

    Ariele Belo

    Co- Executive Director & DHHS Director

  • Bryan Bullock

    Bryan Bullock

    Facilities Manager

  • Tralynda Danforth

    Tralynda Danforth

    Interpreting Billing Specialist

  • Buddy Elledge

    Buddy Elledge

    Graphic Designer & Social Media Connector

  • Tamika H.

    Tamika H.

    Clinic Billing Specialist

  • Andrea Klarman

    Andrea Klarman

    Support Specialist

  • Lindsay Klarman

    Lindsay Klarman, MNPL, NIC-A

    Co-Executive Director

  • Don Lawrence

    Don Lawrence

    Interim Director of Finance

  • HSDC staff member Kelly Scott smiles for the camera. Kelly is feminine-presenting, with olive skin, glasses, and straight salt-and-pepper hair to their shoulders.

    Kelly Scott

    Executive Assistant