Select Page

Board Information

ABOUT ASDB BOARD

ASDB is a state agency overseen by a board of directors appointed by the governor. The ASDB Board consists of the governor, as an ex officio nonvoting member, the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent’s designee, one member from the commission for the deaf and the hard of hearing, one member from the governor’s council on blindness and visual impairment and six appointive members.

The governor shall appoint the appointive members of the board. The member from the commission for the deaf and the hard of hearing and the member from the governor’s council on blindness and visual impairment shall be appointed to terms of three years. One member shall be an employee of a school district who works with the district’s program for sensory impaired pupils. In selecting three of the remaining five appointive members the governor shall give preference to persons who have experience in and knowledge of sensory impaired education. The terms of two appointive members expire on the first Monday of January of each year. Appointment to fill a vacancy resulting other than by expiration of term shall be for the unexpired portion of the term only. Members of the board shall not receive compensation.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sue Kay Kneifel – Board President (Term: 1/3/2017 – 1/1/2024)

Sue Kay Kneifel is the Statewide Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration. The mission of this agency is to work with persons with disabilities to achieve their goals for employment and independence. Sue Kay has over 20 years of diverse counseling and case management experience, working primarily with people who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing.

Sue Kay has an extensive background in American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting, and has served as a Commissioner on the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing since 2012. Sue Kay has also served on the Phoenix College Interpreter Prep Program Advisory Committee since 2012. Sue Kay is versed in state and federal disability laws and is fluent in ASL.

Image of board member Sue Kay smiling at camera.

Lynne Davison (Term: 1/7/2013 – 1/6/2025)

Image of board member Lynne Davison smiling at camera.

I have been a Teacher of Persons who are Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing for forty plus years. I am currently a Teacher of the Impaired at Glendale Union High School District where I provide service to nine high schools and supervise 6 interpreters. During my career, I have taught deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to 22 years of age. I have worked in a private school in Beverly, MA and in two schools districts in Connecticut. In Arizona, I have taught in Ganado, Casa Grande, Mesa, Tucson, for Maricopa County at Williams Air Force Base and at Desert Voices Oral Learning Center. I attend conferences and workshops addressing the areas of hearing loss and educating deaf and hard of hearing individuals as well as in the area of deafblindness.

I was a member of the Cochlear Implant team at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, served as a member of the Human Rights committee for the Dept. Of Developmental Disabilities in Tucson and was on the Arizona state team attending the State Leaders Summit on Collaborative Services for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.


Colette Chapman (Term: Jan, 19, 2023 – Ongoing)

Ms. Colette Chapman is the Associate Superintendent at the Arizona Department of Education over Exceptional Student Services (ESS), Health and Nutrition Services, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and Adult Education Services. Ms. Chapman’s focus has always been on the needs of her community. Her true passion continues to be that all students deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential, leading to the creation of thriving communities.

Before being appointed to her current role, Ms. Chapman was the Victims’ Rights Compliance Administrator at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. She has been recognized by the United States Department of Justice for her extraordinary commitment and contributions to crime victims’ rights enforcement in Arizona. Most recently, Ms. Chapman received the “Making a Difference” Award from the Arizona Attorney General for her hard work and dedication to the Criminal Division.

In addition to her primary job responsibilities and serving on the Arizona State Board for the Deaf and the Blind, Ms. Chapman serves as co-chair of the Arizona Career and Technical Education Quality Commission. Ms. Chapman holds a master’s in education from Northern Arizona University (NAU) and has dedicated herself to a lifetime of learning, collaborating, and leading.


Michael Gordon (Term: 1/3/2017 – 1/2/2023)

Image of board member Michael Gordon smiling at camera.

Michael Gordon has over twenty five years’ experience in the administration and management of government and not- for- profit human service agencies in both Arizona and New York State.

Since March 2005 Michael has served as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired (SAAVI). Prior to this position Michael worked for the Arizona Department of Economic Security/ Division of Developmental Disabilities as District II Area Program Manager.

While in New York State, Michael directed a rural Community Action Agency and later both the Poverty Services and Vocational Assessment and Employment programs for Unity House of Troy, a large human service agency located in Renesselear County, New York.

Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York in Psychology and a Master of Science degree from the College of Saint Rose in Education. Michael lives in Tucson with his wife Kim and their four children.


Linda Bove (Term: 1/2/2018 – 1/1/2024)

Image of Linda Bove

‘Transgenerational ‘ best describes Linda Bove’s career. A regular on television’s Sesame Street for more than thirty years, today, Bove is recognized by children as well their parents, all of whom grew up watching the program.

Linda Bove’s long and illustrious career began as a leading actress with the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD). She broke new ground when she was cast as a series regular on the daytime dramatic serial, Search for Tomorrow. Her tenure on the show, provided television viewers the first-of-it’s-kind opportunity to see a deaf actor using sign language and interacting with hearing cast members.

America was mesmerized, and very much in love with this fiery and dynamic woman.

Bove didn’t stop there. After her long-running engagements touring with NTD and starring on Search for Tomorrow, she went on to guest star on Happy Days, playing The Fonz’s love interest (who later rejected him for another man). Other television and film credits include Omnibus with Meryl Streep, A child’s Christmas in Wales with Sir Michael Redgrave, The Silken Tent with Jason Robards, Follow That Bird! featuring the cast of Sesame Street, and Children of a Lesser God, which she also performed on Broadway with John Rubinstein.

Through her association with Random House, Bove authored two sign language books that featured the Muppets, Sign Language Fun and Sign Language ABC. With the enormous popularity of these books, Bove developed the home video, Sign Me a Story, which was released by the same publisher. This video featured Bove performing a series of fairy tales with her own unique twist. Goldilocks signed to the three bears and still got what she wanted. Little Red Riding Hood had some difficulty understanding the Big Bad Wolf, and for obvious reasons. Children and adults alike snatched up practically every copy of the video, which continues to sell today. The video won numerous awards, most notably Parents’ Choice Award Videos and Action Children’s Television Award.

Sign Me a Story evolved into a live theatre production and, after a month-long premiere at Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles, toured the U.S. Voiced and signed, the play was highly interactive and included sign language games, improvisations, and information and anecdotes about deaf culture and American Sign Language.

Universal Studios beckoned with its animated film series, Land Before Time (I-IV). In addition to editions that were customarily closed-captioned, a new idea was proposed: ‘why not incorporate signed interpretation within the film’? Bove accepted this challenge and can be seen in all four (the first feature and three sequels), signing along with the characters’ spoken dialogue in the videos. This was another pioneering effort for Bove who was never a stranger to breaking new ground.

While on hiatus from Sesame Street, Bove toured the U.S. making personal appearances, for audiences of children and their families, incorporating the pleasure and joy of storytelling into her performances. She is also a Founding Member of the Tony Award winning Deaf West Theatre, having appeared in the title roles of their highly acclaimed productions of St. Joan and Medea (L.A. Ovation Award nomination – Best Actress). Critics agree on one thing: Bove is a fabulous actress. She has “…A spirited radiance and a focused clarity” (Drama-Logue, which honored her with Best Actress Awards for both productions), “Her great spirit in a tiny frame (5’2″) moves mountains…” (Back Stage West), and she “…reveals a stunning array of emotions in her face…” (L.A. Weekly). The Los Angeles Times comments, “Linda Bove’s riveting portrayal of the spurned and vengeful Medea quickly banishes any doubts…she evokes the characters full range…”

The Tolucan Times best sums up the public’s perception of Bove: “Firstly, I’ve long waited to see Linda Bove (Joan) spin her magic once again, since her exciting portrayal in ‘Medea.’ Again as St. Joan, she was a marvel to behold, in her speechless ability to project every emotion known to woman.”

As a Founding Member of the internationally renown Deaf West Theater (established in Los Angeles, 1990) Linda Bove has been instrumental in the growth and expansion of the company. Bove was a co-director of Deaf West’s first professional training program for deaf and hard of hearing actors. The program, which draws students from all over the country, is the only such program of its kind on the West Coast. She has directed the program for five years, which offers a beginner as well as an advanced curriculum.

Bove recently made her debut as a director, having completed a series of nine educational videotapes about the State relay service.

For the past four years, she has been the ASL Master for Deaf West’s production (and touring productions) of the Tony-honored BIG RIVER. The ASL Master is responsible for translating the written English text into American Sign Language. BIG RIVER was initially mounted at Deaf West Theatre in North Hollywood, and then moved downtown to the Mark Taper Forum, then onto the Roundabout Theatre on Broadway. From there, the production embarked on a 40-week National and International Tour. She is looking forward to ‘switching hats’ again, when joins the second company of BIG RIVER as an actress, for a three-month performance run at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC in Spring (2005).

In 2006, Linda was at the helm of the ASL translation team, for DWT’s first original musical, SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES (a World Premiere engagement at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, in co-production with Center Theatre Group).

Earlier this year (2008), Linda served as the ASL/Deaf Culture Consultant for CBS/Hallmark’s film presentation of SWEET NOTHING IN MY EAR, starring Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels.

She completed ASL translation for “Pippin”, DWT and CTG’s joint venture, which was performed at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, CA, January-March 2009.

In 2010, she made an appearance on the two episodes at Showtime’s WEEDS.

Bove makes her home in Phoenix with her husband of 48 years, Deaf West Theatre’s Artistic Director, Ed Waterstreet (retired).


Brittany Buchanan (Term: 1/6/2020 – 1/2/2023)

I am the mother to three wonderful children; Liam, Corrinne and Lachlan. We are lucky to have Liam and Lachlan here with us, as Corrinne went to Heaven December 2020 at age 5. Corrinne was born with multiple disabilities and medical fragility due to a common virus called Cytomegalovirus or CMV. Corrinne was our greatest gift as she opened our world to so many people, places and experiences we would never have had the opportunity to have in our lifetime. Of those disabilities she was Deafblind. Corrinne got services through early intervention between two and three months old. Her favorite services were vision and hearing, which were provided by ASDB through AZEIP. Deafblindness was one of the most fulfilling but heartbreaking parts of her journey. It was hard to know my child had difficulties interacting with her world and I often laid awake at night wondering what I should do differently the next day to accommodate her. However, out of all of this, her Deafblindness brought us closer as a family as we were able to share such incredible experiences as she lived her life to the fullest. My favorite memory is her skydiving indoors for her 4th birthday. Our world is so much richer because Corrinne lived in it. She made me the mom and advocate I am today. I am proud to serve the ASDB community because of her.

Aside from mothering a child with medical fragility and two other amazing kids, I am an EMT and serve my local community part time in an Emergency Department and Part Time on a busy 911 Ambulance Service. I’ve worked as an EMT until taking eight years off to raise babies and I’m again, excited to serve my community in so many ways.

Personally, I’ve been married to my husband Blaine for over 10 years who is also a Paramedic. In my free time I enjoy hiking, learning about Arizona history, trying new food, participating in my son’s sports, learning to be an efficient advocate, spending time with my family, and building my daughter’s legacy.


Catherine Sienko (Term: 01/03/2022 thru 01/06/2025)

Picture of Catherine Sienko

Catherine Sienko serves as the Program Supervisor for the Arizona DES Vocational Rehabilitation Program, where she oversees the daily operations of Vocational Rehabilitation in Tucson and Southern Arizona and coordinates services with community partners. Prior to joining Vocational Rehabilitation, Catherine worked in human resources for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC, where she helped revamp the Selective Placement Program for Veterans Affairs and improved the hiring process for individuals with disabilities through the Schedule A hiring authority.

Catherine is also a passionate advocate for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind communities. Originally from New Jersey, Catherine attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She then pursued her Master of Public Administration from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Grand Canyon University.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Catherine is also an active member of the community and has served on the Board of Directors with Ability360 since 2021 and serves on the board with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) since 2018. Throughout her career, Catherine has demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, and her tireless efforts have had a significant impact on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community statewide.


Email Board of Directors

Click Here to email the Board of Directors.