Illinois Hands & Voices
Junior Board of Directors
Our Junior Board of Directors was started in early 2021 by Andrea Marwah, our Executive Director. At that time, we found that we provide events for families with teens. We developed our Junior Board to encourage and mentor teens to be the face of the future of Illinois. They will be future DHH Guides, future DHH Board Members, future volunteers, and contributing deaf/hard of hearing members of the community. These young adults will ensure that Illinois follows the JCIH Principle of DHH Adult Infusion representation. We believe that this begins with young adults who want to lead! Our Board of Directors provide support, but the Junior board is charged with bringing forth ways to meet, interact, and hold events for families of teens who are deaf/hard of hearing in our state. While the teens are mingling and having fun, we will provide support and networking opportunites for the rest of the family.
Ramona Martin- Hands & Voices Jr. Board Advisor
Ramona Martin graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She is currently a School Social Worker at Douglas PREP Alternative High School in Springfield, IL. Ramona lives in a small town in Central Illinois, Illiopolis, with her husband, daughter, Hannah, and 3 sons, Hunter, Owen and Noah. Ramona has 2 sets of twins, born in 2008 and 2011; 1 son from each set of twins was diagnosed with hearing loss after being referred from their newborn hearing screenings. She and her family worked with Legislators in Illinois to get a bill passed for insurance coverage for children who need hearing aids in Illinois. In July 2020, Ramona was hired as a Parent Guide with Guide By Your Side. In 2021, she became a board member with Illinois Hands & Voices. She facilitates monthly virtual “get to you know” zoom meetings for parents in Illinois since 2022. Ramona is also a moderator for “Fostering Joy – Families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.” Ramona began leading the Junior Board of Directors in 2023. Ramona enjoys working with youth and families, supporting and learning from them.
Tessa Brannigan- Jr Board President
Tessa is a high school junior who has bilateral profound/severe hearing loss. Diagnosed at 18 months, her hearing loss gradually worsened, leading to cochlear implants at ages 10 and 11. Despite these obstacles, Tessa excels in a mainstream academic setting, using an FM system and CART services to fully access her classes. Passionate about giving back, Tessa serves on the Junior Board of IL Hands & Voices, an organization that provided invaluable resources and guidance to her family when they first learned of her hearing loss. In addition to her work with IL Hands & Voices, Tessa actively volunteers in her community, volunteering at her local food pantry and working with her local hospital. She is also a competitive figure skater and instructor, teaching young athletes the sport she loves.
Vivian Johnson - Jr Board Vice President
Vivian Johnson is a senior at Wheaton North High School. She was born hearing, and then was diagnosed with progressive bilateral hearing loss at the age of 3. She has worn cochlear implants on both ears since she was 5 years old. Vivian has participated in multiple deaf and hard-of-hearing programs, and currently, her first position on a board is here on the Junior Board of Directors for Illinois Hands and Voices. She is excited to be able to support other families with deaf/HOH members!