DeafBlind Central Staff

People who are DeafBlind have unique needs and we are here to help!

Director

Beth Kennedy, Ph.D. is the director of DeafBlind Central: Michigan's Training & Resource Project and the director and instructor for the online Deafblind Intervener Training Program offered online through Central Michigan University. She has worked in the field of deafblindness since 1991, having held positions at Perkins School for the Blind and the Florida DeafBlind project prior to returning to Michigan, her home state.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and her Master of Education degree in Special Education, with a specialization in deafblindness, from Boston College. Beth led teams to develop four of the Open Hands Open Access (OHOA) training modules available on the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB). She completed the Educational Leadership Ph.D. Program at Central Michigan University, studying the process of how interveners learn to support students who are deafblind in school settings for her dissertation.
Email Beth Kennedy

Consultants

Julie Unatin, M.A. graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Special Education-Visual Impairment and received her Master’s from Western Michigan University in Orientation and Mobility for the Blind. She began her career at a multi-disciplinary low vision center working with patients experiencing vision loss and then moved to Oakland Schools where she has just finished her 30th year as a TVI and COMS with Oakland Schools. In 2020, Julie completed her second Master’s degree in teaching students who are DeafBlind from Texas Tech University. Julie has presented nationally on braille literacy and most recently has presented on the impact of dual sensory loss, including strategies to enhance learning and best practice. Julie conducts functional vision evaluations on students birth-26, including assessment and considerations for DeafBlind students. She has a direct caseload of students whom she consults with, including some who need braille instruction. She spends a tremendous amount of time integrating instruction for students who are DeafBlind in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program in Oakland County. Julie works daily with interveners who have their National Intervener Credential and promotes collaboration with teams to ensure access, understanding, and literacy for each student. She enjoys mentoring new staff. In addition to her work for Oakland Schools, Julie works as an as-needed consultant for DB Central.
Email Julie Unatin

Kelly Merrifield is the mother of a pre-teen child with CHARGE Syndrome. Her daughter was born with hearing loss, vision loss, swallowing difficulties, heart defect, neurological issues, and many other medical challenges. Her daughter was in the NICU for 6 months and has had several surgeries. Her daughter has a BAHA implanted hearing aid and communicates using American Sign Language (ASL). Having a child who is deafblind brings many challenges and Kelly has a passion for helping families who are new to this journey. Because of her passion for helping families, Kelly became a parent guide for Michigan Hands & Voices and began working as a Family Consultant for DB Central. Kelly has done presentations on her lived-experience as a parent of a child with multiple disabilities that cover infancy to current day struggles and triumphs. Kelly looks forward to meeting with families and making family-to-family connections, so that people can learn from one another and work together to improve the lives of their children.
Email Kelly Merrifield

Jill A. Gaus, LPN was born with Usher Syndrome Type II. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse with over 44 years of experience. Jill was a certified oncology nurse, but now primarily works at campus, volunteering for Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind programs for children and adults. She provides valuable insights for family members and service providers because of her lived experience. She has served as the director of the DeafBlind Workshop, a camp for adults who are DeafBlind, an immersion training for interpreters and real time caption providers for many years. She also provides lectures at community college programs for nurses, emergency personnel, and interpreters. Jill has served on several advisory boards for state and national organizations. She was the co-founder and past president of the longstanding state DeafBlind organization, Self Help for Independency in Michigan Equalizing the DeafBlind (SHI-M=DB)

Kathryn Spiars is a Deafblind community leader dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind. She graduated from Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) with a double major in Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management and Business, along with a minor in Philanthropy Education. Kathryn currently serves as a DB Central Consultant and is the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Lead Guide for Michigan Hands & Voices. She also serves on the Michigan Hands & Voices Board, where she helps advocate for inclusive support, resources, and connection for families and individuals within the DHH and Deafblind communities. As a Deafblind individual herself, Kathryn brings extensive lived experience, insight, and compassion to her work. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can thrive, feel understood, and build meaningful community and accessibility for all.

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education H326T230033. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. - Project Officer, Rebecca Sheffield.

Website: U.S. Office of Special Education Programs IDEAs That Work