Deaf Technology Education About

What we do...

We are a non-profit organization, run by volunteers.
Our mission is to advocate for universal ASL (American Sign Language) accessibility in online training and to shepherd open source platform(s) to enable any company to deliver ASL training with their content. More ASL online training expands job choices for the Deaf and Hard Hearing communities, resulting in better paying jobs.

Noelle Tardieu

My late husband Ken Gaugler was the founder of DeafTechEd. Ken was led to start this non-profit to help Deaf people receive computer/IT training in American Sign Language (ASL) with the goal being long term employment with good paying jobs.

Ken began taking American Sign Language (ASL) classes in 2010 at De Anza College and the ASL instructor was David Rawson who is a long time DeafTechEd board member. I joined the DeafTechEd board in 2017.

I want Deaf people to have the education opportunities that are currently denied to them because ASL is not an option in online training.

Deaf people could get good paying jobs if they could get training that has ASL which is their primary language.

Co-Founder of Google’s Disability Employee Resource Group
Former LSA “Life Services Alternative” board member
Former San Andreas Regional Center QA member

David Rawson

David has had a varied career. He traveled and performed in plays for the deaf through out the country.

He has had a successful career as an ASL instructor for 4 local colleges working at: De Anza College,Cupertino; San Jose City College, SJ; College of San Mateo & Skyline College.

David is married to Kerry Anne they have one son Isaac who is now in the Marines.

David met DeafTechEd co-founder Ken Gaugler when he took his ASL class at De Anza College. David was an early board member of DeafTechEd.

ASL 1 - Timber

Liz Chew

Educator, Retired Executive Board Member for DeafTechEd Director, Chinese Historical Cultural Project (CHCP) Junior Giants Coach for the challenged population Children’s Health and Education Foundation (CHEF) Board Member Former School Board of Trustee for Berryessa Union School District I was recruited by Ken Gaugler, founder of this nonprofit in 2010. He had this vision to start an online computer training program for the deaf and hard of hearing population to develop skills for good paying jobs. I believe in and appreciate Ken’s vision, the goals and objectives, and the direction of organization. As a result, I joined the organization for the passion to be challenged with a new non-profit startup company.

Carrie Levin

Carrie Levin, a late deafened advocate with bilateral cochlear implants, has been a long time supporter for the rights and needs for accessibility for Hard-of-Hearing & Late Deafened Adults. She has been vocal for the captioning access at live theaters/public venues, tutored math for Deaf students, and held leadership roles in ALDA SJ, & SHHH Santa Clara (now HLAA). While mainstreamed growing up, she had first exposure to the D/HH community while attending Rochester Institute of Technology (BS in Packaging) where she received support from NTID. After moving to Silicon Valley, she worked for several high tech companies as a packaging & manufacturing engineer. When she homeschooled our two sons, she created co-op classes, helped organize statewide homeschool conferences, and volunteered at nursing homes with her hearing guide dogs. She is passionate about furthering educational accessibility & job opportunities for the Deaf & HH community.

Jerry Grigsby

MGraduate from CIL Computer Training Program in 1979 Retired from Lockheed Martin I’m always thankful to CIL CTP for the training program that allowed me to work for Lockheed Martin for 40 years. This is the reason why I’m volunteering my time with this group to give back to the deaf community. I have served on several Deaf organizations.

Soraya Bittencourt

Soraya Bittencourt has more than 20 years of leadership in the software field.

Soraya's motto is: "I can do that".

Soraya is a former Microsoft executive and one of the original creators of Expedia, the first internet travel agency that revolutionized the industry.’As CEO of Nutrihand Inc she created the concept and the applications that link health care providers with clients/patients to help them manage their health online. She built the first tracker for foods, activities and medical information and continued to innovate the space with new applications. Prior to Microsoft, Soraya worked at Lotus Development where she was responsible for the multimedia CD-ROM versions of 1-2-3, Notes, AmiPro, FreeLance, and the development of ScreenCAM. Soraya was responsible for launching the first telecommunications satellite in Latin America and has won multiple awards for her expertise in user interface design, including Comdex's 1999 MVP AWARD for WebEx, 2001 AOL Deal of the Day and 2011 RD Clinic and Personal Tracker.

Soraya is passionate about helping Deaf people get the opportunity to use online training in ASL so that they can get better paying jobs.