Terri Patterson

Terri combines her experience as a professional Early Intervention Parent Educator and a parent of a child with hearing loss to infuse every presentation with cutting edge information that’s real-world relevant. She and her husband, Matt, have two children: daughter Molly, and son, Riley, (who was identified with profound bilateral hearing loss at two months). Degreed in Social Sciences/Psychology, Terri is the Executive Director of Georgia Hands & Voices, and a Committee Chair for the Georgia Stakeholder’s UNHS Program.  She sits on the National EHDI 2011 Planning Committee, and is co-chair of the CDC’s Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Parent-to-Parent Subcommittee, as well as serving as parent representative to the AAHBEI (American Association for Home-Based Early Interventionists) governing board.  Terri is co-author of the DECISION GUIDE TO COMMUNICATION CHOICES published by the CDC, and has spoken at numerous conferences including a plenary presentation at the National Summit on Deaf Education in 2008. Terri says “I have come to a point where being involved with families as they navigate their way through the childhood of their special child, and with professionals who support and guide us, is where I want to be. Not because I was thrust into it, but because I have found my passion.” She currently lives with her family in Acworth, Georgia.

Terri is both a parent of a child with a hearing loss as well as a professional Early Intervention Parent Educator.  An author, parent leader and speaker Terri is also Director of Georgia Hands & Voices.