The Seaver Vision Award

And the award goes to... Beth Jones

The 2025 Seaver Vision Award was presented to Beth Jones at the 2025 H&V Leadership Conference in Panama City Beach, Florida. Beth accepted the award with a standing ovation from the audience.

Beth has been with Nevada Hands & Voices since 2012, serving in roles from Parent Guide to Executive Director, and has been instrumental in transforming the organization into what it is today. She has built and rebuilt a board and staff during the pandemic and periods of uncertainty with a steadfast vision of how the organization can serve families.

Kinnsi Sigler, Board President, notes that Beth is the proud parent of three, including two children who are DHH. As Sigler notes, “Her family’s journey began in a state with limited services and resources for children, and from the outset, she resolved to change that for her own children and for all children and adults living in Nevada, ensuring they have access to the support and services they deserve. “

Beth is a strong advocate for legislative and policy change and has played a pivotal role in bringing ASTra and the DHH Guide programs to Nevada Hands & Voices. She spearheaded the Chapter’s lending library and was the founder of the Growing Book by Book program, which has positively impacted children and families across the state. As an L2L Program graduate, and through several cohorts as an L2L Mentor, she places a value on authentic leadership and encouraging others in their leadership journey. She seeks partnerships with Nevada Early Intervention, the Nevada Deaf Commission, and Las Vegas Deaf Seniors. That partnership has expanded beyond her chapter through active involvement in Regions 9 and 10, the network at large, and through frequent invited presentations at regional and national conferences. She encourages her young adult children to also share what they have learned.

Congratulations to Beth Jones on this recognition from her peers on her legacy of service in and beyond her chapter.

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The Leeanne Seaver Vision Award was established in recognition of Leeanne’s extraordinary commitment to families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.  Her visionary leadership and keen insight as a parent, co-founder and first executive director of Hands & Voices helped set the standard for unwavering advocacy, unbiased parent support, effective parent involvement, and parent/professional collaboration. Leeanne’s leadership provided hope to families worldwide and exemplified H&V advocacy at the local, state, national and international levels. Her articulation of “what works for your child is what makes the choice right” captures the commitment of this organization to the child-led/family-centered process of discovering what it will take for each child to reach his or her potential.

The Seaver Vision Award was established in 2012 and is given annually to a parent, professional, organization, or agency that exemplifies the values and commitment to the Hands & Voices vision.

Previous winners include:

• 2013 - Harold Johnson, PhD
• 2014 - Dr. Susan Wiley of Ohio and Karen Wisinski, GBYS Coordinator for Michigan H&V
• 2015 - Susan Lane of British Columbia, Canada and Andrea Marwah of Illinois H&V
• 2016 - Cindy Roller of Nevada H&V and Christine Griffin of Washington H&V
• 2017 - Nancy Sager of California
• 2018 - Lisa Crawford of Texas H&V
• 2019 - Teresa Kazemir, British Columbia H&V
• 2021 - Sarah Roof, Kentucky H&V
• 2022- Ginger Mullin, Illinois EHDI
• 2023 - Shelli Janning, Nebraska H&V
• 2024 - Amy Ho, British Columbia H&V
• 2025 - Beth Jones, Nevada H&V

Nominations

If you’re interested in nominating a person, group or agency for The Seaver Vision Award, please tell us why he/she/it deserves this recognition. Share your story in 500 words or less, and be sure to include the following information:

• The nominee’s name and title (if applicable) and contact information including phone number and email address;
• Your contact information including name, email, phone number, address, and your role/title;
• A letter telling us why this nominee should win the Seaver Vision Award;
• At least one letter of support—strong candidates will have the documented support of both parents and professionals in the field. (This letter should not exceed 300 words.)
• The winner will have made significant contributions to family support for the field of deafness and hearing loss in the spirit of Hands & Voices mission
• Eligible candidates include but are not limited to Hands & Voices members.

Award process

Nominations are accepted up to six weeks before the Hands & Voices Leadership Conference where the award is presented annually.