Jelica Nuccio - Protactile Language Educator

Jelica Nuccio, originally from Dubrovnik, Croatia, lives in Monmouth, OR with her husband of 33 years, Vince and their two dogs, Maxx and Cubby. Jelica has been very active in the DeafBlind community since she moved from Atlanta, Georgia in 1997. Jelica was the first DeafBlind Director of the Seattle Deaf-Blind Service Center (DBSC) and also a co-author of a curriculum for DeafBlind people getting the most out of their Support Service Providers (SSP). She founded Tactile Communications which is the training center based on Protactile philosophy and DeafBlind Education. Prior to this work, Jelica worked in a variety of positions, such as a research coordinator, advocate and job-developer. Jelica has a B.A. in Biology from RIT in Rochester, and an M.P.H. in Public Health from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. For almost 30 years, she has been active in the local, national, and international DeafBlind communities.
white; she/her/hers/they
For more information about Tactile Communications, please visit: www.tactilecommunications.org
Tactile Impression: Her stories are smooth and come with the scent of lavender. She draws you in slowly and then grips. When she laughs on you, you can’t help but laugh too.”
white; she/her/hers/they
For more information about Tactile Communications, please visit: www.tactilecommunications.org
Tactile Impression: Her stories are smooth and come with the scent of lavender. She draws you in slowly and then grips. When she laughs on you, you can’t help but laugh too.”
John Lee Clark - Protactile Language Educator

As a second-generation DeafBlind person, I am rarely aware of being DeafBlind because it’s so natural!
I am a writer, an educator, and a homeschooling Dad of three kids. My partner, an ASL Deaf artist, has been a great influence on my life and work. I am also head over heels in love with our two cats, and everyone knows I’m a chocolate addict. Some other labels that may apply to me: Landlocked Minnesotan, knitter, an excellent cook, radical, an incorrigible flatterer, and someone with an exquisite memory and a wit sharp enough to slice a diamond in half.
Pronoun: He. Race: White.
Tactile impression: Short hair of feline softness. Warm and smooth hands. A scent of patchouli. Flutters betray his exhilaration.
I am a writer, an educator, and a homeschooling Dad of three kids. My partner, an ASL Deaf artist, has been a great influence on my life and work. I am also head over heels in love with our two cats, and everyone knows I’m a chocolate addict. Some other labels that may apply to me: Landlocked Minnesotan, knitter, an excellent cook, radical, an incorrigible flatterer, and someone with an exquisite memory and a wit sharp enough to slice a diamond in half.
Pronoun: He. Race: White.
Tactile impression: Short hair of feline softness. Warm and smooth hands. A scent of patchouli. Flutters betray his exhilaration.
Jason Herbers - Protactile Language Educator

Jason 'Jaz' Herbers is a proud first graduate of Tactile Communications (TC), a DeafBlind-led Training Center in Seattle, Washington. He works remotely for TC, now based in Monmouth, Oregon, as a Recruiter and Advocate for DeafBlind consumers through state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. Occasionally, he provides in-person one-to-one training, such as Braille Education, Adaptive Strategies (AS), Assistive Technology (AT), and Protactile at TC.
He is also a Protactile and CoNavigator Educator providing hands-on trainings across the country and teaching a DeafBlind Interpreting course at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
Before finding his passion in the DeafBlind community, he retired after 15+ years in the Information Technology field. His last position was Computer Support Team Leader at Gallaudet University, where he graduated in 1996. Currently, he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife, Deanna, their two young adult children, and two furbabies.
white, male, he/him
He is also a Protactile and CoNavigator Educator providing hands-on trainings across the country and teaching a DeafBlind Interpreting course at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
Before finding his passion in the DeafBlind community, he retired after 15+ years in the Information Technology field. His last position was Computer Support Team Leader at Gallaudet University, where he graduated in 1996. Currently, he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife, Deanna, their two young adult children, and two furbabies.
white, male, he/him
Hayley Broadway - Protactile Language Educator

Known as the Community Nudger, her love of community work and teaching brings her joy. She enjoys spending time with her teen boys and spouse, exploring ideas with friends and colleagues, and poetry. Creating opportunities for DeafBlind teachers and DeafBlind students and sharing in that experience for more nurturing growth of Protractile language is one of her biggest joys.
white; she/her/hers/they
Tactile Impression: Wears fashionable, textured attire. Wiggles her fingers on you when she is deep in thought. When you talk to her, you feel a steady stream of taps and squeezes. Sometimes, when she is really excited, she slaps you. Engage at your own risk
white; she/her/hers/they
Tactile Impression: Wears fashionable, textured attire. Wiggles her fingers on you when she is deep in thought. When you talk to her, you feel a steady stream of taps and squeezes. Sometimes, when she is really excited, she slaps you. Engage at your own risk
Roberto Cabrera - Protactile Language Educator

Roberto Cabrera is a second-generation DeafBlind, Queer, Dominican. He is known for his work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, a community outreach specialist, a teacher, and a trainer. Roberto has been involved with various organizations at local, state and national level. He is a people person, and he loves spending his time with community led projects. Roberto has been a strong advocate for the quality of lifestyle in the community of choice.
He/El, Dominican.
Tactile Impression:
At first touch, my anxious and excited hands firmly on you, as you glide up my hairy curly arm
He/El, Dominican.
Tactile Impression:
At first touch, my anxious and excited hands firmly on you, as you glide up my hairy curly arm
Najma Johnson - Protactile Language Educator

Najma Johnson, MA, a BlackDeafBlind Trans non-binary folx, is currently the Executive Director at DAWN , a anti-violence agency providing services for the DeafDisasbled, DeafBlind, Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late-deafned who experienced power-based violence. Najma co-founded Together All in Solidarity (TAS), an umbrella anti-violence community collaboration that functions as a network for marginalized communities within the Deaf Community. Transformative Justice and abolition work is the core of Najma’s values. Under TAS, Najma has provided consultation in various capacities from organizing to policy development, trauma-centered work and anti-violent workplace training. Najma’s 2 grandchildren are the catalyst of becoming involved in k-12 anti-violence work. They both experience different forms of violence based on their identities as an Afro-Polynesian and as children of domestic violence. This led Najma to become dedicated to trauma-centered anti-violence work within the Deaf community. Najma is an Anti-Violence advocate for Creando Lazos where they provide support and education to address language justice and violence within the k-12 and higher education and the Deaf communities.
Lesley Silva-Kopec - Protactile Language Educator

Lesley Silva-Kopec has a profound passion for the DeafBlind community. Upon moving to NYC, she quickly became aware that DeafBlind events took place a couple times every year. She enlisted with other DeafBlind people to participate to host more DeafBlind events. She is currently involved with the New York City Co-navigator project.
While growing up, both she and her DeafBlind sister did not have any support during their difficult transition from deaf to DeafBlind. It was an extraordinarily difficult journey for her and her sister. Once Lesley and her DeafBlind husband met, and became more involved with other DeafBlind people Lesley was able to more easily make the transition in perceiving herself as a DeafBlind person. Her personal journey as a in her acceptance of her DeafBlind identity led her to seek out, learn and live Protactile.
Currently, Lesley works with Touch Seeds, LLC. Touch Seeds specializes in working with DeafBlind children and their families.
She currently lives in New York City with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys meeting new people and exploring new experiences.
While growing up, both she and her DeafBlind sister did not have any support during their difficult transition from deaf to DeafBlind. It was an extraordinarily difficult journey for her and her sister. Once Lesley and her DeafBlind husband met, and became more involved with other DeafBlind people Lesley was able to more easily make the transition in perceiving herself as a DeafBlind person. Her personal journey as a in her acceptance of her DeafBlind identity led her to seek out, learn and live Protactile.
Currently, Lesley works with Touch Seeds, LLC. Touch Seeds specializes in working with DeafBlind children and their families.
She currently lives in New York City with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys meeting new people and exploring new experiences.
Earl Terry - Protactile Language Educator

His name is Clifford “Earl” Terry (he/his/him). He is an AfroMexican American, DeafBlind-DeafDisabled, and Gay living on Akimel O’odham (Upper Pima), Hohokam, and O’odham land - Phoenix, Arizona. He provides services such as curating for art exhibitions, consultation regarding Black ASL, Protactile, and ASL, developing educational materials, mentorship, tutoring, training, and community-based workshops through his small business, “Gecko Black ASL + Protactile + ASL LLC.”
He graduated from Phoenix Day School for the Deaf in Phoenix, AZ, in 1998. He received a master’s degree in Sign Language Education in 2018, a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, and a minor in Journalism in 2010. He has a huge passion for arts and has been an active member of the BIPOC DDBDDHHLD arts community for a long time after graduation from high school. He became a community art curator. He collaborated with Dyer Arts Center and hosted the Black Deaf art exhibition for the first time in U.S. history in 2015. The exhibition's title was “Unfolding the Soul of the Black Deaf Expressions.” The book and e-book are available for purchase. The most recent exhibition he curated was celebrating the Black Deaf arts, hosted by the Center of Black Deaf Studies in 2023. He designed and taught an online course called “Orature and Literature in the Black Deaf Community.” He became a Protactile Language Interpreting (PLI) educator after receiving intense training from the PLI DeafBlind team in the fall of 2022. It was a life-changing experience for him.
“Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstance.” –Maya Angelou
Tactile impression: He is six feet and 5 inches tall. He wears his favorite bracelet on his left wrist. The bracelet is made of steel chains. The bracelet has a pattern, three small loops, and a loop slightly longer. The pattern repeats seven times.
He graduated from Phoenix Day School for the Deaf in Phoenix, AZ, in 1998. He received a master’s degree in Sign Language Education in 2018, a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, and a minor in Journalism in 2010. He has a huge passion for arts and has been an active member of the BIPOC DDBDDHHLD arts community for a long time after graduation from high school. He became a community art curator. He collaborated with Dyer Arts Center and hosted the Black Deaf art exhibition for the first time in U.S. history in 2015. The exhibition's title was “Unfolding the Soul of the Black Deaf Expressions.” The book and e-book are available for purchase. The most recent exhibition he curated was celebrating the Black Deaf arts, hosted by the Center of Black Deaf Studies in 2023. He designed and taught an online course called “Orature and Literature in the Black Deaf Community.” He became a Protactile Language Interpreting (PLI) educator after receiving intense training from the PLI DeafBlind team in the fall of 2022. It was a life-changing experience for him.
“Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstance.” –Maya Angelou
Tactile impression: He is six feet and 5 inches tall. He wears his favorite bracelet on his left wrist. The bracelet is made of steel chains. The bracelet has a pattern, three small loops, and a loop slightly longer. The pattern repeats seven times.
Interested in joining our team? Contact us! You can reach us at [email protected].