Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters faster
Standard Community Emergency Response Basic Training (CERT) is a FEMA training program open to all citizens. Participants learn how to become volunteers in times of emergency and disaster. Graduates are better prepared and learn valuable response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and first aid. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that Police and Fire departments can rely on during disaster situations. This allows professional responders to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters is built and enhanced. All Hands On is an organization dedicated to educating government and municipality officials in the importance of applying the CERT standard for emergency preparedness for the Deaf Community.
guest speakers
Emergency Management Interpreter Training (EMIT)
June 10-14, 2019
David Cowan
CERT Instructor
David graduated from Gallaudet University with B.A. in Psychology. He has served as the Executive Director of Georgia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as well as a coordinator for Georgia Interpreting Services Network. David currently works as a Deaf Interpreter and is an active member of the Deafhood organization. He is Certified in CPR/First Aid, a Certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Instructor, and certified Skywarn Storm Spotter instructor. David has been working with All Hands On since 2016. An activist and advocate for language accessibility, David was the Grande Marshall at Atlanta Pride 2017 and a star in ASL Films like "Beyond the Embers.”
David Cowan
CERT Instructor
David graduated from Gallaudet University with B.A. in Psychology. He has served as the Executive Director of Georgia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as well as a coordinator for Georgia Interpreting Services Network. David currently works as a Deaf Interpreter and is an active member of the Deafhood organization. He is Certified in CPR/First Aid, a Certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Instructor, and certified Skywarn Storm Spotter instructor. David has been working with All Hands On since 2016. An activist and advocate for language accessibility, David was the Grande Marshall at Atlanta Pride 2017 and a star in ASL Films like "Beyond the Embers.”
François Roa
CERT Instructor
François is originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He and his family moved to New York City. François became a US Citizen when he was fourteen years old.
François graduated from Tampa Technical College in 1992 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. François is a former employee of the United States Postal Service in Denver, Colorado and Tampa, Florida.
François is a certified Support Service Provider (SSP) for Deaf-Blind Access of the South (DBAS) for 6 years.
François is a certified CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) instructor, Stop The Bleed instructor, Active Shooter Incident Response instructor, and National Weather Service Storm Spotter instructor.
François Roa
CERT Instructor
François is originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He and his family moved to New York City. François became a US Citizen when he was fourteen years old.
François graduated from Tampa Technical College in 1992 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. François is a former employee of the United States Postal Service in Denver, Colorado and Tampa, Florida.
François is a certified Support Service Provider (SSP) for Deaf-Blind Access of the South (DBAS) for 6 years.
François is a certified CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) instructor, Stop The Bleed instructor, Active Shooter Incident Response instructor, and National Weather Service Storm Spotter instructor.
Shonna Magee Hudson
Master-Level ASL-English interpreter
Shonna Magee Hudson is a nationally certified, master-level ASL-English interpreter with over 20 years of experience serving the Deaf Community as an interpreter, professor, advocate, evaluator, and consultant. She has also spent over 15 years training interpreters through seminars presented all over the country. She currently holds five national interpreting certifications- National Interpreter Certification: Master Level, Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), Oral Transliterator Certification (OTC) and the Core Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CoreCHI.) Shonna has a bachelor’s degree in interpreting from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling with an emphasis on Deaf services from the University of South Carolina. During her time in South Carolina, she served as the Statewide Coordinator of Deaf Services with the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) and was the recipient of the 2015 Community Service Award from the South Carolina Association of the Deaf.
Shonna Magee Hudson
Master-Level ASL-English interpreter
Shonna Magee Hudson is a nationally certified, master-level ASL-English interpreter with over 20 years of experience serving the Deaf Community as an interpreter, professor, advocate, evaluator, and consultant. She has also spent over 15 years training interpreters through seminars presented all over the country. She currently holds five national interpreting certifications- National Interpreter Certification: Master Level, Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), Oral Transliterator Certification (OTC) and the Core Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CoreCHI.) Shonna has a bachelor’s degree in interpreting from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling with an emphasis on Deaf services from the University of South Carolina. During her time in South Carolina, she served as the Statewide Coordinator of Deaf Services with the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) and was the recipient of the 2015 Community Service Award from the South Carolina Association of the Deaf.
Vyron Kinson
EMIT Instructor
Vyron is from Albany, GA. He graduated from Georgia School for the Deaf in 2003. He graduated from Gallaudet University in 2009 with a BA degree in Social Work and minor in Psychology. Vyron studied to be a certified Deaf Interpreter and as of January 2019, was awarded the first and only person that possess the Provisional Deaf Interpreter Credential (PDIC) from RID.
Vyron continues to learn more about the linguistics and (Deaf) interpreting. His dream jobs are to be Interpreter Teacher/Trainer and ASL Teachers at a university/college and Licensed Clinical Social Worker for a Deaf school and in private practice.
Vyron Kinson
EMIT Instructor
Vyron is from Albany, GA. He graduated from Georgia School for the Deaf in 2003. He graduated from Gallaudet University in 2009 with a BA degree in Social Work and minor in Psychology. Vyron studied to be a certified Deaf Interpreter and as of January 2019, was awarded the first and only person that possess the Provisional Deaf Interpreter Credential (PDIC) from RID.
Vyron continues to learn more about the linguistics and (Deaf) interpreting. His dream jobs are to be Interpreter Teacher/Trainer and ASL Teachers at a university/college and Licensed Clinical Social Worker for a Deaf school and in private practice.
Frania Franch
EMIT Instructor
Frania Franch, is a proud alumni of St. Pius X High School and NTID/RIT, is currently an assistant director in Deaf-Blind Access of the South (DBAS) Camp where she started as a certified Support Service Provider ( SSP) 17 years ago. She also teaches American Sign Language classes and provides private tutoring for college students and adults with hearing loss.
Frania Franch
EMIT Instructor
Frania Franch, is a proud alumni of St. Pius X High School and NTID/RIT, is currently an assistant director in Deaf-Blind Access of the South (DBAS) Camp where she started as a certified Support Service Provider ( SSP) 17 years ago. She also teaches American Sign Language classes and provides private tutoring for college students and adults with hearing loss.
James Smith
BA, CDI
James grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Originally from Kentucky, his mom discovered that he was Deaf when he was just 7 months old. He and his mother started learning sign language right away, with his mother deciding to become an Interpreter and earn National Certification. James followed her footsteps and got certified as a Deaf interpreter, or a CDI. James enjoys working in medical, police interrogations, and courtroom settings. James also become a Georgia Emergency Management Association certified instructor for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and teaches workshops all over Georgia and Florida. James is married to the beautiful Zakhe, and they have 2 beautiful daughters. When he’s not interpreting, James loves riding his rocket street motorcycle!
James Smith
BA, CDI
James grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Originally from Kentucky, his mom discovered that he was Deaf when he was just 7 months old. He and his mother started learning sign language right away, with his mother deciding to become an Interpreter and earn National Certification. James followed her footsteps and got certified as a Deaf interpreter, or a CDI. James enjoys working in medical, police interrogations, and courtroom settings. James also become a Georgia Emergency Management Association certified instructor for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and teaches workshops all over Georgia and Florida. James is married to the beautiful Zakhe, and they have 2 beautiful daughters. When he’s not interpreting, James loves riding his rocket street motorcycle!
Deaf CERT is not CERT just taught in sign language
We teach to Deaf people in the same manner as it would be to the hearing. To keep a clear consistent message, we present it in the source language using the same manual, the same hours and issue the same certificate.