Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• The Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) program provides vocational services through specialized VR counselors who are fluent in sign language.
• The program promotes DHH advocacy and awareness within the rehabilitation community and various publics; provides technical assistance and consultation to field staff, and develops and monitors interagency cooperative efforts on behalf of people with hearing impairments.
• Program staff provides community education and technical assistance to entities involved with job training, job placement, and employment of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
• The DHH program currently includes one Program Coordinator, ten Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf. Additionally, there are six positions at the Deaf Services Unit (DSU) at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES
Rehabilitation Counselors and Staff Working with Persons who are Deaf & Hard of Hearing
(800) 552-5019 (V) OR (800) 464-9950 (TTY)
(all offices can be reached by agency toll free numbers)

Mary Nunnally
State Coordinator, Services to Individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Administrative Office (Richmond)
(804) 652-7708 V
Mary.Nunnally@drs.virginia.gov
Virginia - Statewide

Dinah Smith
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Abingdon Office
(276) 676-5828 TTY / (276) 676-5565 V
Dinah.Smith@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Bristol, Galax, Norton, Radford
Counties - Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe

Christine Ross
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Lynchburg Office
(434) 947-6721 V / (434) 947-2007 TTY / (866) 831-8226 TTY
Christine.Ross@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Buchanan (town), Covington, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Salem, Vinton
Counties - Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Franklin, Roanoke

Gregory Dodge
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Fishersville Office
(540) 332-7700 V/TTY
Hollis.Dodge@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Buena Vista, Lexington, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro,
Counties - Augusta, Bath, Highland, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah

Barbara Blakeman
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Fairfax Office
(703) 359-1126 TTY / (703) 359-1124 V
Barbara.Blakeman@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Alexandria
Counties – Fairfax (Burke, Centreville, Clifton, Fairfax Station, Lorton, Springfield)

Pearl Johnson
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Fairfax Office
(703) 277- 3534 V / (703) 359-1126 TTY
Pearl.Johnson@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Arlington, Fairfax
Counties – Fairfax (Annandale, Chantilly, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, Fort Belvoir, Great Falls, Herndon, Loudon, McLean, Merrifield, Oak Hill, Oakton, Reston, Vienna)

Theresa Light
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Manassas Office
(866) 842-8426 V/TTY (toll free)
Theresa.Light@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Winchester
Counties - Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Northern Caroline, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren

Karla Lesher
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Charlottesville Office
(434) 296-5621 V / (434) 951-6393 TTY
Karla.Lesher@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Charlottesville
Counties - Albemarle, Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Prince Edward

Traci Branch
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Henrico Office
(804) 662-7119 TTY / (804) 662-9123 V
Traci.Branch@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Richmond, Hopewell
Counties - Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, Surry, Sussex

Sheri Shimada
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Hampton Office
(757) 865-4863 V/TTY
Sheri.Shimada@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Warsaw, Williamsburg
Counties - Gloucester, Isle of Wright, James City, King & Queen, King William, Mathews, Richmond County, York

Heather Wilson
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Virginia Beach Office
(757) 683-8460 TTY / (757) 683-8440 V
Heather.Wilson@drs.virginia.gov
Cities - Chesapeake, Franklin, Portsmouth, Suffolk, VA Beach
Counties - Accomack, Norfolk, Northhampton, Southampton

Christine Day
Unit Supervisor/Case Manager
Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (Fishersville)
(800) 811-7893 V/TTY / (540) 332-7236 V / (540) 332-7239 TTY
Christine.Day@wwrc.virginia.gov
Virginia - Statewide