Biography

Valerie Stafford-Mallis is the Business Development Manager for Alternative Communication Services (ACS) LLC. ACS is a full-service captioning and sign language interpreting company. Prior to joining ACS, she served as the Florida Department of HealthÂ’s (DOH) Health Educator Consultant for the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (FCCDHH).Hearing loss is an invisible disability and affects approximately one in six Americans. Valerie is an oral, late-deafened adult who earned her MasterÂ’s in Business Administration degree from Webster University, after losing most of her hearing. In 2009 she underwent bi-lateral cochlear implantation, and utilizes many types of assistive technology in her activities of daily living. As a person who lost her hearing over thirty-five years, Valerie has experienced first-hand the struggles faced by all persons with disabilities to maintain employment, independence and full-participation in public-life.

Valerie provided subject matter expertise as a member of the Department of Emergency ManagementÂ’s Functional Needs Support Services workgroups, the Florida Rehabilitation Council for Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of HealthÂ’s Disability Task Force, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Sensitivity and Bias Committees, and the Inclusion Council of the GovernorÂ’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. She also served on the Department of Children and Families-Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, and the Disaster Response Interpreter Training Project for the State of Florida. Valerie provided technical assistance to the GovernorÂ’s Commission on Disabilities during the writing of its 2008, 2009, and 2010 Reports to the Governor.

Valerie is active in the deaf and hard of hearing community. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Hearing Loss Association of America and the Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota, her local chapter. She is a member of the Association of Late-Deafened Adults and serves on the Convention Program Committee. She was voted Communication Access Inc.Â’s 2013 Hearing Loss Advocate of the Year.