Board Of Directors Director and President       With a fluctuating hearing loss, Lee Bilby identifies as both deaf and hearing, experiencing large periods in both worlds. While she has numerous Deaf family, these members of her family were largely ostracised by her parents throughout her childhood, which was a childhood spent solely within the 'hearing world'. It was not until her first son was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at 9 months of age that Lee was introduced to the wonderful world of sign language. Both her sons first language was Auslan. The eldest, at 3 1/2 years of age, when his hearing (which also fluctuates) became such that he could hear speech the majority of the time, began to transition to speech. He now only uses sign language to support communication in noisy environments and at home. Lee's second son was born with severe muscular dysfunction within his mouth, and was predicted to never be able to speak. This was not, unfortunately, the only medical challenges Lee and Chris' little one faced, including life-threatening kidney failure. Lee admits "the honest truth was that it never occurred to me to be concerned about wether or not he would be able to speak". Since having children and gaining an insight into the diverse communication needs children, Lee began work with other signing parents, teachers, carers, and professionals. She was shocked at the difficulty experienced in finding support and information. There was an apparent lack of Australian resources for children and their non-signing parents. Drawing on the experiences of her own childhood, where she struggled to understand the oral based teaching methods; and from the experiences of her own children, Lee has been actively involved in the following areas: Sibling and social group sign language support program development and implementation Development of specialised programs for low dexterity signers, including people with Cerebral Palsy and multiple disabilities. The development of a printable bank of Australian Sign images, that has been made available to Australian people for free via the www.SignSwap.com.au website and through the Sign With Me CDROM, which is currently being used by almost 1 in 9 schools, as well as a number of libraries, parents and support associations and professionals within Australia. The development of a national based publishing and distribution house for Australian Sign Language Products, known as Bilby Publishing, which has now been running for eight years and has clients in every state of Australia. Lee is also a passionate researcher and has conducted research in the following areas : The analysis of Sign Language variations across Australia The number, and demographical distribution of Sign people, as well as those with a disability through out Australia The differing needs of those within Australia's remote and isolated communities. The use of Sign Language based communication within indigenous communities, both historically and currently. Childhood brain and sensory neural development Lees formal qualifications are diverse indeed. She comes to ACARA with qualifications and expertise within, amongst others, the following areas: Studied Graphic Design at the Melbourne School of Arts, and has worked within the advertising industry, in both print and electronic media since 1991 At Monash University (Melb) Lee studied Corporate Law, Accounting, and Auditing, as part of a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and went on to tutor in both accounting and corporate law. She put her studies to practice in the workforce, initially working for a large accounting firm in Melbourne. Then moving over to consulting and financial system design, where she was appointed manager of the company's Melbourne office at the tender age of 20. Lee, never satisfied, sought a greater challenge, and moved into the ever unpopular area of auditing and pre-liquidation funds management. One recurring theme became quickly apparent. The need for personalised accounting systems that seamlessly integrated into marketing and business management software, and so that's where Lee went. It was about this time that Lee met Chris, and together they have specialised in the development of complex customised software applications for the web, internal office and accounts management and marketing. Lee has also studied Auslan in Melbourne, the ACT, and within NSW. She has completed level 1 and 2 Auslan at the university level and Tafe level in three states, and studied under course providers in most states, so as to develop a sound understanding of regional diversity. She believes in supporting and nurturing the diversity and evolutionary nature of the language. Lee is also passionate about Wildlife, and has qualifications in Native fauna rescue, rehabilitation and foster care. She is very proud to have cared for what is believed to be the youngest echidna ever to be hand raised, and is the proud foster-mum of a wonderful mob of Swamp wallabies, a diverse flock of birds and an unusual collection of reptiles. "I am committed to helping create a world where every person who needs or wants to communicate in sign language can still have equal rights and access to educational, medical, workplace and social communication." Director and Secretary       Louise is a parent of two hearing impaired children who has dedicated most of her parental life to the needs of hearing impaired children. she is : Former Board Member of Parent Council for Deaf Children (NSW), 8 years and current member Former Board Member of Deafness Council of NSW Former member of AussieDeafKids Member of Deafness Forum’s Parent Advisory Committee for Information Dissemination (2 year tenure ending May, 2006) Life Member of Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Member of Deaf Education Network Member of Deaf Children Australia Member of Parents Advisory Council to the Board of Deaf Children Australia Involved in Veronica James Science Challenge for Hearing Impaired Children for past 6 years. This year Louise achieved volunteer trainee interpreters for the seven (7) signing deaf children (including one with CHARGE syndrome) who attended, the most ever and hopefully will continue to grow in the future years. Louise has a degenerating hearing loss in her left ear. She has suffered tinnitus since she was a teenager. Louise is also an Epileptic. She comes to ACARA with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Louise is a mother of 3, two of whom are hearing impaired. "Both of my children are oral but my son is a hearing person with a hearing loss while my daughter is a deaf person with some hearing. Both of my daughters have basic Auslan skills and choose to use this as a support/secondary language both at home and socially. My son chooses not to sign but does try when he is in the company of a signing deaf person." Louise also has a number of formal qualifications including (but not limited to): An Honours Degree in Secretarial Practices. She has a Secretarial background to PA level. Louise was seconded to teach "Secretarial Practices" at TAFE as well as study court reporting. Louise has studied Auslan for a number of years starting with the basic DEN courses. Ongoing studies have included Teach the Teacher as well as Certificate II in Auslan; Certificate III in Auslan; Abridged Course of Certificate IV in Auslan. Louise has fought long and hard so that both parents and children can have equal access to bilingual communication in education with each child being individually assessed on their own communication needs and capabilities. She also believes that a national parent support group needs to be established with representation for various areas such as Deaf, hearing impaired, DeafBlind, CHARGE, Cerebral Palsy, etc so that there can be standards meet for the needs of these children and unbiased support in providing this being given to families. "My passion is parent support and equal access to all modes of communication." Director; Information and Financial Systems Officer       Chris Bilby has a high frequency hearing loss as a result of frequent middle ear infections as a child. Chris began learning sign language through Monnington Services in Melbourne just on eight years ago and has been instrumental in the development of Sign With Me, SignSwap, and most recently created BilbySubs. IT Programmer and Software specialist, Chris brings with him a depth of programming knowledge and experience that spans over 20 years. His expertise includes, but in no way is limited to: HTML, Active Server Pages, VBScript, JavaScript, Visual Basic and Visual Basic.net Web site Setup & Maintenance: Windows NT, 2000, Small Business Server and others 3D Modelling & Mechanical Design: Production drawings to models ready for animation Multimedia Preparation: Sound & Image design, composition, preparation and compression Chris will be responsible for the development and management of all required information and financial systems and software. "Organisations can achieve more, with less resources, in a timelier manner, through better software and web services."