About Us

Paul Fugate
Owner / CEO


Founder, and a  nationally certified interpreter, working with Deaf children for the last 15 years. Additionally, he has worked in a variety of settings such as legal, collegiate, mental health, relay, medical, courtroom, and education, to name a few. After interpreting for a number of years in the classroom, Paul obtained a teaching degree in Deaf Education. In 2006, he earned a Masters Degree in Special Education, specializing in emotional impairment and learning disabilities. Paul is passionate about his teaching opportunities, and possesses the desire to help all students to learn at their maximum potential.

Diana C.
Executive Content Developer


Diana graduated from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB). She is also a CODA (Child of Deaf adults). She works as an ASL Specialist with Bloomfield Hills Schools, in Michigan, working with bilingual students, and has worked as an intervener with Deaf and Blind students for over 23 years. In addition, Diana is a mentor to the interpreter students at Oakland Community College.

Angela K.
Executive Content Developer


Born Deaf, Angela is married, and the mother of 3 wonderful children. In addition to teaching ASL through Sign On CPR, Angela also works as an interpreter and intervenes for those who are Deaf and blind. She has a passion for teaching, and is encouraged to see everyone learning ASL, to communicate with the Deaf community.

Mindy R.
Content Developer


Mindy was born Deaf. She graduated from Madonna University with a bachelor’s degree in Language Arts. She has been an instructor of American Sign Language at several colleges and universities. Her passion is seeing the success of students/parents as they become proficient signers and interpreters. Her goal is to continue teaching those who possess this same enthusiasm and desire to learn ASL.

Benjamin H.
Content Developer


Born Deaf, into a Deaf family, Benjamin grew up with sign language his first language. A graduate of Lasher High School, in Bloomfield Hills, MI, Benjamin worked in play productions for many years, culminating in co-directing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, along with Diana C., another one of your ASL instructors. When asked what he hoped to accomplish as a teacher with ASLdeafined, he quickly responded, “I cannot wait to work with those learning ASL. Remember, Practice makes perfect!!!”

Justin T.
Content Developer


Justin was born Deaf . After graduating from Bloomfield Hills School, in Michigan, Justin attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, New York. He is currently employed in the restaurant and food services industry. Justin enjoys tutoring and teaching ASL, with the desire that his family learn as much ASL as possible. He also works with Sign On CPR. Due to his vision difficulties, Justin relies exclusively on public transportation, bus, walking, Uber, or friends, to get around. “I won’t allow my lack of sight to hinder my mobility,” he proudly proclaims.

Travis R.
Content Developer


Hi everyone, my name is Travis, I’m in my 30s. I’m Deafblind. I am gamer, I love to play videogames, I enjoy reading books and manga, you can say I’m nerd. I come from Deaf family, grew up in Deaf school and strong Deaf culture. So I have many stories to tell, some from my experiences, some from my writing creativity. I hope to print poem book someday.

Kevin H.
Business Manager


A native of Washington D.C., Kevin came to Michigan to attend Ferris State University (FSU). Graduated with a degree in business marketing. During the past 30 years, establishing a proven track record with expertise in organizational development and marketing program management. In support of the Deaf community, Kevin is a cofounder of the United Church of Christ Michigan Deaf Community Ministry.

Ben S.
Website Developer


Ben has been with ASLdeafined since its inception.  Literally.  Ben is the developer that brought ASLdeafined into being and has been making improvements to the site for the last 11 years.  He is the owner of Ideas2Executables, LLC, a company that specializes in support to small businesses and entrepreneurs like ASLdeafined .  Ben lives in Northern Virginia with his wife.  When he is not coding or fixing bugs that Paul finds, he loves to run, take photos, and blog about all random things.

Cassie S.
Storyteller


I graduated from Detroit Day School for the Deaf and Michigan School for Deaf. I was in OIC movies from 2009-2015. When I left from OIC movies I started traveling which I enjoying. It’s teach me lots of things I never knew. It’s help me improve and growing. In 2015  Sorenson for storytelling in NYC.  In 2016 perform for Epic Jan Spotlight in Seattle, Washington, perform Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. In 2017 interviewed by students from Madonna University in Michigan, signing video recording for ASLDEAFINED in Michigan, Panel in Oakland Community College in Michigan, Master of Ceremony and performer with Reel Def Entertainment, performer for their Detroit Black Deaf Advocates. In 2018 performer with NorCRID in Vancouver, Washington, presenter with MIRID in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, presenter with ASL Immersion In Grasslake, Michigan,In 2019, I am member of Association for the Advancement of Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing(AADHH), presenter with D&HHS workshops in Middleville, MI.

Ramiz T.
Content Developer


I was born Deaf. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. I am fluently in American Sign language for my whole life. I graduated with Automotive Tech degree from Macomb Community College. I have few certificates in Auto. I am currently working as a handyman at All Pro Contractors Company and Purple VP installer. I have been in few Comedy ASL videos. I love to travel around the world and meet many people. I have intensive knowledge of Deaf culture.

Jonelle T.
Content Developer


Hello! My name is Jonelle. I grew up in Southfield and currently living in Auburn Hills. I am from 5 generations of Deaf family members. I work for JVS as a Job Coach for developmental disability individuals. I enjoy tutoring American Sign Language and I plan to go back to school to be DeafBlind Intervener. My hobbies are hiking with my dog, doing puzzles, and cooking. Looking forward to helping with ASL skills!

Gary B.
Content illustrator


Gary became a freelance illustrator in 2010 when he graduated from the College for Creative Studies with a BFA in illustration. He spends his spare time writing and reading fan fiction. He has been writing a personal blog since 2009 which is devoted to a myriad of topics ranging from inequality and democracy to his favorite TV shows like Hawaii Five-0. After having a tumor removed from his spine in 2021, Gary was diagnosed with a rare, crippling neurological disease called Adhesive Arachnoiditis. His passion for art has empowered him to become a survivor of this disease and he wants to use whatever time he has left to make a difference, however small, with his illustrations.

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