Announcements

Meet our Speaker and Emcee!

Meet our Keynote Speaker, Raven Sutton!

ODSC Keynote Speaker flyer, Raven Sutton

Raven Sutton is a content creator and an advocate for the deaf community. She works as a Deaf Community Advocate at DRC (Disability Rights California), an agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. She worked at DAWN in Washington, D.C. as a Survivor Resource Specialist from 2020 to 2022, then was promoted to Survivor Resource Specialist Senior from 2022 to 2023.

She has been published in the New York Times, Vogue Magazine, and the Daily Mail, and her videos have been viewed over half a million times on major social media platforms. She also has an Instagram account where she shares her story and highlights the experiences of other deaf people. In 2024, Raven won a National Social Media Award for being the most inspirational influencer.

Raven aims to inspire change by shining a light on the unique experiences of deaf people and their struggles with discrimination, striving to create compelling content that helps others understand what it’s like to be Deaf.

Meet our Emcee & Auctioneer, Jac Cook!

JAC is well-known as JAC of all trades where she is spotted doing this and that everywhere she goes. JAC is well-known as a sharp-witted dynamic speaker and entertainer. She is a professional master of ceremonies and an auctioneer for numerous National and local organizations.

She served on the National Board for Deaf Women United. JAC co-chaired the DWU National Conference in Berkeley, CA. She served on the Board for Deaf Women Against Violence, DWAV. She has been an ASL consultant & dramaturge for various theatrical productions for nearly 25 years. The first release of Disney+ Marvel, “Ant-Man (2015),” with a PIP of ASL Performer, JAC was the first ASL Performer for this type of concept. She was DASL for MAX, “Barbie with ASL”. She serves as a Consultant for the MAV team – Warner Bros., Entertainment Industry.

JAC is the founder of Velvet Hands, an ASL theatrical interpreting company in the Bay Area, CA. While running Velvet Hands, she had moved to Maryland with family and continue to do her love in theatre in the Washington Metro areas. She currently works as a Deaf interpreter and Sales & Marketing Strategist for Deaf-run and woman-owned Keystone Interpreting Solutions, based in Maryland.

JAC is thrilled to take the stage as an emcee and auctioneer, eagerly contributing to social justice for Deaf survivors and making a difference!