Sean Gerlis

Sean Gerlis is a native of the New York City area and is the 3rd generation of his family to be deaf. Sean has 19 years of experience in the telecommunications industry building innovative products and services that transform communication capabilities for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Along with New York’s local interpreting community, Sean co-founded SILAN Communications, sign language interpreting referral agency in New York City and has been promoting higher standards of quality in interpreting through workshops and community education. As a subject matter expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sean is heavily involved with access for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind in New York State. Sean is also involved in the Text-to-911 program in the southern part of New York. During his spare time, Sean provides workshops on ADA-related topics concerning effective communication. Sean is currently Account Executive for Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) and lives in West Nyack with his two boys. He serves as President of the Empire State Association of the Deaf, Treasurer for the New York City Metro Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, contributing member to both different organizations, Deaf Justice Coalition and Special Needs Advisory Group of the Office of Emergency Management Agency in New York City.