GUIDE BY YOUR SIDE PROGRAM NOW IN WYOMING

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Ashley Donahoo is a mother of three and stepmother to two children and serves as a Parent Guide with Wyoming Families for Hands & Voices. Her connection to the deaf and hard of hearing community began when her youngest son, Merrik, was born with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Merrik began receiving early intervention services at three months old and was initially fitted with hearing aids before later receiving bilateral cochlear implants. Through that journey, Ashley experienced firsthand how quickly parents are asked to learn an entirely new world—new terminology, specialists, technology, communication options, early intervention services, educational considerations, and decisions they may never have imagined making for their child.

Those experiences are what drew Ashley to Hands and Voices as a Parent Guide. She remembers how valuable it was to have people who could answer questions, share resources, and simply understand what her family was experiencing. She is passionate about providing that same connection for other families, especially parents who are in the early days following a diagnosis and may not yet know what questions to ask or where to turn.

There is no single path that is right for every deaf or hard of hearing child. Her goal as a Parent Guide is not to tell families which path to choose, but to listen to their priorities, connect them with accurate information and resources, and help them feel confident making decisions that are right for their individual child and family. She especially enjoys connecting parents with other families and helping them realize they do not have to navigate their child’s journey alone.

Ashley lives in Gillette Wyoming. Professionally, Ashley has spent nearly 20 years in Banking and Mortgage Lending, where her work has centered around guiding people through important decisions and processes that can sometimes feel overwhelming. What began as an unexpected journey with her own son has grown into a genuine passion for supporting other families and helping ensure parents of deaf and hard of hearing children throughout Wyoming feel informed, connected, and supported.

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Phylicia is a proud mom of two—an 8-year-old with typical hearing and an almost 2-year-old daughter with moderate-to-severe hearing loss. Since her daughter’s diagnosis, Phylicia and her family have been navigating the world of hearing aids, learning sign language, and exploring communication options that best support their daughter’s individual needs.

Early in this journey, Phylicia had the opportunity to be mentored by a parent advocate, an experience that made an incredible impact on her and showed her just how valuable it is to have another parent walking beside you. That support inspired her to provide the same encouragement, connection, and advocacy to other families navigating hearing differences.

Professionally, Phylicia has an extensive healthcare background as an Occupational Therapist, along with many years of nonprofit board leadership and advocacy within the occupational therapy profession. She is excited to bring those experiences—and, most importantly, her perspective as a parent—to Wyoming Families for Hands & Voices.

Phylicia is passionate about advocating for children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, empowering parents with information and support, and helping families feel connected and confident as they navigate their own unique journeys.