Deaf since birth, Diana Pryntz grew up in New York City attending public schools. When she was of college age, she moved to Rochester, NY to attend Rochester Institute of Technology. It was there where she learned American Sign Language (ASL) and developed her Deaf identity. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology. After a short stint working in the industry as a programmer for Xerox and then DuPont, she became a professor of Computer Science at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. In 1987, she switched gears and changed her career to motherhood.

During her 30 years of motherhood when she wasn’t busy raising and unschooling her four sons, she focused on empowering women with home birthing and breastfeeding as a leader of the ILY La Leche League group in Rochester, NY, forming and leading the Society of Rochester Jewish Deaf, presenting on: environmental design, renewable energy, and sustainability, and teaching ASL to the rural community where her husband and she built their off-the-grid passive solar home.

In May 2017, Diana co-founded Deaf Refugee Advocacy and is currently serving as the Executive Director.

Andrea Oppedisano (Addy) grew up in Syracuse, NY. She was diagnosed deaf at 6 months old, so her hearing parents looked for support to help their daughter. With a lot of resources, they were able to take ASL classes and encouraged family members to go with them. Andrea’s early development of language led her to begin her advocacy as a young deaf child educating others on how to treat deaf people equally.

Andrea went to RIT to major in Liberal Arts and aimed to become a social worker. However, being an artist has always been a lifetime passion of hers. She realized that she wanted to do both, so Andrea ended up graduating with Bachelors in both Art and Psychology.

Andrea has worked with various deaf organizations in Rochester, such as DePaul, RCIL, and NCDHR providing various support services for the deaf community. She also worked on different advocacy projects but her favorite was with the courthouse to create equal accessibility within the court system. Her goal is to encourage others with empowerment to succeed as a proud deaf individual without barriers.

She may look shy or quiet but truly she is a wonderful listener with a big personality. She has a big heart for animals, especially dogs and some call her the animal whisperer. She enjoys her free time with her two daughters doing different things in the hidden gem of Rochester. Andrea provides positive vibes with full guidance and support for others. She is excited to be part of the DRA team!!

Laurette, originally from Rochester, New York, came from a deaf family. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Gallaudet University and NTID/RIT, specializing in deaf education. Laurette has extensive experience teaching ASL to deaf students from elementary to high school levels, as well as to parents of deaf children and homeschoolers.

Beyond her teaching role, she prioritizes quality time with her two CODA children and fosters entrepreneurial spirit through her thriving home-based business, crafting artisanal bath products like bath bombs, whipped soap, and shower steamers that bring joy to her customers.

She's excited to embark on a new journey at Deaf Refugee Advocacy, shifting from traditional standard education to a community-based approach that equips students with tools, support, and guidance to overcome barriers, achieve objectives, and unlock a brighter future.

Hamid, a native of Ghana, moved to the United States in 2013 to further his education. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, he worked as a Residence Coordinator with the Summer Transition Program hosted by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). In 2020, he returned to Ghana to volunteer as a Teaching Assistant for his alma mater, the State School for the Deaf in Accra. While there, his keen interest in sports prompted him to coordinate a fundraiser to build a volleyball court for the students at the school. Hamid’s experience as a Deaf immigrant student motivated him to advocate for and encourage his immigrant friends to pursue higher education and inspired him to join the Deaf Refugee Advocacy team, where he hopes to share his experience and insights.

Rayangelo Abadia was born and raised in Queens, New York, and has been Deaf since birth. He attended Lexington School for the deaf, where he built a strong foundation in Deaf culture, language, and community. He later moved to Rochester to study within the business field at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Rayangelo is passionate about disability rights, community empowerment, and well-being. His interest in these areas led him to join Deaf Refugee Advocacy (DRA), where he is excited to support individuals from diverse backgrounds through advocacy, outreach, and direct assistance.

Outside of the workforce, Rayangelo is a skilled barber, a proud father of two CODA’s (Children of Deaf Adults) children, and participated in a vary of the deaf sport clubs. He looks forward to continuing his work at DRA by building inclusive spaces, fostering community growth, and ensuring that every individual feels seen, heard, and supported.

Alex is originally from Chicago and moved to Rochester in 2008 for higher education at NTID/RIT. They graduated twice, in 2013 and 2018, and later worked at NTID as a faculty member for 6 years. They are now studying for a master’s degree at School of Film and Animation at RIT.

With a background in 3D digital art and animation, Alex enjoys using creativity and visual learning in their teaching. They believe education and art can build confidence, connection, and belonging in the Deaf community.

They are excited to use their skills to help Deaf refugees who come to live in Rochester learn important skills for everyday life.

Manikantan "Mani" Eakiri Lakshmanan was born Deaf and raised in Bengaluru, India. He relocated to the United Stated to pursue higher education and earned a Master's degree in Software Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

While at RIT and NTID, Mani worked on OS app development. This provided him an opportunity to work with Deaf and low-vision clients.

Mani is a proud husband and father of a CODA son. Outside of work, Mani enjoys learning about new technologies and developing web design. His personal professional experiences have shaped his strong commitment to accessibility and community empowerment.

As an international Deaf individual himself, Mani is deeply motivated and excited to work as an admin assistant for the Deaf community at DRA, and he looks forward to welcoming you with empathy and care.