South Central
HKNC Regional Network
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Contact Info:
Baton Rouge, LA 70884
Voice: 516-965-1039
VP: 225-330-8192
Regional Representative Natasha Aymami
Our regional offices bring HKNC resources to you.
Your regional representative knows all about the programs and services that are available to DeafBlind individuals, their families and service providers in your state and beyond, and can help you find and access the ones that are right for you.
Whether you’re interested in learning about support services near your home, would like to take advantage of the technology available through the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program or want to explore the possibility of training at our national headquarters, your regional representative is your link to all that HKNC has to offer ─ consultation, advocacy, assessment, training, referrals and more.
Meet the representatives and specialists in your region.
Natasha Aymami
Regional Representative
Natasha Aymami is the South Central Regional Representative, which includes: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Her role is to provide information on local and national DeafBlind resources, as well as support local programs in enhancing their accessibility and quality of service through professional development and consultation.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Louisiana State University Health Science Center. She also has a Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition to her academic credentials, Natasha is a certified Orientation & Mobility specialist and a nationally certified Sign Language Interpreter.
Natasha’s previous employment includes more than fifteen years of experience as a sign language interpreter; interpreter coordinator at Affiliated Blind of Louisiana; Louisiana State University assistant director of Disability Services; Louisiana School for the Deaf interpreter and academic counselor; and Orientation and Mobility specialist for East Baton Rouge public schools. Outside of her work, Natasha is an avid runner who completed a half marathon in 2019. Natasha is a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Megan Wimberly
Louisiana DeafBlind Employment Specialist
Megan Wimberly is the DeafBlind Employment Specialist in Louisiana. Her role is to provide customized services to consumers leading to achieving their employment goals and outcomes. She will also facilitate collaboration between consumers, their workplaces, the community, families, and providers including training, communication strategies, and technology while utilizing innovative strategies for accommodations and accessibility.
Megan received her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Louisiana State University. She attended University of Louisiana at Lafayette to take courses with a focus in mild/moderate education, then obtained a Masters of Science in Deaf Education from Lamar University. She is currently a third-year doctoral student at Lamar University in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education working towards her Ed. D. She has a certification in Deaf Education K-12.
Megan has done several presentations including Literacy Development for Deaf Children, Behind the DeafDisabled Student’s Academic Struggle, Living and Learning with Usher Syndrome, Reading with your Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child, and The Deafness Exceptionality: Is There More?.
Megan’s previous employment includes more than ten years of experience in Deaf Education including substitute teacher at Lafayette Parish School System’s Deaf Education mainstream program, Teacher for the Deaf and Teacher Leader/Mentor at Louisiana School for the Deaf. Outside of her work, Megan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and taking care of her plants. Megan has Usher Syndrome Type 1 (USH1C), is profoundly deaf, and uses American Sign Language to communicate. She is married, has two children, and a dog.
Ashley Beaty
Arkansas DeafBlind Employment Specialist
Ashley Beaty is the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) DeafBlind Employment Specialist (DBES) for the state of Arkansas. Ashley is originally from North Texas but relocated to Central Arkansas to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in American Sign Language/English Interpretation from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Ashley has been working as an American Sign Language Interpreter since 2011 and holds the National Interpreter Certification (NIC), EIPA 4.2, and an Arkansas Interpreter License. Since her career started, she has enjoyed specializing in interpreting and SSPing for DeafBlind ASL users and is an approved Support Service Provider (SSP) through the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services SSP program. Ashley has attended several DeafBlind Retreats, a national DeafBlind convention with the American Association of the DeafBlind, and an International DeafBlind Expo. Ashley intends to support DeafBlind individuals in finding their own way to achieve professional goals, leading to long term success in their personal lives.
In her free time, you can find Ashley playing with her three children, enjoying time with her wife and volunteering for various organizations related to interpreting or the foster and adoption community.
Local & Community Services
Are you interested in getting involved in the DeafBlind community in the South Central Region? Your regional representative can provide information about social gatherings, conferences, listservs and more. Check this space for announcements about upcoming events or contact your regional representative to request email notifications.
Ask your regional representative about:
- The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
- Local services and referrals
- On-site assessment, consultation, and training
- Making connections with other individuals and families within the DeafBlind community
- Technical assistance and in-service training
- Plans for youth transitioning from educational programs to post-educational services
- Educational materials and presentations about the capabilities and preferences of people with combined vision and hearing loss