Who we are

The PPDB was created to help people who are deafblind and their families make these connections and support each other. PPDB is a federally-approved 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. We have been legally incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since October 2007 and all contributions to PPDB are tax deductible.

The PPDB is a family-led organization governed by a Board of Directors. Our members set the organization’s priorities with an agenda to serve the needs of the families connected to us, and educate public officials on issues involving deafblindness. Most of our members are parents of children with deafblindness.

PPDB was honored to be selected as the first State Affiliate of the National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB). PPDB also has a close partnership with the PA Deaf-Blind Project, which has provided support, assistance, training and encouragement.

About DeafBlindness

In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 600 children (birth to 21) who are deaf-blind. There is no reliable census of the number of adults with deafblindness, although some estimates put the number between 1,000 and 3,000.

Deafblindness is not merely the loss or impairment of two senses (1+1 does not equal 2). As Helen Keller stated, “Blindness cuts you off from things; deafness cuts you off from people.” In addition, approximately 80% of children who are deafblind have at least one other disability or health condition that affects their lives.

When a small population of people with unique, and often complicated, needs is spread throughout such a geographically large state as Pennsylvania, it is very difficult for these individuals and their families to identify, talk to, and learn from people in similar situations.

Board of Directors

Officers

Tammy Kitterman, President
412-445-8784
gtkitterman@verizon.net

Tammy lives in Bethel Park, PA with her husband Grant and teenage son, Brock. Brock has deafblindness.
He was diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma when he was 12 weeks old. The chemo that he received to treat the eye cancer, damaged his hearing. Brock is academic and is very active in Triathlons and Blind Ice Hockey. Tammy work's part-time as a school bus driver and full time as Brock’s advocate.

Lisa Lopatofsky
Vice President
lopatofsky.lisam@gmail.com

Lisa lives in Waymart with her husband and three daughters. Her two oldest girls have Usher Syndrome Type 1b. Lisa is a Parent Mentor with the Family Connections for Language and Learning Program and a Peer Supporter with Parent to Parent of PA. She is also a member of the PA Deaf-Blind Advisory Committee and the NEPA Professional Learning Community.

Sandra Schiffli-Salerno
Secretary
iusandra@live.com

Sandra lives in Lancaster County, PA with her husband and three daughters. Her middle daughter experiences deaf blindness as a result of congenital cytomegalovirus. Sandra received a Bachelors of Finance degree at Indiana University and an MBA from Florida International University. She is passionate about understanding the complicated challenges and triumphs her child and others face as a individuals with deaf-blindness

Gordon Boe
Treasurer
g.boe@comcast.net

Gordon lives in North Wales, PA with his wife Mary. They raised their DeafBlind granddaughter Brittany from the age of 3. Brittany had many health complications including a kidney transplant. She's nonverbal, but ambulatory and very sociable. Brittany is 24 years old and lives in an apartment with a 1 on 1 caregiver and attends a day program.

Board Members

Patti McGowan
724-862-2553
pmcgowan@pattan.net

Patti Patti lives outside of Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and together they have raised three adult children. Their youngest son lives with deafblindness. Patti also work as one of the two family engagement consultants with the Pennsylvania Deaf-Blind Project. She is the current president of the National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB) and has had the opportunity to work with both the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) and Perkins School for the Blind in the role as a parent leader. As a family that has been well supported by a deafblind network, Patti hopes that she can do the same for others.

Molly Black
724-863-1283
mblack@pattan.net

Molly rejoined the Board in order to work alongside other passionate parents in the DeafBlind community. She lives in Irwin, a suburb east of Pittsburgh with her husband. Molly and her husband raised two grown daughters and raised a son who lived 22 years with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, the cause of his deaf-blindness. For many years Molly has worked as a Family Consultant with the PA DeafBlind project. She’s focused on supporting families and school teams in secondary transition planning.

Johnine Bickauskus
johninemail@gmail.com

Johnine live's in Jefferson Township with her husband Darryl, daughter Kayla and son Kase. My son Kase is deafblind due to a brain malformation Polymircogyria bilateral frontal lobes. Johnine is also a member of NEPA Professional Learning Community and The Ballet Theater of Scranton.

Professional Consultants