Deaf Interpreter Conference 5
June 22 - 26, 2026
Workshops
Protactile 101:
Foundations of Contact Space and Object Exploration
DeafBlind
.20 CEU
(GS)
This introductory workshop explores foundational Protactile principles through guided engagement with contact space and intentional hand placement. Participants will learn how contact space operates as a shared tactile environment that supports communication, access, and connection. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, participants will practice establishing contact space, maintaining CoPresence, and exploring objects using Protactile. Emphasis is placed on developing tactile awareness, reciprocity, and clarity in shared interactions. Participants will also examine how CoPresence fosters mutual understanding and contributes to language development within Protactile. Designed for experiential learning, the workshop encourages reflection, practice, and collaboration, allowing participants to build confidence and deepen their understanding of tactile communication. By the end of the session, participants will gain practical tools and foundational knowledge to support meaningful engagement within Protactile.
Golden State DeafBlind Service Center Team
Rhonda Voight-Campbell
Rhonda Voight-Campbell has been teaching DeafBlind and Protactile Studies courses at the Rochester Institute of Technology for over nine years. A dedicated mentor and advocate, she works closely with the DeafBlind community across diverse settings, including retreats, direct training sessions, and online listservs. In addition to her teaching, Rhonda serves as a Protactile Expert for the Protactile Kids Research Study at Gallaudet University, where she engages DeafBlind children in interactive play sessions to support research on Protactile language acquisition. Driven by a deep belief in the inclusion and autonomy of DeafBlind individuals, Rhonda creates spaces that celebrate and cultivate the sense of touch through Protactile plays, storytelling, and rich, embodied experiences.
Dana Dehaesus
Dana Kana is proud as the Pacific Islander/Cancrean, was born and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and enrolled at the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley at age 11 and graduated in June 1986. Later, she attended Gallaudet University and did not complete her studies due to her family obligations. In 2012, she got involved in the Northern California Association of DeafBlind and had served as the president for 12
years. She found my truly identified as DeafBlind. She underwent a 12-week training program at Tactile Communications and became a CoNavigator trainer. Currently, she is a Co-Founder of the Golden State DeafBlind Service Center since 2023. Looking forward to growing service in CoNavigators and Interpreting program in California.
Yashaira “Yash” Romilus
Yash identifies as DeafBlind, Latine, and Queer (she/her). With roots in Puerto Rico, she brings unique lived experience to her work. Yash is co-director of MultiPoint Contact, Inc. and studied Social Work and Spanish at Gallaudet University.
Since 2016, she has worked nationally and internationally as a Protactile (PT) educator and trainer, specializing in PT language instruction. Her leadership and mentorship roles support education and outreach within the DeafBlind community. She continues this work with PLI and has been recognized as a PT trainer with the DeafBlind Interpreting Institute (DBII) at Western Oregon University. In addition, her work in PT theatre is a testament to her creativity and passion to work with the DeafBlind community.