About Us

Little Signers, Inc.
Little Signers was created because of the high demand from parents to learn sign language as a supplemental form of communication with their children.  Sign language can open an exciting new world between you and your young child! Our program provides guidance and tools to parents and caregivers on how to communicate with their babies through sign language before their infants can speak.  We will also teach you how to enhance communication with your toddler and pre-schooler through the wonderful world of signing.

Instructors

Julie Griggs, Owner/Instructor
Julie received her Bachelor of Science: Teacher of the Visually Impaired in 1979. She received her Masters Degrees in teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and Visually Impaired children in 1986. Since that time, she has taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Gwinnett County Public Schools and has worked with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children ages 5 through 21. She has also worked in the Georgia Pines parent-infant program for more than ten years. In addition, she is fluent in ASL and plans to be a Nationally Certified Interpreter. Julie has taught American Sign Language classes at Georgia State University (GSU), at Berkmar High School in Gwinnett County and through community schools in Gwinnett County. Julie is currently working on her Ph.D. in School Psychology through GSU.

Lori Lewis, Owner/Instructor
Lori began her professional training in interpreting at Georgia Perimeter College in 1998. For three years, she worked with Deaf and Hard of Hearing High School students. Currently, Lori works with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Preschoolers. Working in the preschool program, Lori has seen the need for better communication, with the D/HH children, and with children who have other disabilities, as well as with normally developing hearing children. It has become her desire to help others bridge the communication gap through the use of ASL. In addition to being a wife and mother to two daughters, Lori is also working on completing her interpreter certification.

Debbie Lesser, CI & CT
Debbie is a nationally certified sign language interpreter.  After becoming a mother in April 2000, Debbie started Little Signers to teach other parents how to use sign language with their infants and toddlers.  She now is a consultant with Atlanta area preschools and childcare centers, Babies Can't Wait, Early Head Start programs, local area hospitals, as well as other professionals working with infants and toddlers.  In addition to her interpreting experience, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Rehabilitation. Debbie has worked in the field of disabilities for over 20 years and has used sign language as an alternative form of communication with non-verbal individuals of all ages and developmental levels. Debbie continues to use sign language with her daughters, both of whom began signing at 10 months old.      

Sarah Preston, CT
Sarah is a nationally certified sign language interpreter in the metro Atlanta area. She became interested in sign language as a child, and started learning at the age of 10. Sarah went on to receive a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Deaf Education in 1992. Sarah is eager to share such an incredible language with children, parents, caregivers and teachers. Her purpose for teaching is to improve communication among family members and to enhance cognitive development in children.

Kimberly L. Smith, CI & CT
Kim is a nationally certified sign language interpreter as well as a labor doula. She began learning sign language at the age of 10. Kim has a degree in interpreting as well as a degree in Education. She has been interpreting professionally for the past 13 years. Kim is also a proud mother of 2 boys (born in 2000 and 2002), both of whom started signing at 6 months of age. Kim has a strong belief in teaching sign language to children of all ages and feels it is a fantastic way to improve communication.

Thai Morris, CT
Thai is a nationally certified sign language interpreter.  She has a degree in Interpreting and has been trained by the GA. Department of Education to teach American Sign Language.  Her experience includes teaching sign language to teachers of deaf children and other educational interpreters.  She has worked as an educational interpreter for almost 7 years prior to working as a staff interpreter for a deaf owned company for 2 years.  She is now self-employed as a freelance interpreter in Georgia.

Beth Sharp
Beth is a certified interpreter, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor who works with deaf children and adults.  Beth earned two Master's degrees from Gallaudet University, a university for deaf students in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband who is deaf.  She and her husband communicate in American Sign Language, and their sons (age 2 1/2 and 8 months) are bilingual.  Additionally, Beth teaches American Sign Language for Gwinnett County Public Schools in their Community School program, and she is a Parent Advisor for Georgia PINES, an organization that reaches out to parents and families who have children between the ages of 0 and 3 that are identified with a hearing loss.  Beth loves to share her love of the language with as many people as possible.

Kim Kuykendall
Kim is a Georgia native and involved in the deaf culture for over 10 years. She has been deaf/hard-of-hearing for almost her entire life. About 6 years ago, she had cochlear implant surgery and her hearing vastly improved. Kim holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology. She has taught community sign language courses at various locations. She has one hearing son who started signing at 7½ months. Kim is highly motivated to share the experience of using sign language to enrich communication at all levels.