I'm a Deaf woman speaking up about Wanda Vintinner, a Deaf interpreter and mental health professional working with Connect Society/D.I.Hope Infinity (per LinkedIn).
1. Wanda publicly questioned if my Deaf husband, Randy Spann, was really Deaf, assuming he was using his voice and telling him to "turn off the microphone"--even though he never used his voice at all.
2. When I defended him, she blamed "hearing parents" and tagged me, wrongfully assuming I was hearing and his parent. I'm not hearing, not his parent, and erasing my identity hurt deeply.
3. She claimed Randy was "making noises with his mouth" and dismissed it as "being blunt"--audism and discrimination, especially harmful from someone in mental-health settings.
4. She never apologized publicly. She privately messaged me saying she felt "invaded," yet she took no public responsibility.
Wanda works in roles where Deaf people trust her. Her public gatekeeping, invalidation, and refusal to own her harm is a community safety issue.
If Connect Society continues to let her interpret or support vulnerable clients without addressing this, it puts Deaf people--especially Deaf BIPOC--at risk.
Please investigate and ensure client safety before continuing to work with or refer to Wanda Vintinner. read more