CONSUELO MANERO-SOTO

Chelo has a degree in Psychology from Anahuac University and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University, where she was a President’s Scholar for two consecutive years.  She earned her PhD in Education from Centro Internacional de Prospectiva y Altos Estudios (CIPAE), graduating suma cum laude.Chelo has worked for 18 years with people with disabilities in Mexico and the United States.  In the early 1990s, she worked with the team in Chicago, Illinois, that developed “Hearing Loss Link,” a center for providing services to late deafened people. Also in Illinois, Chelo worked at Thresholds Bridge.In 1996, Chelo returned to Mexico to work jointly with different groups in promoting a society that accepts and respects diversity.  She has worked closely with Father Joe Mulcrone, Ian Robertson, Mary Ann Barth and Pat Graybill as part of Deaf Catholic Youth Initiatives of the Americas. This team has developed and hosted several  Deaf Youth Encuentros.  Chelo has coordinated and participated in a series of conferences at the national and international levels for the training professionals and other individuals related to deaf people.  In particular, she was keynote speaker at the XXIV International Conference Organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers “Ephphatha: The Deaf Person in the Life of the Church”, November, 2009 at the Synod Hall in Vatican City.In 1997, she established a private practice in counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, couples and groups, and also works as a psychologist at the American British Hospital in Mexico City.  Since May 2000, Chelo has been the Director of the School of Psychology of the Marist University. The Marist University is one of the first Universities in Mexico that offers sign language interpreters and access for deaf students. In addition to her work as a clinician and educator, Chelo has used her knowledge of American and Mexican Sign Language as an interpreter since 1992.  Her work in this area has included interpreting for Hillary Clinton, Dr. I. King Jordan, president (at the time) of Gallaudet University, and Lisa Kaupinnen, president (at the time) of the World Federation of the Deaf.