My name is Karen and I'm a mom with three wonderful kids. I've been married for 16 interesting years, and still counting. All three of my kids have some degree of hearing loss and my husband and I are deaf. I teach sign language to babies in early intervention and a class at a local college. I substitute teach at programs for deaf and hard of hearing children.

I am the Chairperson of Illinois Families for Hands & Voices and a board member of Hands & Voices National, which provides non-biased support to families with deaf and hard of hearing children.

Before I had kids, I worked as a Deaf Services Coordinator at a Center for Independent Living, providing advocacy and peer counseling. I have my M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling.

I'm also a big home birth supporter and I had my youngest child at home. I had the opportunity to attend several births, including a home water birth, which was an awesome experience.

If you're wondering how I picked "Barefooter" as my Epinions ID, it's because I love to waterski on my bare feet. I grew up with a summer home on Christie Lake and I still hold the title of the only woman barefooter on the lake. Maybe someday my daughter will grow up to be the next one. :)

I had the wonderful chance to fly in my brother's plane last year and capture a picture of Christie Lake:

Last but not least, here are some of my popular Epinions:

Cytotec and Birth

You're Having A Homebirth?

I'm Out of My Mind, Be Back in Five Minutes