Secretary
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Candace interprets in community venues and works in a variety of genres, including theatre, film, and television— both in front of the audience and behind the scenes. A co-founder of Hands On, she has interpreted more than 200 performances off and on Broadway and served on the panel selecting interpreters for the very first interpreted performance on Broadway. Candace was a curriculum developer and core instructor for the TDF’s annual national “Interpreting for the Theatre” Seminar at the Julliard School in New York City for over a decade. She has presented at conferences, published articles on interpretation, and for 12 years was an adjunct instructor at LAGCC Interpreter Education Program. Candace was an on-camera interpreter for WPIX News at 10 for several years and was featured in Frederick Wisemans’ documentary Ex Libris. She has appeared as a performer on stage, TV, film and toured with The National Theatre of the Deaf. Candace currently coordinates and provides mentoring for interpreters at The New Victory Theatre for Hands On. Written with co-authors Lynnette Taylor and Stephanie Feyne, their forthcoming book “Sign Language Interpreting for Theatre: A Collaborative Approach” will be published by Gallaudet University Press this fall 2025. The child of Deaf parents, she is a nationally certified interpreter for over 40 years (CI, CT, CSC, OIC:C), has a BA in Theater and Education, an MA in Deafness Rehabilitation from NYU. She is deeply committed to supporting the artistry of Deaf performers. University.
he/him
Frank is a proud Queens native, is delighted to serve on the board of Hands On. He earned a BA in Biology and Theatre from Gallaudet University, where he appeared in productions such as Hedda Gabler and The House of Blue Leaves. His first professional performance came with the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) in Chester, Connecticut, starring as the First Voice in Under Milk Wood and organizing the Worldwide Deaf Theatre Conferences, highlighting new works by Deaf and hard-of-hearing playwrights. After NTD, Frank continued his theatre work in the New York area, directing Brilliant Traces and starring in Profile of the Deaf Peddler with the New York Deaf Theatre. He earned a Master of Arts in Deaf Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a Master of Science in School Building Leader Administration from St. John’s University, and recently received a Certificate in Signed Language Translation from NTID/RIT. Frank has dedicated 27 years to the Lexington School for the Deaf, serving as a science teacher, administrative assistant, principal, and now as a member of the Teaching and Learning Department, overseeing curriculum, instruction, and assessment. He treasures reading aloud to students from Pre-K through elementary school. Beyond education, Frank serves as Director of American Sign Language (DASL) for Hands On and Theatre Development Fund (TDF), is a founding member of ACORN Theatre, and collaborated with Acoustiguide, Inc., as a virtual ASL tour guide for major cultural institutions such as 9/11 Memorial Museum, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park Conservatory, and National Gallery of Arts. He has also served nearly 13 years on the board of Camp Mark Seven in Old Forge, NY.
Reflecting on his journey, Frank feels he has come full circle—from audience participant to DASL for Hands On to board member—continuing his lifelong dedication to access, inclusion, and the transformative power of the arts.
Treasurer
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Dylan is a nationally certified sign language interpreter with over 15 years of experience. In his career Dylan has been fortunate to work in a variety of settings but there’s none he loves more than when he’s working in the theater. He’s had the honor and pleasure of being mentored by some of the field’s pioneers and current leaders, including Candace Broecker-Penn and Lynnette Taylor. With their guidance and support he’s had the pleasure of leading teams of interpreters for theater rehearsals, workshops, and productions both off and on Broadway. Since moving to NYC he’s interpreted over 50 productions. In 2019 he began supporting Hands On in a more official capacity. As the Director of Operations he is responsible for production coordination, financial systems, and all the other little things that go into running a non-profit. He is honored to help further the mission and legacy of Hands On.
President, Executive Director
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For over four decades, Beth has been a leader in disability access with a focus on Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. A Co-founder of Hands On, she has had the privilege of leading the organization to it’s current position as a leader in the field of interpreted theater.
Her prior roles include Director of Interpreting Services for the NYC Department of Education, Program Coordinator at NYU’s Center for Students with Disabilities, and Director of Operations at the New York Society for the Deaf. Beth also serves on numerous advisory boards advancing access to the arts. Early in her career, she worked as a freelance theatrical stage manager on and off Broadway. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from Brooklyn College, an M.A. in Deafness Rehabilitation from New York University, and a Certificate in Audiences, Engagement, and Participation from the University of Leeds (UK). As a disabled person, her advocacy work on the importance of access to the arts is both personal and professional.
she/her
Sarah is passionate about and dedicated to increasing accessibility and meaningful inclusion in the arts from backstage to the front of house and everything in between. She serves as Roundabout Theatre Company’s Director of Culture and Engagement, Audience Strategies. She is also the co-chair of Tessitura’s People with Disabilities affinity group, a member of the A.R.T./NY Disability Advisory Council and a frequent guest speaker and independent consultant on disability inclusion and fostering belonging and engagement in cultural organizations. Notable accomplishments and awards include “Theatre Workers to Know” in American Theatre Magazine (March 2021), co-founder and co-producer for Reverb (2021) an online festival of works created by disabled artists, and recipient of The Access/VSA International Network and Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Award for Excellence in Accessibility Leadership (2025). Prior to joining Roundabout, Sarah held senior positions with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Colorado Symphony. and was an active and enthusiastic participant in adaptive sports (skiing and equestrian).
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BFA, CSC, studied at the Academy of Art University and is an alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Film and Television. She brings her experience as a heritage signer, award winning filmmaker, and love of the arts, to interpreted theatre and teaching. She specializes in interpreting for theatre, film and television and presents workshops nationally and internationally. Co-author of Sign Language Interpreting for Theatre, Gallaudet University Press, 2025, her other publications appear in RID Views, StreetLeverage, Gallaudet University Press, ART COM and A.R.T. NY’s, What’s Off? Podcast. Committed to community engaged conversations to foster collaboration between the deaf and interpreting community, she began and co-moderated national Community Forums for the RID National Biennial Conferences for over a decade. She has served on the Conference of Interpreter Trainers Philosophy Committee, the RID Council of Elders and served as Chair for the National Interpreters with Deaf Parents Member Section of RID. A former instructor at La Guardia Community College, Interpreter Education Projects, where she taught Ethics and translation. She is one of the curriculum developers and core instructors of the “Interpreting for the Theatre” Seminar. In 1977 she joined protestors fighting for the passage of the 504 Regulations, the civil rights act for Disabled persons, and occupied the the Health Education and Welfare building in San Francisco for 26 days until its passage. She sees interpreting for the theatre as a continuation of those efforts, as a way to build community, to create new conversations across cultures and languages, and as a pathway for future deaf artists and audiences to enter the world of the arts.
Emmanuel von Schack is the inaugural Director of Disability Accessibility & Inclusion (DAI) at the ACLU, bringing over a decade of pioneering leadership in advancing disability inclusion. In this role, he leads the organization in taking a bold, visionary approach to embedding accessibility, dismantling ableism, and cultivating a deep culture of belonging. As the architect of the ACLU’s multiyear DAI Strategic Plan, Emmanuel is driving systemic change and guiding the organization toward a more inclusive future. He partners closely with the Executive Team, Strategy Office, Human Resources, and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB) teams—as well as senior leadership—to embed disability inclusion across policy, operations, and culture. Grounded in disability justice principles, his work reimagines how institutions can value, empower, and support every individual to thrive.
With a background in art history and extensive experience in museum accessibility, Emmanuel is also a committed advocate for inclusion in cultural spaces. He consults, trains, and lectures at various New York City museums, advancing equitable access for visitors with disabilities.