Click the pictures above for biographies.

Owner/Producer

Cathi Bouton is the owner, producer and director of Visualize ASL. She taught ASL at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for ten years and began developing the CD as a way for her students to practice vocabulary outside of the classroom, allowing more class time to focus on using the language. She is especially interested in applying the task-based language teaching model to teaching American Sign Language.

Cathi holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics; a B.A. in Linguistics; American Sign Language Teachers Association certification (ASLTA Professional); and CI and CT from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

She is extremely grateful to have such a terrific team to collaborate with and looks forward to developing more CDs in this innovative series!

ASL Model/Consultant

Gerardo DiPietro, a native of Toronto, Canada, graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education from Gallaudet University. As an ASL consultant, he provides coaching for theatrical interpreters, ASL storytelling and private tutoring. Through his powerfully expressive hands, 3-D motions, gestures, facial expressions, body language and mastery of ASL, Gerardo is able to capture and deliver fantastic narratives that are sure to delight and inspire all ages, whether deaf or hearing.

Currently, he resides in Seattle, WA where he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Tamara, and daughter, Mirella. Gerardo is a committed advocate for all children and gives generously of his time for reading programs, presentations and deaf teen leadership camp. He can also be found out on the course, playing disc golf with his friends from the Washington Deaf Disc Golf Association.

Graphic Designer

Patrick Fischer is from several generations of fine artists and actors from Europe, and has seen many theatre productions which have him an extensive interest in all things relating to theatre and art. These interests led Patrick to be involved in a variety of artistic positions (artist, board member, actor, director, producer, teacher, and consultant) as well as participation in a variety of performances (storytelling, poetry, emcee, skis, and comedy) all around the nation.

From Patrick’s experiences and training in different aspects of theatre, he grew to enjoy sharing and passing on this exposure and knowledge. Patrick launched his theatreical business in 2005, providing various services to those who want to learn more about theatre through deaf’s eyes. When Patrick is not “working” in theatre, he teaches American Sign Language (ASL) and currently is a certified ASLTA instructor at Portland Community College under the Sign Language Studies Program and Sign Language Interpretation Program in Portland, OR. Patrick is also a professional artist and owner of a freelance design business, “Infinity Design.”

To know more about Patrick Fischer, check out his two websites: www.mrshineyhead.com and www.idwiz.com.

Multimedia Designer

Eric Muehling is an interactive multimedia designer for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He works for the UAF Geophysical Institute’s Office of Education Outreach where he creates science education DVDs and websites. Recently completed multimedia projects include the aurora, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and global climate change.

He earned a BA from Kent State University in Photojournalism, and an MA from Ohio University in Visual Communication.

He teaches multimedia in the evenings at the university, is a consultant, loves nature photography, has built 12 cabins in Alaska, and volunteers with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He supports green power initiatives, and his computer at home runs on solar electricity. For fun, he built a huge catapult that hurls bowling balls (he suggests you look up “Daedalus”).