CAMPBELL, CA, December 22, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sandra Wright Sutherland, PhD, CED, ATP, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Sutherland has led an impactful career as an expert in the integration of deaf and hard-of-hearing children into mainstream education, earning recognition for her innovative and compassionate approach. Since 2023, she has served as an itinerant consultant with the Santa Clara County Office of Education's Southeast SELPA, serving 10 school districts, where she is responsible for interpreting audiograms, advising teachers who serve students with hearing loss in their classroom on the support required to succeed in mainstream programs, and facilitating connections between parents and health services. She also reviews reports from educational professionals to determine the appropriate classroom placements and support services tailored to each student's needs, especially those specific to hearing loss.

During her work at the SE SELPA, Dr. Sutherland continued publishing through her company Iris Press (west) from 1996 to 2023. During this period, she contributed significantly to educational literature and resources, furthering her impact on the field of deaf and hard-of-hearing education. Her earlier experience includes serving as an itinerant deaf and hard-of-hearing specialist with the Los Angeles County Office of Education from 2013 to 2014, during which she provided direct support to K-12 students and collaborated with educators to ensure the effective integration of best practices.

From 1991 to 2002, Dr. Sutherland worked as a deaf and hard-of-hearing itinerant specialist for Carlsbad Unified School District in San Diego, California serving 14 school districts. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in supporting children with hearing loss within mainstream classrooms, advocating for individualized accommodations and fostering safe and inclusive learning environments.

Dr. Sutherland's foundational work began in 1972 with the Escondido Union High School District, where she served students directly as a deaf and hard-of-hearing teacher across five schools, again as an itinerant specialist, until 1985, when she returned to graduate education to further develop her advanced educational expertise in curriculum and instruction. Throughout her career, she has been most proud of her ability to transform children's lives during their formative years, particularly within their first decade — a testament to her dedication, care and expertise.

Beyond her primary roles, Dr. Sutherland is affiliated with the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) as an Assistive Technology Practitioner, concentrating on Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) within the Sensory division. She is also certified in both Elementary and Secondary levels as a Supervisor of Instruction by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED), reflecting her commitment to advancing best practices in assistive technology and integrative education.

Much of Dr. Sutherland's ability to serve others effectively stems from her equally accomplished academic background. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Communication and Technology from the University of Washington in 1989 as well as a Master's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at San Diego State University in 1973, providing a strong foundation for further work with children experiencing hearing loss. Additionally, she pursued coursework in graphic communications, photography, science and math at Palomar Community College District in 1983, especially to supervise post-secondary work by her high school graduates from Escondido, broadening her interdisciplinary expertise. Her journey in higher education began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, Education, and Social Science from the University of Michigan in 1969, where she achieved, Senior Class Honors.

Reflecting on her storied path thus far, Dr. Sutherland attributes her success to persistence, especially in education, — a quality instilled in her by her father from an early age. When faced with challenges such as the difficulties of sharing information about audiograms, she responded by authoring "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Itinerant Consultation Guide." This publication is one of four books she has written, underscoring her commitment to disseminating knowledge for the long-term benefit of children and fellow educators alike. Another publication, "Miles Albert Tinker and the Zone of Optimal Typography" offers guidance in optimization of visual presentation, especially typography, for people with hearing and visual impairment who are dependent on visual guidance in all media.

Alongside her professional accomplishments, Dr. Sutherland has cultivated a fulfilling personal life with many diverse experiences, especially internationally and during summers. In addition to her written works, she is an accomplished photographer and painter of the lesser known sport of Velodrome bicycle racing, with 70 paintings to her credit, where catching the excitement is an ongoing challenge. She maintains an active lifestyle through artistic pursuits, acting as photographer for international bicycle racing events and contributing to the support of the US Cycling organization. Her family includes one sister who has a married son, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Among them are individuals pursuing careers as a podcast host with a growing audience of 7,000 listeners, a voice artist, a behavior analyst and an aspiring graphic artist — achievements that fill their great-aunt and grandmother with considerable pride.

Dr. Sutherland's surprise and joyful marriage to a lifetime bicycle-racing Englishman, who she met online in 2021, exemplifies her openness to life's unexpected opportunities. Together, they anticipate traveling internationally and plan to attend events such as the Tour de France and world Velodrome events. She treasures the cultural diversity of the Bay Area community where she resides and seeks meaningful engagement with its first-generation and historical residents.

Looking to the future with determination, Dr. Sutherland aims to influence speech therapists' understanding of the connection between hearing loss and the resulting need for speech therapy, while continuing to make significant contributions within her specialty. She remains dedicated both to advancing awareness in her field and enjoying enriching experiences by traveling and engaging in cultural exploration, reflecting her legacy of continued growth and helping others through everything she does.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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