About SILAN

Sean Gerlis is a native of the New York City area and is the 3rd generation of his family to be deaf. Sean has 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry building innovative products and services that transform communication capabilities for the Deaf and hard of hearing. One of his proudest accomplishments was leading the development in 2006 of one of the video relay service industry’s earliest successful software videophones.

As a subject matter expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sean is heavily involved with New York’s local interpreting community, promoting higher standards of quality in interpreting through workshops and community education. Sean also is involved in getting Text-to-911 launch in Rockland County and in the five New York City counties. During his spare time, Sean provides workshops on ADA-related topics concerning effective communication.

Sean is currently an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for the Board of Elections in the City of New York and lives in West Nyack with his two boys, Asher and Rowan, serves as President of the Empire State Association of the Deaf, and is a contributing member to the Deaf Justice Coalition and the Special Needs Advisory Group of the Office of Emergency Management in New York City.