Communication Service for the Deaf Appoints Brendan Gramer and Roberta Mather to Board of Directors

Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, has announced the appointment of Brendan Gramer and Roberta Mather to its Board of Directors.

Brendan Gramer joins the board with a distinguished career at Amazon, where he has served as UX Design Manager on the Payments team for 16 years. Known for his impactful advocacy for accessible design, Gramer has played a key role within Amazon’s Design Tools & Resources Working Group and AUX (Accessibility to the UX Design Community). His leadership extended to encouraging Deaf representation in accessibility, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, including his tenure as Global President of AmazonPwD (People with Disabilities) affinity group. "I am honored to join CSD’s Board of Directors," said Gramer. "Throughout my journey, I’ve been passionate about breaking down barriers, pushing for access, and promoting inclusivity. I look forward to contributing to CSD’s mission of supporting the Deaf community."

Beyond his professional career, Gramer has held various volunteer leadership roles, including positions with the Hearing Loss Advisory Council of the Washington Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deaf Kids Code, United Airlines Accessible Travel Advisory Board, and the Deaf Thrive Steering Committee. Born profoundly deaf, Gramer grew up using oral communication and later learned American Sign Language (ASL). He resides in Seattle with his Deaf wife and sons.

Roberta Mather brings over 20 years of experience in diplomacy and international relations to the board. Previously, Mather served as the Senior Advisor for Employee Communications with the U.S. Department of State, where she oversaw messaging to a workforce of over 75,000 employees worldwide. She is recognized internationally for her expertise in Diversity of Thought, global equity, and the power of storytelling in driving policy and advocacy initiatives. "CSD is a beacon of the Deaf and inclusive entrepreneurship. I look forward to joining the board only to serve behind the scenes, witnessing innovation propel into the 22nd century in our lifetime," said Mather.

"We are thrilled to welcome Brendan Gramer and Roberta Mather to our board," said CSD’s CEO Christopher Soukup. "Brendan’s expertise in accessible design and Roberta’s track record and deep commitment to effective communication will greatly enrich our board’s leadership as we continue to advocate for greater accessibility and inclusion."

For more information about CSD and its new board members, visit csd.org/about.