Cathy Kooser-Fathergill is a licensed social worker who has a severe sensorineural hearing loss. Using her own personal struggles as well as relevant research, she developed and teaches the aural rehabilitation program entitled The Kooser Program: The Hidden Impact of Hearing Loss. This program, formatted into a one-day workshop, is being utilized by the Rehabilitation Services Commission/Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation in the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Arizona and North Carolina as part of the rehabilitation process for consumers requesting assistance related to their hearing disability. The workshop is designed to educate both the consumer and their family, about hearing loss. Cathy is currently expanding her program nationwide.

Cathy obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work in 1998 from Wright State University and her master’s degree in social work in 2004 from the University of Cincinnati. She was the recipient of the Spirit of Community Award presented by the University of Cincinnati’s School of Social Work and also the Judith R. Holm Excellence in Training Award, presented by the Ohio Clinical Social Work Society. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, National Rehabilitation Association, Ohio Rehabilitation Association, Hearing Loss Association of America, the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, and the Ohio River Valley Clinical Social Work Society.