1. Contact: Dr. Karen Dilka Eastern Kentucky University
Date submitted to deafed.net – May 29, 2007
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2. Heather Whitestone Miss America 1995

3. Background Information
Born Feb. 24, 1973 in Dothlan, Alabama
At 18 months contracted a type of influenza.
Treated with 2 types of antibiotics
After the combination of these, she was left completely deaf in her right ear, and had a 95% hearing loss in the left ear.

4. Education
Learned lip reading and speech at Doreen Pollack Acoupedics Center in Denver.
Attended public elementary school in Alabama.
She went on to attended a 3yr. Program at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis

5. Education Con’t. Attended Birmingham Arts Academy to study ballet
Graduated from public high school with a 3.6 GPA, without the use of a ASL interpreter
Went on to attend Alabama’s Jacksonville State university

6. On the Road to Miss America
Entered pageants to help pay for her education
Participated in the Miss Deaf Alabama Pageant
Placed 1st Runner -Up in the Miss Alabama Pageant before winning

7. Becoming Miss America
Performed ballet routine and received a standing ovation
Won talent and swim suit competitions
Her official platform was “With a positive attitude, anything is possible”

8. S*T*A*R*S SUCCESS THROUGH ACTION AND REALIZATION
1. Have a positive attitude
2. Believe in your dream
3. Face you obstacles
4. Work hard
5. Build a support team

9. Views of Communication
Believes that ASL is constraining
Prefers Signed Exact English
Depends on her eyes and lip reading for communication
Does not consider herself as part of the Deaf community

10. What Heather is doing now
Serves as a executive board member on the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
Involved with a public service campaign to identify early hearing loss
Works with the Helen Keller eye research foundation

11. Fun Facts
S*T*A*R*S program has been introduced in a Birmingham area school
Heather married a former Congressional Aide, John McCallum
She writes devotionals and delivers inspirational speeches
Her mother used Heather’s interest in Princess Di to inspire written and oral exercises

12. How to contact Heather
Arrange speaking engagements through her agent: Washington Speakers Bureau Prince Street Alexandria, VA
For autographed pictures write to: Heather Whitestone McCalllum P.O. Box Marietta, GA

13. Resources www.wpsd.org/deafawareness/hwhitestone.html
Yes, You Can, Heather! By Daphne Gray
www. Jsu.edu/alumni/missamerica.html
“Beyond the Sound Barrier” Time Magazine 10/3/94
“Cut To The Chaste” People Magazine 4/1/96