Meet Our Team
Frances Smallwood
Frances Smallwood founded Deaf Access, Inc. in 1995. Deaf Access is a woman-owned small business dedicated to providing quality Sign Language Interpreters for North Alabama and the surrounding areas. As President, she oversees business development, office functions, staff as well as interpreting for deaf customers. After receiving her degree in Education of the Hearing Impaired from the University of Tennessee, Frances taught school in Virginia and the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Atlanta, Georgia. She then moved to Huntsville where she continued her interpreting career. Frances has an Alabama license, numerous certifications for interpreting and transliterating and is a Qualified Mental Health interpreter. She is also a member of multiple associations including the National and Alabama Associations of the Deaf, Alabama Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Frances Smallwood is the daughter of Frank and Helen Rushing, who are both deaf. She is wife to Randy Smallwood and has one son, Ryan, who also works alongside her at Deaf Access.
Ryan Smallwood
Ryan Smallwood is the Director of Operations for Deaf Access, Inc. Ryan joined the team in 2015 and holds both an undergraduate degree and a Master of Arts. He oversees the daily operations for Deaf Access, Inc. and also provides sign language interpreting to multiple clients. Ryan is a qualified interpreter in the state of Alabama who has completed his Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment and the National Interpreter Certification Knowledge Exam. He is currently working towards his national certification. Ryan is also a member of the North Alabama Deaf Club and the Alabama Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Heather Reppold
Heather is a 2021 honor graduate of the Interpreter Training Program at Troy University. She was an intern with Deaf Access and has now joined the team as an Administrative Assistant/Interpreter. Heather is a permitted interpreter in the state of Alabama and provides interpreting services while continuing to develop and refine her skills. She is also responsible for interpreter scheduling, contract administration as well as other duties. Heather is currently working towards her national certification.
Caitlin Hotchkiss
Caitlin is a new member of Deaf Access. She is an office Administrator Assistant and Interpreter scheduler. She is currently an aspiring interpreter and taking ITP courses online classes at Troy University. In two years, she will graduate and be on her way into the community!
Meet our 2022 Intern
Makayla Lowery
Hi I’m Makayla Lowery, I’m a current sign language interpreting undergrad at Bethel University in Indiana. As an undergrad I’ve had the opportunity to interpret Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery with two other classmates. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to intern with Deaf Access, my goals for this internships are to: grow in confidence, expand my vocabulary, and get connected with the Deaf community. When I’m not working or doing school work I really enjoy visiting local coffee shops, hiking, and reading.