Welcome New Board Member to the Illinois Board of Interpreters!

The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of a new board member Desa Johnson Walls to the Illinois Board of Interpreters.   

Desa Johnson Walls
Jacksonville, IL
Term Expires 12/31/26
Deaf Consumer

Desa Johnson Walls currently works as an Administrative Assistant serving as an athletic director and assistant to the superintendent at Illinois School for the Deaf. She has also taught ASL classes to families online through Chicago Hearing Society for three years. She has experience in assessing sign language skills. Previously, Desa worked as an office coordinator at the Illinois School for the Deaf Outreach and as an office clerk at the Illinois State Police. Desa’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts from Columbia College of Chicago in 2001, and two years of education at Illinois College. Desa served on several boards/committees including Deaf Women Chicago for the Deaf Women United conference of 2024. In addition, Desa also sponsors a few clubs and after school activities at ISD with deaf and hard of hearing students doing community services. With her family of eight, Desa resides in Jacksonville where it is well known for a large deaf community.

Desa joins with the current members of the Illinois Board of Interpreters: Hershella Ashford, Kimberly Berger, Laura Braucht, Ayanna Dowd, Teri Hedding and Amy Miller.