Opportunities for People With Disabilities, Southeastern Massachusetts

Miss International 2008, Jayna Altman visited Community Connections centers in Plymouth and South Yarmouth on October 24th. She delighted the participants at the Day Centers with her warmth, engaging them in activities and sharing her inspirational story of living with hearing impairment. Ms.Altman concluded her day by giving the keynote address at the agency’s Gala by the Sea fundraiser at the Chatham Bars Inn.
 
Born severely premature, Jayna Altman spent the first three months of her life in intensive care and had several surgeries and blood transfusions. Medications to sustain her life resulted in severe hearing loss. With extensive auditory and verbal therapy, she learned to speak beautifully and graduated with distinction and honors from the University of California, San Diego. She has completed classes toward a doctorate in Audioloy at CID/Washington University School of Medicine.
 
Jayna is a role model and advocate for people with disabilities, traveling and speaking on behalf of disability-related causes and helping to raise more than $1.5 million dollars. 

She is a spokesperson for Special Olympics, Ability Beyond Disability, John Tracy Clinic and Alexander Graham Bell Association. She also serves in the Hearing Loss Association of America, Best Buddies, Alexander Graham Bell Association, Arthritis Foundation, March of Dimes, Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.
 
Her presence at and her speech at the Gala inspired the audience to raise $41,000 for the programs of Community Connections.