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Julie Rems-Smario

Julie Rems-Smario is the Executive Director of DeafHope, a non-profit organization that supports and advocates for Deaf survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Deaf since birth, Ms. Rems-Smario started her career in 1990 with Five Acres Deaf Program in Pasadena, CA, working with at risk families on child abuse prevention. She graduated from California State University, Northridge with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and an M.A. in Deaf Education. After moving to Northern California in 1993, she joined the Catholic Charities Hearing Impaired Program to work with at-risk Deaf families on parenting skills. She taught parenting classes for five years.  She then worked at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont as a teacher for Deaf pre-schoolers and their families to facilitate language development and family communication. At the same time, Ms. Rems-Smario went to San Francisco State University and received her M.S. in Rehab Counseling for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; she also worked as a counselor for Deaf Services at Ohlone College in Fremont. After receiving her training at Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services’ (ADWAS) National Training for Deaf Victims in 1998, Ms. Rems-Smario found her niche, passionately advocating for Deaf survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She brings a wealth of experience in violence prevention to DeafHope as the Executive Director, especially with development of community education films such as Till DV Do Us Part and R.I.P with Mosduex. She resides in Castro Valley, CA with her Deaf husband, three children, and two dogs.