Amanda Zubricki, BS, RDH, was born profoundly deaf into a hearing family. Growing up, she was exposed to both deaf and mainstream cultures. She graduated from college with a degree in psychology and then went on to become a dental hygienist in 2017. Amanda currently works chairside five days a week in a general practice.
Her first few years in the profession were filled with adversity, and Amanda realized there was a need for deaf awareness in the dental field. In response to that need, she started a nonprofit, That Deaf RDH, which supports deaf or hard-of-hearing dental hygiene students to help them pursue their career goals.
Amanda wears hearing aids in both ears and learned American Sign Language (ASL) but uses speech as her primary means of communication. As a speaker, she has traveled around the country speaking about deaf and hard-of-hearing disparities in dentistry. She takes pride in advocating for others with hearing loss.
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Amanda's social media platforms include:
Facebook: That Deaf RDH
Instagram: @that.deaf.girl and @thatdeafrdh.nonprofit
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatDeafGirl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandazubricki/
Through these platforms Amanda hopes to raise awareness and educate others in both the general and deaf/hard-of-hearing cultures. “There’s a need for ableism to stop, not just with hearing loss but with other disabilities,” she stated. “It’s not easy putting yourself out there with a personal disability because it is such a vulnerable position, but I want others to know the possibilities are endless and there’s no reason to be put in a box because of a disability.”
Amanda’s career goals include continuing to grow as a speaker and reaching more people across the country about ableism and deaf awareness. She would also like to eventually expand her career as a myofunctional therapist with lactation consulting to help children and moms in need.
She is the mom of three girls, one of whom has hearing loss, and she loves spending time with her family when she’s not involved in her dental hygiene-related pursuits.
Amanda can be reached through her social media outlets or at [email protected].
Editor's note: This article appeared in the July 2023 print edition of RDH magazine. Dental hygienists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
