Author Amanda Mcdonough Visits Alverno Heights Academy

Yesterday, Alverno Heights Academy Students (AHA) had the pleasure of hearing Amanda McDonough speak! Amanda Mcdonough is an actress, speaker, advocate and published author of the autobiography “Ready to Be Heard: How I Lost My Hearing and Found My Voice.” Amanda was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of 4, her hearing steadily declined but despite facing these challenges she succeeded in school and extracurriculars. One day in college she awoke to discover her hearing was completely gone. She shared with the students her journey of finding herself, overcoming obstacles and discovering her passion for acting that led her to the show Switched at Birth. The students were inspired and empowered to hear her story. All of the AHA American Sign Language (ASL) students read her book as a part of their class and were excited to see her!

About Alverno Heights Academy

Alverno Heights Academy is an all-girls, independent, progressive Catholic, college preparatory school dedicated to its mission of empowering each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be. Located on the property of the former Barlow Estate in Sierra Madre, California, Alverno Heights Academy was founded in 1960 by the Sisters of St. Francis who sought to create an environment in the San Gabriel Valley where young women could become informed and knowledgeable persons. Later renamed Alverno High School and sponsored by the Immaculate Heart Community, Alverno’s program—academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, and physical—has been shaped by the staff, trustees, and students. As Alverno Heights Academy once again, the school remains committed to its mission by encouraging each of their young women to be who they imagine. For more information about Alverno Heights Academy, please visit www.alvernoheightsacademy.org.