Empowering Deaf Families from Iran to North America and Beyond with Guita Movallali Artwork

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The Different Ability® Podcast

Empowering Deaf Families from Iran to North America and Beyond with Guita Movallali

July 16, 2025 • Katey Fortun • Season 5 • Episode 225

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In this powerful episode, I sit down with Guita Movallali, a passionate advocate, psychologist, and leader in the world of early intervention for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Born and raised in Iran, Guita shares her incredible journey of resilience, determination, and service. From earning a PhD in Psychology to founding Iran’s first parent support organization for families with deaf children, Guita has spent more than 30 years transforming lives through education, language, and inclusion.

Now living in Canada, she continues her mission through leadership roles in nonprofit organizations and her own foundation, all while uplifting families and building accessible systems of support. We talk about her personal and professional experiences, the importance of early childhood connection, and what it means to truly empower families from the start.

If you're passionate about advocacy, inclusion, and global stories that inspire, you won't want to miss this one.

Guita's Bio

Guita Movallali is a passionate leader and advocate in Family-Centred Early Intervention (FCEI) for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, with more than 30 years of experience spanning education, clinical practice, and nonprofit work across Iran and Canada. With a PhD in Psychology and a background in Audiology, Guita has dedicated her life to empowering families and transforming systems of support for Deaf children.

In Iran, Guita founded Parvaneha, the first parent support organization for families with deaf children, and introduced Persian Cued Speech to help deaf children access language visually. She was a university professor for over two decades and led numerous initiatives advancing inclusive early childhood education. Her innovative work earned her the 2016 Educator Award for Excellence and Innovative Leadership from the National Cued Speech Association.

Since relocating to Canada in 2021, Guita has continued her mission as Program & Development Manager at VOICE for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, and currently as Executive Director of the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program®. She founded Faranak Impact Inc. and the Faranak Foundation, where she leads programs focused on family empowerment, inclusion, and early childhood learning.

A strong believer in the power of language, story, and culture, Guita has written, translated, and edited numerous books and children’s stories to reflect the experiences of Deaf children and their families. Through every project, she remains committed to ensuring that every family feels connected, supported, and empowered from the very beginning.

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