No Limits is proud of its dedicated staff, whose collective passion has helped thousands of children with hearing loss and their families reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.
Dr. Michelle Christie
Founder, Executive Director
michelle@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org
Michelle Christie, Ms.Ed., CCC, Ed.D, founded No Limits in 1996. After 18 years in the entertainment industry, Dr. Christie decided to follow her dream of working with children with hearing loss who speak and listen. She changed her career path and earned a Masters Degree in Education, with a full fellowship and distinguished honors from the USC/John Tracy Clinic Program. She later received her Doctorate in Education from UCLA. Her dissertation focused on the needs and experiences of low-income Latino parents of school-age children with hearing loss. She has been invited to present her findings throughout the country, as well as internationally, including the Hearing Across the Lifespan (HEAL) Conference in Italy with representatives from over 60 countries.
Julie Heimler
M.Ed. LSLS Cert. Aved
Little Listeners Specialist
julie@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org  
Julie has been working at No Limits for over twelve years as an AVT therapist and a program director. Her knowledge, passion, creativity and love for families and children make her a great asset to No Limits and the community. She leads the way in partnerships between No Limits and the community, and is instrumental in running the Educational Centers in Los Angeles, Oxnard and Las Vegas. ​​
Eileen Nelson
National Theater Program Director 
​eileen@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org
Eileen Nelson is a producer, director and writer with over 30 years experience in the theatre industry. As the National Theater Manager, she is responsible for coordinating No Limits productions nationwide, as well as educational outreach performances across the country. Eileen has been with No Limits since 1998, when her daughter, Christen, performed in the very first No Limits production of Building Blocks in New York City. Eileen provides guidance to parents who enroll in the program and offers them help not only during the productions, but also throughout their child’s school-age years. Eileen credits No Limits for teaching her how to be an advocate for her daughter, who now has a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy and works with special needs children as part of the NYC Board of Education.
Sofia Ramirez
Oxnard Program Director
sofia@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org
Sofia Ramirez, M.S. has been a D/HH teacher for over twelve years, working with deaf children from birth through high school. She is an expert in Remote Learning and has spearheaded No Limits' successful efforts to provide remote services to our community. An Adjunct Professor with Cal Lutheran, she prepares future D/HH teachers for excellence in the field. Sofia believes that teachers can foster language by making learning fun, interesting, and new.
Destiny Golden
​LA Program Coordinator and Outreach
destiny@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org

​Destiny joins the team with a background in administrative and event planning with a passion for theatrical and production.  She is a proud graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in TV, Film and Media Production with a minor in Business Administration.  Destiny loves to work with children and is thrilled to make a difference at No Limits.  Destiny loves to travel and always interested in taking on new adventures.  
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Ericka Duesterhaus
Las Vegas Theater Director
ericka@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org
Ericka is a teacher of the deaf with over 20 years experience in the Clark County School district, a BA in Deaf Education, and an MA in Early Intervention. She has worked with No Limits for over 15 years.  Her expertise, combined with her love of theater and children, make her an integral part of No Limits' Theater Program. When not working with deaf children, she can be found spoiling her nieces and nephews or working on her photography.
Jeannette Robles
National Program Director for Pop-Ups and Outreach
jeannette@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org
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​Jeannette Robles is a highly experienced professional in the field of education and program management. With over 12 years of executive-level experience, she currently serves as the National Program Director for No Limits for Deaf Children and Families for the past five years, where she leads the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs and projects. In her role, Jeannette is responsible for ensuring the effective operation of programs, aligning them with budgetary and quality standards. She has successfully built strong partnerships with educational institutions, schools, and professionals, supporting administrators, teachers, parents, and students in their educational journeys.
Driven by her passion for empowering students, Jeannette finds great joy in witnessing the transformation of her students when they achieve goals, they once deemed impossible. Her commitment to the No Limits motto, "I can do it!" is reflected in her work as she strives to provide opportunities for children to realize their full potential.
Dr. Maura Martindale
Parent and Teacher Specialist
maura@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org
Maura Martindale, EdD, LSL Cert. AVEd, is a certified Auditory Verbal Educator. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California in 1999. She is the founder and director of the Master’s Degree of Science in the Education of the Deaf and Credential Program, and is an Associate Professor, at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. She has provided guidance and support to families of children with hearing loss in listening and spoken language at No Limits for deaf children centers in Southern California for over 18 years. Throughout her 40-plus years teaching at numerous universities, Dr. Martindale has prepared hundreds of teachers of the deaf for schools and programs throughout the US. 
Sharla Morales, Au.D.
Owner and Doctor of Audiology 
Dr. Sharla Morales, Au.D., a licensed Dispensing Audiologist in California for over two decades, founded Second Chance Hearing Center, Inc. in 2011 after seven years of service in the Conejo Valley. Graduating magna cum laude from the University of North Dakota in 1998, she holds a Master's in Audiology from California State University Northridge (2000) and a Doctoral Degree in Audiology from Salus University (2008).
 
Passionate about improving lives through the gift of hearing, Dr. Morales is dedicated to quality patient care, reflected in her gentle demeanor, ethical standards, and clinical excellence. As a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), she brings her expertise to the forefront of audiology. Dr. Morales resides in Southern California with her husband and three children.
Viviana Miglia, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology 

Dr. Viviana Miglia, Au.D., a certified Dispensing Audiologist in California since 2022, has been dedicated to audiology since 2018. Graduating cum laude from California State University, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders, she continued her education at her alma mater, becoming part of the inaugural cohort of audiology doctorate students.
 
As a sibling of Deaf adults, Dr. Miglia is fluent in American Sign Language, a skill that enhances her ability to connect with her patients. Her personal experiences drive her research on children with hearing loss, and she compiles resources for families facing similar challenges. Specializing in hearing aids and cochlear implants, she conducts comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for both adult and pediatric patients. Outside of her practice, Dr. Miglia enjoys Netflix binging with her husband and cat, Baffy, and exploring sunny California with a good whodunit mystery in hand.
No Limits is proud of its certified teachers of the deaf, auditory verbal therapists, reading specialists, music and arts teachers, and collaborating audiologists.  No Limits also appreciates all its theater directors, workshop team members, and volunteers nationwide.