Bright, social, and driven from a young age, Shane DiGiovanna was right at home at OVV. Even now, seventeen years after graduating, he looks back on his time in the program as one of the best experiences of his life.
“Our family feels happiness when we think of Shane’s time at OVV,” says his mother Patsy.
Shane was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1998. Because his birth hospital did not conduct newborn hearing screenings, it would be years before Patsy and Chuck DiGiovanna would discover that their son had hearing loss. At the time, their attention was turned to other, more pressing concerns.
“Shane was born with no skin on his left leg, and we quickly learned that he has a rare, genetic skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa,” Patsy recounts. “Shane is missing a protein in his skin that binds the layers together so any pressure or rubbing causes his skin to blister or tear off.”
The DiGiovannas sought treatment for Shane’s condition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and it was there that they first learned of his hearing loss.
“Although we suspected Shane had hearing issues, he did not get properly diagnosed until he was two and a half years old,” Patsy recalls. “Shane has auditory neuropathy which means he has access to some sound, but that it sounds like a radio tuned between two stations. CCHMC immediately put him on track to get a cochlear implant and referred us to OVV, which was still in its infancy.”
After learning more about Ohio Valley Voices, the DiGiovannas became convinced that it was the right fit for their son. Shane’s condition made learning sign language impossible, so an oral education curriculum seemed like his best shot at a bright future.
Nevertheless, OVV’s Executive Director Maria Sentelik had doubts about whether the fledgling program could meet Shane’s unique needs. “It was a hard decision for Maria to bring this fragile-skinned boy into the school,” Patsy admits. Despite their reservations, though, Maria and the DiGiovannas took a leap of faith, and in the fall of 2001 Shane began his education at OVV.
The decision paid off. With the help of the OVV teaching staff, including, Carey Ratliff, Natalie Craven, and Dawn Zimmerman, Shane flourished in the program, demonstrating significant progress within a few short months.
“I still have a valentine from February 2002,” Patsy says. “On it, Dawn Zimmerman listed some of the words Shane was saying and he already had three-syllable words in his repertoire!”
Attending school with Epidermolysis Bullosa wasn’t easy. It required spending several hours each morning and evening applying bandages, as well as the assistance of a special medical aid who accompanied Shane to all his classes. Even so, Shane looked forward to every single day at OVV. For him, the program became a safe, nurturing place where he could learn, play, and make friends.
“Shane attended OVV from fall 2001 to spring 2005, and they were definitely some of the happiest years of his life,” Patsy reflects. “The way this hard work was wrapped in fun meant that Shane couldn’t wait to go to school. Every moment at OVV was pure joy.”
Following Shane’s graduation from OVV, the DiGiovannas briefly relocated to Connecticut before returning to Cincinnati in 2010. At each step, Shane was able to attend mainstream schools thanks to the communication skills he acquired at OVV. However, Patsy insists that none of these educational experiences compared to Shane’s time at Ohio Valley Voices—and none impacted him so profoundly.
“OVV changes lives,” she says. “The support for the parents is phenomenal. The education is extraordinary. Every other school Shane has been to cannot compare with OVV.”
In 2021, Shane graduated with a degree in Economics from Rice University, making him one of the first people with Epidermolysis Bullosa to attend college. Since finishing, he has worked as a Donor Relations Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and run ShaneTalks, an independent motivational speaking company dedicated to encouraging people to turn adversity into opportunity.
The launch of ShaneTalks brings Shane’s story full circle. Using skills first honed at OVV, he now shares his inspiring message through the simple but powerful act of public speaking. Reflecting on this latest twist in her son’s path, Patsy concludes, “Shane has a lot to say, and the fact that OVV gave him that gift can never be repaid!”