Meet our President

  • Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is the most comprehensive and diverse program in the country serving individuals who are deaf, blind or deafblind.

    At AIDB we empower our students and consumers with the belief that their dreams and goals are limitless!

    AIDB President Dr. John Mascia with five happy Helen Keller School students Last year we served over 31,000 individuals of all ages with hearing and vision loss—all with unique challenges and abilities. Team AIDB has many different components from campus to outreach settings ready to serve and invest in people’s lives in all 67 counties of the state and beyond.  

    Actually, it is our students who inspire staff to reach beyond limits. Like Jacob Seago who is deafblind and rides his own motorcycle or Phyllis Clopton who is deafblind and makes neckties for the U.S. military. Clara and Georgia who inspire us with their art and music or Geordan Carter and Tanner Wood, ASB students who played on the ASD Silent Warriors football team last season.

    Gather all the stories and all the passion together and we are—Deaf. Blind. Limitless!

    Our staff, consumers, partners, trustees and directors agree that AIDB Core Values include:
        Aspiring to Excellence
        Embracing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion
        Integrity in All we do
        Devotion to our students and each other
        Belief in every individual’s potential

    We hope you will enjoy your experience with AIDB through our web site, like and follow us on facebook, and most especially we hope you will visit or contact us and let us know how we can work together to become Limitless!

    John Mascia, Au.D.
    President 

    AIDB President Dr. John Mascia stands in front of Manning Hall

About Dr. Mascia

  • Dr. John Mascia is the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind’s 17th President. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in audiology and speech pathology from Hofstra University in New York and has a doctorate in audiology from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology. He received his certificate of clinical competence in audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a licensed audiologist. He has made numerous presentations and served in leadership roles with professional organizations and is widely published.

    Dr. Mascia has worked as a supervising and chief audiologist and as an assistant professor in New York. In 1989, he joined the Helen Keller National Center, where he served as coordinator of Audiological Services, supervisor of the Speech and Hearing Department, coordinator of Professional Services and then finally as national director of Field Services. As a senior administrator, he was responsible for the supervision of regional representatives, national training programs, community placement services and 45 affiliate programs. In 2005, he joined AIDB as executive director of the E.H. Gentry Facility and Regional Centers and was promoted to the role of vice president of Adult Programs in 2009. On January 1, 2013 he became President of AIDB.

    He serves on numerous boards and community organizations including the American Speech & Hearing Association (ASHA) Board of Ethics; Hearing Charities of America; Talladega College Board of Trustees; International Motor Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors; Lions Club International–Talladega; Talladega Red Door Kitchen; Leadership Alabama; Easter Seals-Talladega Chapter, and numerous advisory councils.

    Dr. Mascia is married to Nancy Mascia, and has three children, Chris, Katie, and Annie.