Hands On Travel is about connecting Deaf people with the world and each other. We also committed to providing our Deaf travelers with more personal, intimate and authentic than any they’ve had before. Our tours offer an emotional connection that most others cannot match.
Coming soon!
Terry Giansanti
Founder & Tour Leader
Terry, a deaf American with Italian bloodlines who now lives in Rome, Italy. After graduating from Gallaudet University, he came here in search of “la dolce vita” (the sweet life). In 2002 he established Hands On Travel to share his love of Europe with deaf travelers. His passions are traveling, reading, food, and sports.
Melinda Jones
Operations Manager
Melinda, a seasoned traveler, caught the “international travel” bug at 16 during her first trip to France and went on to explore over 25 countries. In 2008, she led the inaugural high school tour for Hands On Travel in Italy, a cause close to her heart for supporting Deaf students’ global experiences. With two decades as a high school English teacher, Melinda now embraces a new role at Hands On Travel, eagerly anticipating fresh adventures. Based in Indiana with her husband and two Deaf daughters.
Kilian Spillner
Tour Logistics Manager
Kilian, a proud Bavarian from a fourth-generation Deaf family in Munich, discovered his passion for travel in Cambodia. After falling in love with the country in 2013, he spent a year guiding tours with Cambodia Deaf Tours. Today, he brings his experience and heart to his role as Tour Logistics Manager. He is a proud husband to a Deaf wife and a happy father to two beautiful CODA boys.
Charles Giansanti
Financial Manager
Charles, hails from Upstate New York. After a long career teaching Chemistry at Gallaudet University, he moved to Oro Valley, Arizona upon his retirement. Since then, he has been working as the Financial Manager for Hands On Travel. In his free time, he loves doing things with his dear wife, Susan, enjoys learning so much, and continues to have the travel bug!
Samuel Sandoval
Webmaster
Samuel, a proud native from Virginia and holds a B.S. in Information Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He loves to travel and eat exotic foods from around the world. Fun fact: Samuel visited Philippines THREE times! Currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia with his wife, Abby.
Dan Brubaker
Tour Leader
Dan , a true globetrotter where he has visited 91 countries including Bolivia, Cuba, Morocco, Myanmar, North Korea and Oman. He has also presented at Deaf Youth Leadership Camp in Germany and Thailand as well as team-coordinating an exchange program between two deaf schools in Kentucky, USA and Kamensk, Russia.
Darren Frazier
Tour Leader
Darren, raised in a nomadic family in USA and held many occupations: teacher, actor, photographer, filmmaker, carpenter, chef and more. His 60+ countries, his favorites are Scotland, Switzerland, South Africa and Japan. Twice, he was an expat for a total of 8 years in Finland and Cambodia. Darren resides in Tacoma, Washington, with his Deaf partner, Ronise and Unilateral Deaf daughter, Franki.
Martin Dale-Hench
Tour Leader
Martin, currently pursuing his doctoral degree in linguistics at Gallaudet University. He lived in Japan for 9 years as a JSL-ASL interpreter and English/ASL instructor, and he still visits Japan often with his wonderful wife, Chikako. He also enjoys traveling around the world, learning local history, and meeting Deaf people from all around the world.
Himel Chowdhury
Tour Leader
Himel, raised and currently resides in East London, United Kingdom. A true Brit, multi-lingual, with extensive networking around the world, thanks to his countless travels throughout his lifetime. His favorite countries are Turkey, Cambodia, USA and Argentina.
Serafino Timeo
Tour Leader
Serafino, a deaf Italian born and raised in Turin, in the northwest part of Italy. Serafino has worked with Hands On Travel since 2004 and has provided countless memories for all participants on our tours with thanks to his wide knowledge and experience of Italian history and culture. Be sure to learn his famous tiramisu recipe while you are on his tour!
Ronise Barreras
Tour Leader
Ronise, a Latinx-American, was born in Los Angeles, California. After high school, she moved to Seattle and became a Deaf and DeafBlind Interpreter for 10+ years. Needing a break, she took a risk and moved to Cambodia where she volunteered in a NGO for deaf Cambodians for 8 years. Currently, Ronise resides in Tacoma, WA, returning as a freelance Deaf and DeafBlind interpreter.
Matt Daniel
Tour Leader
Matt, born in the former GDR (German Democratic Republic) and a seasoned traveler, Matt finds his heart drawn to Japan and the Brittany region of France, which he considers his “heartland.” Now based in Paris, he shares his life with his French partner, Alexandre, who is proudly from Brittany. Known for his warm and radiant smile, Matt loves meeting people from all walks of life. His motto: “Just smile and be happy!”
Maleni Chaitoo
Tour Leader
Maleni, a proud New Yorker, began her international adventures at just six months old, departing from the iconic John F. Kennedy Airport in the 1970s. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for global exploration and a deep curiosity about humanity’s impact on our planet. Inspired by Solange Knowles’ quote, “You get educated by traveling,” Maleni firmly believes in the transformative power of exploration to broaden perspectives and foster connection.
Jan Wirth
Tour Leader
Jan is a Deaf licensed tour guide based in Prague, overseeing travel experiences across Central and Eastern Europe, including Czechia, Poland, Austria, and Hungary. He leads journeys in International Sign, Czech Sign Language, ASL, and DGS (German Sign Language).
With over 15 years of experience teaching Czech Sign Language at Charles University, Jan brings academic authority, cultural depth, and refined storytelling to every journey.
He is the founder of Znakovárna, a Deaf Space nonprofit established in 2017, and the coordinator of ZnakoFest — the Czech Republic’s only and largest Deaf cultural festival. Based near Prague Castle with his family, Jan combines local expertise with international perspective, delivering seamless and culturally distinguished experiences.
Patrick Cross
Tour Leader
Patrick has been an Academic Upgrading professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario for over 25 years. He also teaches a General Education elective, “The Holocaust: Perspectives of the Deaf and the Disabled,” in ASL with interpreters for an all-hearing audience. A strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Patrick is passionate about ensuring everyone has equal opportunities to achieve their goals.
An experienced traveler who has visited 55 countries, Patrick has led faculty trips to Ecuador, Colombia, and Guatemala, as well as student and Hands On Travel groups, including a Holocaust-themed tour to Poland, Czechia, and Germany.
At home, Patrick and his wife Barbara enjoy planning future adventures while supporting their four children as they navigate young adulthood. Their busy household also includes two cats, Mara and Kiro, and two dogs, Leia and Bean.
Wendy Dannels
Tour Leader
Wendy, a lifelong resident of western New York, grew up with 8 siblings and attended St. Mary’s School for the Deaf and then RIT/NTID. She served as the college liaison for study abroad programs with RIT Global and as a faculty sponsor for three NTID education abroad programs. After 34 years of service as an engineer and professor, she retired in 2025. People know Wendy as an easy-going globetrotter, hiker, bird watcher, sailor, and skier.
John Warren
Tour Leader
John, born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, is the proud father of four adult daughters and a grandfather. In retirement, he leads tours for people eager to explore the stunning geography and rich Aboriginal culture of B.C.’s coastal regions. His favourite place to wander is the rainforest, where towering ancient trees rise above moss-covered ground. John’s enthusiasm keeps him youthful and fuels his love for breathtaking landscapes—mountains, islands, and vast ocean views. He has travelled to China twice, as well as throughout Europe, Israel, Mexico, and the United States. The Canadian Rockies remain one of his favourite places to unwind. Currently, he resides in White Rock, British Columbia.
Stanko Pavlica
Tour Leader
Stanko, a Swiss from Zurich, is a passionate filmmaker where he runs a film production for more than 20 years. He has worked on exciting projects across the globe. His creative works aim to blend reality with passion, educate, and evoke meaningful emotions with the audiences.
For over 30 years, Stanko traveled to some of the world’s best windsurfing destinations, including South Africa, Hawaii, and the Canary Islands, embracing his passion for wind and waves.
John Borkowski
Tour Leader
John spent 25 years teaching history in K–12 schools, covering U.S., world, and European history, as well as government and economics. During that time, he led educational trips to historical locations including France, England, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Washington, DC.
John enjoys visiting historical sites because they bring the past to life. He looks forward to exploring war history and sharing those experiences with travelers.
Zhang Hao
Tour Leader
Zhang Hao hails from Shanghai, China. He has extensive experience as a tour guide for Deaf people for 17 years, both in China and outside the country. He enjoys traveling and sharing knowledge. He is looking forward to welcoming you to China.
Jungsun An
Tour Leader
Jungsun is a Souel, South Korea native. She crossed the Pacific to study at Gallaudet University and graduated there. At Gallaudet, she also worked as a teacher at the English Language Institute. Currently, she is in Seoul working as a Deaf Interpreter and teaching at a Deaf school, as well as guiding around the country. She is excited to show you the history, culture, and food in South Korea.
Joel Kvarnberg
Tour Assistant
Joel, now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, in a proud Deaf family. A lifelong Oilers fan and the proud owner of a ’74 Volkswagen campervan, Joel has always embraced adventure. His first taste of the travel industry came as a Tour Assistant with Hands On Travel in Alberta, where he explored the stunning landscapes of Banff and Jasper, the gateway to the Canadian Rockies. Joel is now eager to lead more tours and share his passion for adventure with others.
Chikako Tamaki
Tour Assistant
Chikako, originally from Tokyo, Japan, she is a passionate traveler and dedicated student at Gallaudet University, where she is majoring in Sign Languages and Deaf Community. Since 2016, she has been co-leading our tour groups to Japan, sharing her deep knowledge and love for the country. An avid explorer, Chikako enjoys traveling the world, hiking, and spending time with her beloved cats.
Alex Simmons
Tour Assistant
Alex, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Alex has called Maryland home since immigrating to the USA in 1989. A Gallaudet University graduate with a BA in Business, he now works as an IT specialist at the Maryland School for the Deaf. Alex’s passion for exploration, European football (Go Manchester United!), and music complements his role as a tour leader, where he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to every journey. Happily married to Juliet and a proud father of four.
Malcolm Peters
Tour Assistant
Malcolm, born in Melbourne into a third-generation Deaf family, is a native Australian Sign Language (Auslan) user. Fascinated by geography from a young age, he became fluent in several sign languages and spent over 35 years at three Deaf schools across two countries, including participating in five international trips with HOT. Now retired in Fishers, Indiana with his wife Jeanne, their two CODA sons, and two beagle-mix rescues, Malcolm remains an active traveler, having traveled to more than 60 countries and regularly visiting family in Australia and the UK.
Abdulah Ljevakovic
Tour Assistant
Abdulah was born in the small town of Prijedor and later moved with his family to Sarajevo, where he still lives today. He attended and graduated from a school for the Deaf in Sarajevo and has since been an active member of the Deaf community.
Abdulah has long been involved in theatre, sports, the Deaf association, and various Deaf cultural events. He has a strong passion for reading, learning about new places, and spending time outdoors, especially hiking to mountain summits. In his free time, he also enjoys biking, running, and traveling. Japan is one of his favorite destinations, which he finds both beautiful and inspiring.
His love for meeting Deaf people from different backgrounds has broadened his perspective and deepened his understanding of the world. What began as a simple request to help others as a tour guide soon grew into a meaningful role. Through hands-on experience, Abdulah developed his skills and confidence as a guide.
Today, he is excited to welcome new travelers, share his experiences, and connect with people from around the world.
Ayoub Aboutajedyne
Tour Assistant
Ayoub Aboutajedyne was born in Fez, Morocco, and works in accessibility, inclusive education, and tourism. He currently lives between Rabat and Salé. He holds a Master’s degree in Data Science and Data Engineering from the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat and completed specialized training in Moroccan Sign Language (LSM) for trainers through the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Ayoub works as a tour guide and collaborates with several tourism and transportation agencies across Morocco. He is also a sign language trainer, interpreter, and consultant for training-of-trainers programs in inclusive education, including work with Devtech Systems Inc. He is proficient in LSM, ASL, ISL, and LSF, and speaks Arabic, French, and English. Ayoub is actively involved with Deaf associations in Morocco, supporting accessibility and social inclusion initiatives.
Ludovic Quagliotti
Tour Assistant
Ludovic was born in Paris and is the proud father of four boys (yes, four!). A natural explorer at heart, travel has always been part of his DNA. His family roots stretch across France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and even the United States.
For Ludovic, travel is much more than simply moving from one place to another: it’s about discovering new cultures, meeting people from different backgrounds, and, of course, enjoying the food that tells the story of a place.
When he’s not welcoming travelers to Paris, Ludovic works as an adult trainer, helping people of all ages learn and grow. He is passionate about sharing knowledge, building connections, and creating meaningful experiences that bring people together.
His motto: « The people we meet enrich the journey; what we share gives it meaning. »
Providing unique tours around the world for people using sign language.
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