Jane Biehl PhD
JaneandSita.com
2025
Jane was born hard of hearing and became profoundly deaf from chemo later in her life. She received her education in the 1950s and 60s without help from the education departments before the American with Disabilities Act. However she obtained a masters in library science and was a librarian for 19 years. She experienced a midlife crisis and returned to college to receive another master's in rehasbilitation counseling and a doctorate in counseling and human development services. She then was a counselor for another 17 years. She taught at three different colleges for over 30 years. Her final career is a writer.
Jane has written various articles and books on her cancer journey, her journey with hearing loss, and her hearing ear dogs. She loves sports, reading, eating out, and walking with her dog.
Do You Have a Voice: Memoirs of My Journey with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people
A young girl in the classroom faced harsh consequences for not listening, unaware that she was hard of hearing. The author vividly recounts her experiences living with a disability in the 1950s and 1960s, shedding light on the absence of support in educational settings prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act. She candidly shares the bullying and profound loneliness she endured, illustrating the struggle many children with disabilities faced during that era.
Yet, against all odds, she flourished, becoming a librarian, counselor, college teacher, and accomplished writer. Jane offers a compelling glimpse into the Deaf Culture and shares her enriching experience at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. A courageous cancer survivor, she later became profoundly deaf due to chemotherapy, yet she remains resilient. Jane articulates how her two hearing assistance dogs have significantly enriched her life.
This book is not just a story; it is an inspiring and informative journey that empowers readers and advocates for understanding and inclusion.
Here to Bump and Bump to hear
"A beautiful yellow lab was found wandering the streets and ended up in a shelter. The person working there fell in love with her and called Circletail, an agency that trains service dogs. They rescued her and she was trained in the prison program in Ohio to be a hearing ear/ service dog.
A woman in need of a hearing ear dog applied to Circletail. When they met, she and the dog became partners for 14 years. This delightful picture book illustrates how Sita was rescued and found her forever home. "
Paw Prints On My Soul: Lessons of a Service Dog
Sita was a remarkable hearing-ear service dog, known not only for her skills but also for her serene demeanor and spiritual nature. This book intertwines heartfelt devotionals with the story of Sita and her deaf owner, Jane. Together, they spent 14 years in a profound partnership. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will love this book, which takes you on a journey across the country as Sita participates in programs and serves as a therapy dog for foster and abused children.