About Us

Innovative Inclusion

When you are working
for a company

where you are
encouraged to grow,

it begins with accessibility.

What this looks like is:

During trainings or meetings,

when a sign language
interpreter is provided,

I am able to learn everything
I need to know

to best serve the company
that I work for.

For me,
accessibility and inclusion

looks like having a service provided called Communication Access in Real Time, or CART.

For example, when CART is provided
during team meetings,

it allows me to be involved
in roundtable discussions

to troubleshoot
product solutions.

The challenge that I experience at work
is access to appropriate accommodations

and navigating
Deaf cultural norms.

Within governmental institutions,
sign language interpretation services

are being provided,
which is great.

But the problem is:
There is a lack of knowledge

pertaining to when it is appropriate
to hire a Deaf interpreter.

And why hiring
a Deaf interpreter is necessary

is because Deaf families
come from diverse backgrounds.

There are individuals who have immigrated
from other countries,

where American Sign Language
is their second or third language,

or they may have
a limited exposure to language.

As an advocate,
I educate people

on the importance of providing
both a Deaf sign language interpreter,

as well as a Hearing
sign language interpreter

to meet the needs
of the deaf consumer,

and avoid
misunderstandings.

American Sign Language
is expressed

through facial expressions
and body language,

which can be misunderstood
as anger or aggression for someone

who is not familiar
with sign language

or deaf cultural norms.

This is how
we express ourselves.

It is a integral
part of our language.

That is why it is necessary
for people to learn about Deaf Culture,

which will improve
communication

and decrease misunderstandings.

Going to work every day,

I simply wish
my Hearing colleagues could sign.

One way this could be accomplished

is by providing ASL and
cultural competency trainings

to create cultural sensitivity
and understanding.

For example,
to get a deaf person's attention,

you could tap
lightly on their shoulder

or flicker lights on and off.

When having a conversation,

it's culturally appropriate
to walk right on through.

This type of cultural inclusion
would be my dream.