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“Let’s collaborate.” It’s a phrase I hear often; in emails, proposals, and partnership conversations. And collaboration is a good thing. But collaboration without shared power is not partnership.It’s control with softer language. When Collaboration Sounds Good, But Isn’t Equal Sometimes collaboration looks like this: Deaf professionals are invited to contribute.Asked to provide expertise.Brought in to review or deliver. But the
Inclusion is everywhere right now. It’s in mission statements.In strategic plans.In funding applications.In social media captions. But inclusion written on paper is not the same as inclusion in practice. And sometimes, what looks like inclusion is actually just the illusion of it. When Inclusion Becomes a Checkbox Many organizations genuinely want to “do better.” They add captions. They book an
Lately, I’ve been hearing a familiar phrase more often: “This project is Deaf-informed.” It sounds promising. It suggests care, consultation, and inclusion. But here’s the truth: Deaf-informed isn’t the same as Deaf-led. and the difference matters. Deaf-Informed Still Keeps Power Elsewhere In many projects, Deaf people are brought in to review materials, validate signs, or provide feedback after decisions have
“Deaf-led” is becoming a popular phrase. It shows up in grant applications.On websites.In project proposals.Across social media. But too often, it’s used loosely, sometimes even strategically, without a real understanding of what it requires. So let’s talk about what Deaf-led actually means. Deaf-Led Is Not Deaf-Informed Inviting Deaf people to review content is not Deaf-led. Hiring Deaf consultants for sign-off
People often tell me I’m “so inspiring.” They usually mean it kindly. I know that.But over time, I’ve learned that this word carries a quiet weight, one that doesn’t always feel human. When someone calls a Deaf person inspiring, what they are often responding to is not who we are, but what we’ve survived. They are reacting to the barriers
an Old Pattern We Need to Talk About Over the past while, and increasingly as the new year begins, I’ve been contacted by several companies looking to build ASL-based digital platforms and AI-driven programs. In each case, the outcome was the same: either I was turned down when I asked for a fair share in ownership and decision-making, or I
