As the summer season draws to a close, the anticipation of a new school year fills the air. While the back-to-school checklist typically revolves around backpacks, notebooks, and pencils, it’s equally crucial to consider the diverse communication needs of students and raise awareness about deafness within our school communities. Every child deserves an education that provides equal access, and creating an inclusive environment is a fundamental step towards that goal.
August 2nd, a date that marks the passing of yet another year in my life. As I celebrate my birthday, I can’t help but reflect on the things that remain unchanged over the years. One significant aspect that continues to persist is the barriers faced by disabled and deaf individuals in the workplace. Despite progress in various fields, some hiring practices still deny opportunities to those who communicate differently. It is disheartening to see that ignorance and misconceptions about disabilities still prevail. However, it is not a time to lose hope; change is possible, and it starts with raising awareness and providing the right training and knowledge to create an inclusive environment.
This disparity in access perpetuates an exclusionary environment, where minority individuals, including those who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and disabled, are tokenized, left to feel like an afterthought rather than equal participants. As an advocate for inclusivity, I firmly believe that conferences should strive to provide comprehensive support, breaking down barriers to participation for everyone.
Last Saturday, S5WAVES – a local Kingston grassroots organization I founded reached a new milestone as we hosted our highly anticipated third Awesome Ice Cream Social. This year’s event was not only a delightful gathering but also an artistic showcase and a heartwarming display of community support. From the talents of four artists displaying their artwork to the captivating performances of two Kingston Circus Art performers and two Deaf storytellers, the Ice Cream Social became a resounding success that left us captivated and filled with gratitude.
This message is for you.
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts with those of you who might feel a sense of discomfort or frustration when it comes to labels and the way some people express them. I understand that labels can sometimes feel restrictive or divisive, especially when they are used to create barriers between individuals. It’s disheartening when people use labels to discriminate or marginalize others based on their differences, instead of embracing the richness of diversity.
However, it’s essential to recognize that the use of labels can also serve a valuable purpose. Labels can help individuals find a sense of belonging and understanding in a complex world.
Hi there, I’m Leah Riddell and I specialize in providing customized training and resources to help businesses and organizations improve their inclusive communication practices in the workplace. In this blog post, I’ll share my insights on the importance of inclusive communication, the challenges Deaf employees and those who communicate differently face, and how I can provide training and resources to help your team build character and better communicate with one another.
Spring is here but it sure felt like summer over the weekend. I want to talk about trail walks, how it is important to be courteous and mindful of others around you. As a Deaf person who enjoys walking on trails with my dog (my family comes sometimes). I understand the importance of being mindful and considerate of others around me. Since I cannot hear bike bells or verbal cues, I’m always extra vigilant and aware of my surroundings.
One thing I do to ensure that my dog is on a leash and I stay on the right side of the trail is to use a keyword. We trained my dog to respond to the word “clear,” which means that we need to move over to the side more and let someone pass. This has been a useful tool in ensuring that we don’t get in anyone’s way, a bike rider or runner in our path from behind or in front of us and can easily communicate our intentions.
Being Deaf on the trail can present some unique challenges…
I express my concern and disappointment to the woman who perform the national anthem recently using ASL at a sporting event in the US. She has not been vetted or even have proper certification or training, which is disrespectful to the deaf and signing community.
Culture appropriation is a serious issue that can cause harm and offense to marginalize communities.
I want to talk about after the conference when my husband and I explored Vancouver downtown. We decided to have lunch, discovered a unique simple business name display and was intrigued by their menu. Meat & Bread on Robson street. We were looking forward to a sandwich which sold out with the people before us. A nice man named Colin appeared and started signing to the best of his ability. Explaining what was available.
Have you been following all the news on Justina Miles? Everyone is stunned by her performance as I am to Rihanna’s songs. The first Black female SuperBowl halftime ASL performer did amazing and garnered lots of media attention that she deserves.
Like all languages, American Sign Language (ASL) is a means of communication but also a means of art expression. Music is inclusive and it is meant for everyone to enjoy. Yes, we do enjoy music! There is absolutely no reason to deprive Deaf people from experiencing a good time. We are always pushing for access. Three different roles play this out to give us, the Deaf community, an experience.
Read more about the differences of ASL interpreter, ASL performer and ASL artists.
