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.
Last week, I posted a message accompanied by a video, asking a seemingly simple yet crucial question: “Where and when are open captions available at the movies?” This inquiry shed light on a relatively rare and often overlooked aspect of the movie-going experience, and it’s high time we addressed it. Open captions, or lack thereof, have a significant impact on the inclusivity of cinemas, and the emergence of cup holder caption devices poses an intriguing dilemma that deserves our attention.
In a world where struggles are not uncommon, there are individuals who emerge with a vision fueled by passion and hope. SignAble Vi5ion is one such endeavor, born not out of mere passion, but a profound desire for positive transformation in the lives of the Deaf community and beyond. This blog narrates the personal journey of the visionary behind SignAble Vi5ion, how they evolved from witnessing struggles within their family and friends to striving for positive change that could impact the world. Their wish to create a practice of inclusive communication that meets the needs of Deaf individuals and those faced with communication barriers while benefiting everyone became the driving force behind this inspirational endeavor.
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.
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.
People around the world are seeing a new generation of Deaf people achieve what is achievable, there are endless online platitudes splashed across social media, recognizing amazing Deaf people who are performers, writers, business owners, and more.
It has long been taboo to talk about the possibilities of and by Deaf people, some of that do linger today.
It’s world hearing day.
