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Tag: Deaf Advocacy

  • Day 19: Deaf Accessibility Wins – The Power of Behind-the-Scenes Conversations

    The captions, sign language, and accessible services we see publicly are often the result of work that happens out of sight. These wins usually start with meaningful conversations with the right people — not social media influencers, but decision-makers, policymakers, business leaders, and those in public service.

    When people don’t know what they don’t know, we take matters into our own hands (pun intended). We advocate and educate them about Deaf access — captions, sign language interpretation, and more. Being assertive is key.

    You don’t have to change the entire world. Impactful conversations with one person at a time can lead to hiring, partnerships, policy shifts, or business pivots. Real change happens when we connect with accessibility champions and nurture those relationships.

    In my experience, the conversations themselves can feel easy. Taking action takes time because decision-making is influenced by both internal motivation and external pressures. Still, the strongest results come when access and inclusion are pursued not just as obligations, but because they are the humane and right thing to do.

    Investing in relationships raises the value of accessibility. When we inspire rather than only demand, we build lasting progress.

    What about you? Have you ever had a conversation with a decision-maker that led to better access? Or what’s one relationship that helped create positive change in your community?

    Share your experiences in the comments — these stories matter!

    See you tomorrow for Day 20!

  • Day 16: Deaf Accessibility Wins – Advocating for Seamless Remote Interpreting

    I’ve been having important conversations with people advocating at the policymaking level. These discussions often happen behind the scenes, but they shape the standards of accessibility across provinces, territories, and the country.

    One key area is interpreting services — whether in-person, VRS (Video Relay Service over the phone), or VRI (Video Remote Interpreting). For remote services especially, we need policies that ensure two-way seamless communication.

    Imagine a hearing person on a phone call dealing with high latency, lag, and choppy audio. It would be frustrating for everyone. The same applies to video calls for Deaf people connecting through interpreters. We need clear, low-latency, high-quality video so both the Deaf caller and the interpreter can communicate effectively without frustration.

    This kind of advocacy happens because we connect with the right people — those who have technical knowledge and lived Deaf experience. By bringing these issues to decision-makers, we can push for better policies and technology in Canada, catching up to (or surpassing) what’s already working well in other countries.

    These behind-the-scenes efforts are real accessibility wins that improve daily life for many.

    What about you? Have you experienced lag or poor quality in video calls or interpreting services? What would “seamless” communication look like for you?

    Share your thoughts in the comments!

    See you tomorrow for Day 17!

  • Day 12: Deaf Accessibility Wins – My George Veditz Award & Applying “Privacy in Deaf Space”

    For those who don’t know, when I completed and successfully defended my M.A. in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, I was awarded the George Veditz Deaf Studies Award. The award recognizes graduate students who have made — and will continue to make — an impact on the lives of Deaf people and the field of Deaf Studies through outstanding scholarship and activism.

    I remember receiving it at graduation with my last name misspelled. I pointed it out, they said they’d correct it and mail it. To this day, I still haven’t received the corrected version. I just chuckled — I’m not mad. The real value was in the work itself.

    My thesis was titled “What is Privacy in Deaf Space?” (link available if you’d like to read it). There are opportunities to refine and improve it, but I’m sharing it as it was when I submitted and received the award.

    At the time, some classmates and colleagues questioned what this thesis would lead to career-wise — often without including me in the conversation. Was I offended? Not really. I was focused on finishing my degree and managing six-figure student loans.

    Fast forward — I’ve applied the concepts in real ways. One tangible example happened when I was a manager at a previous job. Our program was relocating to a new building with open cubicles designed for hearing people (quiet spoken conversations). For Deaf staff using ASL, privacy was a major issue.

    They initially suggested opaque sliding doors (which would block visual access) or transparent ones (which would eliminate privacy). I proposed translucent/frosted panels instead — allowing visual awareness of whether someone was inside or waiting outside, while maintaining confidential conversations. It was a practical Deaf Space solution that worked well.

    These are the kinds of wins that make the research meaningful.

    What about you? Have you seen research, a thesis, or an idea applied in real life to create better accessibility? Or what’s one change in your environment that made a big difference?

    Share your examples in the comments!

    See you tomorrow for Day 13!

  • Day 11: Deaf Accessibility Wins – Embracing Advocacy as a Deaf Dad

    Advocacy is something I proudly carry with me every day. It is my purpose and my calling. What started as a choice has become a powerful commitment — especially now as a Deaf dad raising Deaf daughters, while balancing my job and freelance work.

    Maturing has meant fully embracing this role with strength and clarity.

    I’ve learned there are many ways to advocate. One of the most empowering is through ongoing education and awareness — every single day, in every interaction.

    The goal is to shine a light on how policies and society were designed without Deaf people in mind. This creates unnecessary communication barriers, audist attitudes, medical pushes to “cure” deafness, discouragement of sign language (linguicism), and more. These challenges exist daily, often invisible to those not directly affected.

    While I can’t change the entire world overnight, I am committed to making a meaningful impact within my own community — one conversation at a time. Every genuine dialogue plants seeds of understanding and opens doors to real progress.

    This is how we build a stronger, more inclusive future — together.

    What about you? How do you channel your voice into advocacy — whether for yourself, your family, or your community? What’s one way you’ve seen small, consistent efforts create empowering change?

    Share your powerful stories in the comments — let’s inspire each other!

    See you tomorrow for Day 12!

  • Day 8: Deaf Accessibility Wins – The Lasting Impact of Teaching ASL

    In yesterday’s post I mentioned teaching the MLA the sign for “congratulations.” That small moment brought back memories of my early teaching career.

    Right after completing my MA in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, I taught a class for students in the Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) program at the University of Manitoba. That experience opened doors to other teaching roles: instructor for Disability Studies at the University of Winnipeg, instructor for the interpreting program and Deaf literacy program at Red River College, and ASL instructor at the University of Manitoba.

    Teaching ASL never felt like just teaching a language. It was always deeply connected to Deaf culture, the local community in Winnipeg and Manitoba, and my own lived experience as a Deaf person.

    My favourite part has always been seeing what happens after the course ends. Students expanded their knowledge and went on to apply it personally and professionally. One nurse realized the importance of effective communication with Deaf patients and the need for qualified interpreters. A couple of students were inspired to become advocates, used me as a reference, and got into law school. Others went into careers working directly with Deaf people or simply became better communicators with Deaf family members, friends, and neighbours.

    To this day, some former students stay in touch or we run into each other in the community.

    The classroom is like planting seeds. When you nurture students with knowledge, empathy, and Deaf perspectives, they grow into agents of change — carrying accessibility forward wherever they go.

    What about you? Did a teacher, mentor, or course ever shift how you think about accessibility or inclusion? Or have you seen the impact of learning ASL in your own life or career?

    Share your experiences in the comments!

    See you tomorrow for Day 9!

  • Day 7: Deaf Accessibility Wins – Small Gestures, Big Connections

    Recently, I had the honour of giving a speech at a high school graduation. The MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) was also on stage. I actually knew her from years ago — we worked together at a social services agency, where I was a case manager and she was the social worker supporting the same individual. Back then, collaborating made advocating for that person’s needs much smoother.

    It was great to see her again in a different stage of our careers, still working for the same community.

    After the speeches, as we mingled with the crowd, she came up to me and asked, “What’s the sign for ‘congratulations’?” I showed her, and she practiced it right there.

    Little things like this go a long way. When someone genuinely wants to connect by learning even a small piece of our language, it moves beyond basic “access” or “inclusion.” It becomes a real human connection — being seen, understood, and valued.

    When hearing people take the initiative to learn from us, it opens up space for Deaf and non-Deaf people to coexist more naturally and authentically.

    These small, sincere moments are powerful wins.

    What about you? Have you ever had a meaningful moment where someone made an effort to learn a bit of sign language or bridge a communication gap? How did it feel?

    Share your stories in the comments — these small wins are worth celebrating!

    See you tomorrow for Day 8!

  • Why I’m Deleting the “Sales Coach” Vibe to Go All-In on Deaf Access

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