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!