Description

Schools for the Deaf are closing as the population is small and the cost is seen as a drain for a relatively small population. Access to services is limited, many sites have moved to remote interpreting but a head-on iPad is not sufficient for a child still developing sign language who needs to see more of the signing space to be understood and to understand. ASL and Deaf culture are beautiful and need to be shared with the world while allowing people to create a community of barrier-free access to education, shopping, customer support, education, legal, mental health and physical health services and more. Many countries, Canada included, do not have disability rights legislation and do not recognize sign language as an access and human rights issue. Deaf people sit in hospital waiting rooms without access to information, jails and are not provided with appropriate support. Receiving support, advocating and even filing grievances are loaded with barriers. A team of educators all fluent in sign language, myself, a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with masters in Deaf Education, Counselling and Science. I work within a community of people looking to share their skills and talents and struggling with barriers and access. Creating and connecting this group with those individuals with the developmental know how to build this community would change the world!