Deaf Civil Rights - US Chapter

Several years ago, a few hearing people wanted elected to the same position on Vancouver City Council, and listened to what Deaf people had to say about the living conditions and not qualifying for Section 8 without being literally on the street.

You can watch this full video here: https://youtu.be/_U43eDA69Mg

Deaf people often are told that due to the definition of homelessness, that they didn’t qualify for housing assistance, and were seen as not vulnerable enough.

A hearing homeless person keeps an ear open while sleeping to defend themselves from robbers, rapists, police brutality, and more.

A Deaf person cannot hear! There is Deaf House Hopping part of Deaf Culture to protect our own, to ensure Deaf people do not die the first night on the street, or worse. However, due to the hearing people in Congress not realizing the danger to the Deaf and the cultural norm to protect the Deaf from death….because they ARE most vulnerable…the definition of homeless has not been inclusive of this.

We urge you to learn more about this topic and to advocate with the Deaf community to change the HUD definition to include those who use ASL and are Deaf house hoppers to qualify for Section 8 assistance. Frankly living off of SSI isn’t enough to pay first and last month’s rent to get into a new apartment.

WA Deaf Community Explains Unaffordable Housing, Internet/Videophone Crisis, & Police Pre-Covid, live recorded event I set up and facilitated for people competing for a seat on Vancouver City Council. First part (not shown here) was my questio...

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The Deaf of the US decided upon the three top most required basic Deaf Civil Rights in order for Deaf people in America to have the right to life, liberty, and pursue happiness.

One of the 3E’s is Expressive Equity.

Only about 30% of any spoken language is visible on the lips. Therefore, forcing a newborn baby to lip read, is really forcing them to learn to mind read 70% of what the parents and everyone else is saying to them.

No wonder so many deaf children start public schools at age 5 in special needs classes have not acquired yet a first language!

American Sign Language is 100% visible upon the hands! There is ZERO guessing games for an infant and toddler to do! In fact, those who are both deaf and blind can FEEL the hands and learn fluently ASL! This is called Pro-tactile ASL, or PTASL.

There are many distinct signed languages that have developed on earth, without a written form, and all are fully legitimate whole languages. However, in the USA a person does not have full inclusion and rights to things in ASL, such as a voter guide, or a hearing person who was born to Deaf ASL users (called CODA) to request an interpreter in their native language!

Until we have the right to express our thoughts, emotions, desires, and needs in ASL and be understood accurately, we do not have the first basic of .