Category: Deaf + Language
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Why Written English Isn’t Enough: Language Equity for Deaf ASL Users
By Joy Plote, LPC, CI/CT Imagine being handed a contract in your second language, one that you were never given full access to as a child. Imagine being expected to read it, understand it, and sign it—without ever being offered the chance to have it explained in your native language. For many Deaf individuals who…
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When Exploding Feels Like the Only Way to Be Heard: Reactive Abuse and Deaf Experiences
By Joy Plote, Coda Counselor | The Space Between Most people think abuse looks like yelling, hitting, or cruel words. But what happens when someone stays quiet for years… until one day, they finally explode? In the Deaf community, that explosion is often misunderstood. What if the person being labeled as “abusive” is actually reacting…
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A Seat at the Table: Why Codas Must Speak Out on Deaf Education and Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma does not exist in isolation—it is deeply rooted in the choices, struggles, and dynamics passed down through families. For Codas (Children of Deaf Adults), the legacy of educational and linguistic decisions made by our hearing grandparents has profoundly shaped our lives. Yet, our experiences are often dismissed or undervalued in conversations about Deaf…
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Receptive Bilingualism: A Different Kind of Understanding
Language is at the heart of identity, connection, and culture. For many in the Deaf community and Codas (Children of Deaf Adults), bilingualism is a natural part of life, often encompassing a signed language like American Sign Language (ASL) and a spoken or written language such as English. However, not all individuals who grow up…
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What Australia’s Reports Reveal About Abuse in the Deaf Community
Australia’s Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability sheds light on a deeply troubling reality: Deaf individuals face disproportionately high rates of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This March 2021 report, prepared by the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health, offers a sobering insight into the challenges Deaf individuals…
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