Feras Al-Moubayed’s Post

Celebrating Deaf Awareness Week! Did you know there are over 12 million deaf or hard of hearing people in the UK (including me)? This week is a great opportunity to celebrate Deaf culture and learn how to be a more inclusive colleague. Here are some top tips for communicating effectively with deaf colleagues, both online and in person: In person: - Get their attention: Tap them gently on the shoulder or wave your hand. - Face them: Make eye contact and ensure your lips are fully visible when speaking. - Light: Avoid having bright light behind you, as this can make lipreading difficult. - Be patient: Allow extra time for processing information and repeat yourself if necessary. - Not everyone uses BSL: Don't assume all deaf people use British Sign Language (BSL). Ask your colleague how they prefer to communicate. Online: - Captions: Always use captions on videos and pre-recorded meetings. Ideally use a human captioner for best accuracy. Look at NRCPD for information on qualified and registered stenographers and notetakers. The government's Access to Work scheme can fund this support, so why not arrange it? - Copies: Provide copies of slides, notes and transcripts as it's very difficult to follow conversation and read at the same time. When you screenshare, your picture becomes tiny - so lipreading becomes near impossible. - Backgrounds: Avoid virtual or blurred backgrounds as they make it more difficult to lipread and observe your body language and gestures. Remember: - Every deaf person is an individual: Their communication preferences may differ, so always ask for clarification. - Be open to learning: There are many resources available to improve your communication skills with deaf colleagues. - Don't assume - just because a deaf person can speak doesn't mean they are not 'that' deaf nor does using BSL mean someone cannot also speak. #DeafAwarenessWeek #Inclusion Additional resources: NRCPD, Hearing Dogs For Deaf People, RNID, British Deaf Association, Lipspeaker UK, And us at Leonard Cheshire - my team can provide more broad disability awareness training and consultancy services, so drop me an email at training@leonardcheshire.org

Wow, what an inspiring story! Tera Spangler, the first deaf superintendent of the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, is breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. Her journey from growing up as the only deaf child in her small Iowa town to leading a school community where students feel connected and understood is remarkable. The Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind has a rich history dating back to 1874, and it continues to be a beacon of hope and support for deaf and blind students from across the state. The impact of having a deaf superintendent goes beyond just representation - it's about creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students can thrive, learn, and feel a sense of belonging. The stories shared by alumni of the school highlight the importance of having deaf role models in positions of power and authority. By having role models like Tera Spangler, students at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind can see that anything is possible. It's moments like these that remind us of the importance of access to visual language and the power of community within the deaf culture. The work that Caption Consulting does to support K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, companies, and associations is crucial in ensuring that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal opportunities and resources for success. We are proud to play a part in facilitating a better learning environment through our live, remote, and post-production captioning services. https://lnkd.in/eE3Gu7-W #DeafCommunity #InclusionMatters #Empowerment #DeafSuccess #BreakingBarriers #RepresentationMatters #ADACompliance #CaptionConsulting

Closing Deaf Awareness Month: Deaf, DeafBlind, & BIPOC-Owned Marketing Agency We don’t just understand accessibility—we live it every day. 365 days a year. Access. Inclusion. Equity. We’re here to help your business remove barriers & reach Deaf & Hard of Hearing communities. Ready to partner with us to make your brand accessible? Contact us! info@deflensmedia.com I  313 - 552 - 2989 I linktr.ee/deflensmedia #accessiblemarketing #accessibility #inclusion #inclusive #visualaccessibility #visualmarketing #deafowned #deafawarenessmonth #celebratedeafawarenessmonth #deaf #deafculture #deafcommunity #deafrights #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #whyisign #signlanguageisahumanright #hardofhearing #captioning #transcription Image Description: A flyer for Def Lens Media, an agency offering accessibility services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences. The top portion features the text "Deaf Awareness Month" in white font against a teal background. Below, the agency’s logo is displayed on the left, surrounded by colorful shapes and the letters “DLM” in black, teal, yellow, and red. To the right, the company name "Def Lens Media" is prominently written in bold. Underneath, a list of services includes "Visual Design," "Captioning & Transcription," "Visual Accessibility Consulting," and "More Services," each accompanied by a directional arrow pointing left in bold black. The bottom section is divided into three parts: "See It." in yellow, "Feel It." in teal, and "Live It." in red, all set against a black background.

Navigating cultural nuances can be enlightening, especially through the eyes of a child who bridges two distinct worlds. My daughter, who attends a mainstream school, has offered me insights into the subtle yet profound differences in how we address individuals in the Deaf community compared to the hearing community. In most hearing environments, it is customary to address educators and professionals with titles such as Dr., Ms., or Mr. This formality is ingrained in the education system and is seen as a sign of respect. However, in the Deaf community, the rules differ. We primarily use name signs—personalized gestures representing one's first name—making our interactions more personal and direct. Titles are reserved for introductions in professional settings, but once a rapport is established, first names usually suffice. Watching my daughter adapt to these differing expectations has been eye-opening. She learned early on that using titles is an expectation within her mainstream school, so she creatively developed signs for Ms., Mr., and Dr. to meet these standards. Yet, when interacting with her Deaf and hard of hearing peers, these formalities vanish, replaced by the comfortable familiarity of name signs. Interestingly, interpreters in her school play an essential role by voicing her adherence to the expected norms of using last names while she maintains her culturally ingrained practices. Misunderstandings often arise when these cultural differences go unnoticed. For instance, when Deaf individuals address someone by their first name in an email or conversation, it may be mistaken for disrespect. However, this practice is not rooted in disregard but rather a norm within our community that does not emphasize titles. Through my daughter's experiences, I have learned the importance of cultural expectation, awareness, and sensitivity. Recognizing these differences is crucial, as is understanding that respect manifests differently across cultures. Acknowledging these variations fosters mutual understanding and respect, enriching communication between the Deaf and hearing communities. #CulturalAwareness #Deaf #BridgingTheGap #DeafCommunity #PeopleWithDisability

It’s not uncommon to come across agencies or organizations - whether they’ve been in the business for a long time or are just starting out - that believe they’re supporting the Deaf community, yet their actions often tokenize rather than empower. Many are hearing-run and fixate on the culture of Deaf people without fully understanding what their service actually does or who it truly benefits. Often, the service isn’t really for us, it’s more for the hearing. Access is needed, but the focus should be on providing effective access, not on trying to define or exploit the culture of the Deaf community. They might check the box for “inclusivity” by adding a service or a token Deaf representative, but they fail to ask the crucial questions: Are we truly listening to the Deaf community? Are we addressing their actual needs in meaningful ways? Tokenization happens when the work feels performative, done for appearances or popularity rather than genuine support. Often, these organizations pay big bucks to tokenize Deaf individuals, treating it as a superficial gesture to appear inclusive. They do this not because it truly includes the community, but simply because they can. That’s not the kind of partnership I seek. What I do appreciate are the services and organizations that genuinely care. The ones that don’t jump into ASL translation services just because it's becoming more visible or popular. Instead, they take the time to do the work. They ask questions. They invite Deaf professionals to present, to share, to teach—not just as a resource but as a valued partner. They understand that ASL isn’t just a language - it’s a culture, a community, a way of life. It’s not about simply passing words from one language to another. It’s about bridging understanding, respecting identity, and fostering inclusion. These are the people I choose to work with. The ones who listen. The ones who collaborate. The ones who are willing to go deeper than the surface. If you’re one of those people, thank you. Let’s keep building a world that supports genuine inclusion—together. #InclusionMatters #DeafEmpowerment #AccessibilityForAll #TokenismIsNotInclusion #SupportNotExploit #AuthenticPartnerships #InclusiveWorkplace #DoTheWork This image features a logo for "SignAble Vi5ion" over a background of two people shaking hands. The logo incorporates a simple line drawing of hands signing "hello" along with a partial outline of a person, emphasizing communication through sign language. The text is encircled with a dotted border, giving the design a professional yet approachable feel.

I recently re-hired my publicist Desmond Warren of Jaya Jaya Productions. Desmond is excellent; efficient, communicative, and open minded. He caught the attention of Nelly Chavez, my newest hero. That resulted in an article in the Chicago Journal: https://lnkd.in/gDJjHWaG where Chavez proved keenly intelligent in her quick understanding of the issues. So many hearing people never learn much about the realities of Deaf life (or Deaf education) beyond a very limited lens, leaving them to base their beliefs on sheer assumptions. I love being able to reach such readers; people who are intelligent, well-meaning, and can do considerable good in the world once they know why and how to, once they know what the issues are. To that end, here is another article, again thanks to Nelly Chavez. https://lnkd.in/gWmfA-CQ This took me three or four days, working 8-10 hours a day. I have a process for article-writing where I first write the outline, then free-write within the outline, then expand, adding more interesting stories and examples to illustrate my points, and then brutally edit for length, usually removing all the interesting/fun stuff, lol. After multiple rounds of edits, every extra word is removed, and the bare bones article is sent off. If I have any room on the final word count I add a little of my own personality or word choices, sometimes embedded within the piece or in this case tacked onto the end, ha. Along the way I work hard at clarity, overcoming the PTSD the topics bring up, and the tricky challenge of explaining complicated things clearly enough for hearing outsiders to understand, and trying not be too heavy handed. Judging by Desmond Warren, and Nelly Chavez, (and many others) I know it's totally worth it! Hopefully hearing teachers, of all kinds— for whom all these concepts will be brand new and often surprising— will read and be influenced by my little article. When they go back to work in the Fall, and find that a Deaf student has been placed in their class, or the class of the new teacher down the hall from them, hopefully something here will have stuck with them that helps them fight off the knee-jerk preference for oralism and assimilation that is so rampant—and so frequently harmful— in the mainstream. #DeafEducation #InclusiveEducation #DeafCommunity #AmericanSignLanguage #TheButterflyCage #RachelZemachAuthor #BackToSchool #Teachers

What would you do if a Deaf individual came into your place of work? Would you or your office support staff know what to do? Do you feel uncomfortable at the thought of interacting with a Deaf individual? How much do you know about the Deaf community? This 1-hour and 15 minute live webinar is facilitated by Alma Pizarro-Gould, a Deaf facilitator, and will provide a crash course in terminology and important social context related to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. This training will discuss culturally Deaf behavior, communication modalities, and will offer basic guidance regarding how to communicate with a Deaf person. This training seeks to raise awareness of Deaf culture and provide hearing people with important perspective so they may be allies to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Participants will be able to: Acquire knowledge of Deaf Culture and terminology. Examine the impact of hearing loss. Identify communication methods that can be applied when working with the Deaf population. This training is $12 for the general public, and $30 for individuals seeking Continuing Education credits. Start your journey in Deaf awareness and inclusion here: https://lnkd.in/gC-2BHAs

🗣️🗣️A SHOUT OUT AWARENESS TO REJECT STEREOTYPING AND PREJUDICE– EMBRACING INCLUSION"  Hello! Did you know that today 23rd to 29th   September, 2024 is the  INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE and # @INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGE? Stop seeing the hearing impaired as cursed by the gods, or as sick people, or as unfortunate children born into the world to keep secrets by being unable to speak or hear. NO!Did you know that your hands ✋🤚 can be that voice🗣️ they need, your hands ✋🤚 can be that ears they need to have equal access to ALL RIGHTS?.  Did you also know that, when access and communication are good, deafness ceases to be a barrier between the hearing and the hearing impaired?So, lend those hands by learning how to sign. Learning  sign language will aid in generating a positive communication, Inclusive and interactive environment, understanding and connection  with the hearing impaired in the society.Sign language skills are essential for:👉 Deaf and hard of hearing individuals to communicate and access information. So, deaf Parents should avail their hard in hearing children to learning Sign Language. Stop keeping them away from this opportunity.👉Hearing families with deaf children to communicate and bond with their child.👉Educators to teach and support deaf students.👉Healthcare professionals to communicate with deaf patients.👉Service providers (e.g., police, firefighters, and emergency responders) to serve deaf individuals in emergency situations.👉Preachers and missionaries to reach out the gospel of light to them.👉Entrepreneurs or individuals in one business or the order for easy access during transaction of sales with the deaf.👉 Anyone interested in learning a new language and exploring the deaf cultureYou can start your journey today by learning the sign language alphabets and other essential words to build your vocabularies with_Mattiwills Voice for the Deaf_ (MVD)WhatsApp: 08061116251#IWD2024#IDS2024#InclusionForAll#Mattiwillsvoiceforthedeaf#ASLinRivers#SignLanguageMatters  #DeafEmpowerment

It can really shock me how people of all genders, political, religious, and racial demographics can be so hurtful and threatening to the existence of the Deaf Community. It is no wonder that the Deaf child and Deaf adult feels unwanted and bodily exploited for profit. Still, I don’t find word banning to be ethical or change thinking. Well then, what works? Having explanations from the heart face to face about why statements are wrong and having hearing allies back the Deaf up is what works. These explaining moments are much better done by someone who has direct lived experience to back up what they say. But without visible support of others in the moment these statements happen, often the corrections are ignored. We NEED you! So how harmful could statements hearing people make really be? Below is a list of the worst things that hearing people have said to me, all but one to my face, about the Deaf: “AI could replace interpreters, saves money to not train humans!” “ASL is universal. It isn’t? Well it SHOULD be. Make that happen!” “You should know your numbers…black people do!” “House hopping must just be a local issue, couldn’t be national.“ “You should be grateful to AGBell, you all need to be fixed.“ “Deaf people have gates on the deaf school because they fear hearing people, and they all become teachers there after graduated so they do not have to ever leave. This is why we should defund Deaf education and send them to public schools.” “Deaf Culture does not exist.“ “The HI Word (impaired) doesn’t bother anybody but you, because nobody deaf complained but you.“ “Open captioned movies would drive away hearing customers.“ “If you cannot hear or speak, you must read English very well.“ “If you cannot hear, you cannot walk across the street without getting killed.“ “A deaf woman cannot be a fit mom, and the child‘s custody after birth should be given to a hearing woman.” “Deaf people drive? I don’t feel safe, so I want to ban that.” “I am pro life, but I don’t care if it is eugenics, no more deaf people should be born.” This list truly shows the need to hire people such as myself to enlighten your administration and staff how to distinguish is appropriate and what is highly hearing supremacist thinking. How do you think Deaf employees feel if they hear this from a supervisor? At least one of those statements came from one of mine. Want to learn more? I plan to make separate posts about the statements above…watch for it!

We’ve always believed there is a better way to do digital. Launching as manifesto has given us the perfect opportunity to present ourselves in a way that best reflects who we are, and what we believe, steered by our very own manifesto. The first statement on our manifesto is the one I feel most strongly about: everyone in, no-one forgotten. As many of you know I am the proud mother to a profoundly Deaf child. Since she was identified as deaf, my perspective and understanding of the world of the world of inclusive design has completely changed. It's about more than ticking boxes and 'scores' to me. A few months ago I wrote a blog post on the subject, called "Deaf gains: exploring accessibility through the lens of deaf identity and inclusive design". Now, presented on our website, brought to life by our new brand, a brand that is being developed (and I say 'is being' as it's not something we ever see as having a 'final state', but more on that later) with that first manifesto statement in mind, I feel even more proud to share it. Recently a contact at the National Deaf Children's Society mentioned that they had read it and my heart swelled. Please have a read and let me know what you think in the comments! https://lnkd.in/emzRiwai #accessibility #manifesto #manifestoForChange #inclusivity #purpose #impact #digital #inclusiveDesign #inclusiveBranding