Engaging the Deaf: How Community Conversations are Giving a Voice to All Members in Our Community

Apr 16, 2019

by United Way NCA

Having only lived in DC for four months, Rachel, a deaf mother of two found the city much more hospitable to her needs than Birmingham, Alabama. Rachel grew up deaf—for her, American Sign Language was as fluid as water. Living as a deaf mother of two however, Rachel had a unique challenge in raising her children that not even DC’s hospitality could conquer: one was deaf, and one was not.

Finding a School for the Deaf was not hard for Rachel; DC’s abundance of resources for deaf children are nearly limitless. But for her son, being raised in a deaf family with functional hearing meant that he needed the tools to communicate in both worlds. Rachel didn’t know where to turn for help, until she attended United Way NCA’s community conversation at the ASL Starbucks on H Street.

“He’s exposed to ASL in school, at home, and almost everywhere he goes” she explains to me through an interpreter, “but without exposure to English, Spanish or any of these other languages, I fear he won’t be able to integrate.”

Rachel’s son’s situation has dire implications for his social and academic development. The specifics surrounding her son’s challenges are often not discussed. However, because of the community conversation hosted by United Way NCA, all voices in the community have a platform to bring their challenges to light. United Way NCA engages residents like Rachel, nonprofit partners and donors across the metropolitan area in conversations to discuss the most pressing issues that plague our region. The discussions highlight issues in our community that may be underrepresented, unnoticed or under-resourced. The outcomes from the discussions are designed to help shape United Way NCA’s primary focuses for the coming years.

To learn more about how United Way NCA is fighting for the health, education and financial stability for every person in our community or to get involved, please visit unitedwaynca.org.


 

Recent Posts

related post thumbnail
Jun 09, 2025

blog

States Where a High School Diploma Pays Off the Most

Between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years, in-state tuition rates at public universities rose by 4.4%, while out-of-state tuition and fees rose by 3%. For many ALICE (Asset Limited, Income..
related post thumbnail
May 06, 2025

blog

Can't Afford Food? Resources and Programs to Help

Key Takeaways Food insecurity is a growing challenge affecting millions due to rising costs, job loss, and economic hardship. Government programs like SNAP, WIC, and school meal initiatives provide vital..
related post thumbnail
Apr 01, 2025

blog

Discrimination Against Immigrants in Society with Examples

What is Xenophobia? Xenophobia —defined as prejudice or discrimination against immigrants — has deep roots in American society, stretching back to some of the earliest waves of immigration at Ellis..
×