Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)’s Post

September is Deaf Awareness Month At Skills for Rhode Island's Future, our #workABILITY initiative is committed to supporting jobseekers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Still, like many of the populations we serve in our mission to promote inclusive hiring practices, we couldn't do it without our community partners! We appreciate and rely on the expertise of those who have long been navigating and providing support to the Deaf community, including the RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing unit at the Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS), Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL), and services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Perspectives Corporation. As Magan Coute, Career Developer at Perspectives Corporation, shares: "By working with a career developer who has access to the right resources, Deaf individuals can trust their accommodations will be anticipated, including ASL interpretation with a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) for additional support if needed. But even more importantly, employers are often unsure about the resources available or the steps to take to access them. Having someone to guide them demystifies the process and ensures a smoother hiring and onboarding experience." Whether you're an employer looking for an untapped pool of talent or a candidate looking for a job, don't hesitate—workABILITY is here to connect you with the support you need! Visit https://lnkd.in/givmwFPB or call 401-680-5960. #DeafAwarenessMonth #InclusionMatters #SkillsRI #workABILITY #InclusiveHiring #Accessibility #DeafAndHardOfHearing #CommunityPartners #RhodeIsland

📌 NOTE: The video did not go through with this post. Drats. Please visit our page for the video with the alarming statistic and the ASL translation that you're supposed to see here. We’ve experienced that many times, which is frustrating and typical in our everyday lives. You too? DeafHealth is here to demand MORE in healthcare. They’ve begun their movement. Let’s join them in their work. How? 🔹 Read our blog to learn more about them: https://lnkd.in/g88D8wZg 🔹 Follow them on social media. 🔹 Sign up for their emails. 🔹 Share their content with others. #HealthEquity #DeafHealth #BreakingBarriers [Video description: The background is white with CSD logo on top. There's a square video with blue borders that has a white woman in front of the camera. There is a white wall behind her. She has long brown hair and is wearing a black long-sleeved shirt. She signs the statistic below in ASL. Text reads "48.2% of Deaf people were told that an interpreter was "not available" for their healthcare appointments., Source: Schniedewind E, Lindsay R, Snow S.(2020). Ask and ye shall not receive: Interpreter-related access barriers reported by Deaf users of American sign language. Disability and Health Journal. https://lnkd.in/g9btnt2S ]

September is Deaf Awareness Month, and while today is the last day, it’s the perfect time to start prioritizing accessibility and inclusion. I grew up surrounded by deafness and hearing loss, using sign language since before I could speak. It's a part of my everyday life, and so I joined the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Working Group (DHHWG) as an ally to improve accessibility in tech. As an organizer of BSidesPGH, I’m proud to say we’re not just making recommendations—we’re putting them into practice. As the DHHWG was drafting event best practices, we've been adopting them and learning as we go. If you're looking to get started, here are a few tips from our guide: 🔹 Budget early for accessibility needs such as captioning and interpreters 🔹 Offer multiple options for accommodations like live captions and interpreters 🔹 Provide reserved seating at the front for those who need it 🔹 Don't just record the talks, but all parts of the conference, and include captions. If you have interpreters, include them in your recordings as well If you're Deaf or Hard of Hearing and in tech, I invite you to join our group. And if you’re an ally, take action by reviewing our resources and advocating for better accessibility. We can create a tech industry where everyone is welcome. Find us on the CNCF Slack at #deaf-and-hard-of-hearing #DeafAwarenessMonth #DHHWG #CNCF #AccessibilityMatters #Inclusion #DeafInTech

Hi, I’m Ryan Bonheyo, and I’m Deaf. Imagine calling customer support and getting hung up on because they don’t recognize your voice. That was my life before Direct Video Calling (DVC). My first DVC call changed everything—clear, direct communication in ASL with a Deaf representative. Want to know more? Watch my story and learn how DVC can transform your experience. Join us at the 2024 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Let’s discuss how DVC can enhance communication! 🎲 For more information, visit www.csd.org/realtalk Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)#AreYouIN? #INfor2024 #Disability:IN #Deaf #DeafCulture #EquitableCommunication #DirectVideoCalling #DVC #CSD #ASLNow [Video Description: A man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a blue and white checkered shirt, standing indoors with bookshelves and books in the background. Transcript: Hi. I’m Ryan and I’m Deaf. I use Direct Video Calling (DVC). I remember before DVC, there was a time when I got my bank statement and noticed some mistakes. I called my bank through Video Relay Services’ interpreter to make the call for me. When I connected to the bank’s customer support center, they heard a female interpreter's voice and said that it didn’t sound like Ryan, then hung up on me. This happened too often. I remember my first experience with DVC when I upgraded my internet service to get more speed. I called my internet service provider and was connected to a representative who knew American Sign Language (ASL). I thought it was a mistake and assumed the representative was an interpreter, but no, the representative was actually Deaf and trained by the internet service provider to provide customer support. We connected seamlessly; my request and concerns were resolved immediately. We did not have to use a third-party service like a VRS interpreter. It was amazing, and I couldn’t go back to the old experience after this first DVC experience. With DVC, I feel confident and more secure when I interact with companies that train their Deaf representatives or those who know ASL. Communication is clearer and smoother, and that really changes what Deaf customers typically experience. Since DVC, it also changes how I see companies providing equitable accessibility and customer experience for Deaf people. This makes me feel that those companies providing this really care about their Deaf customers like myself. I really do value those companies that provide DVC. Do you want your company to start providing DVC for your Deaf customers? Come and join us to discuss how we can make this a reality. Thanks for watching my story; join us and make equitable communication happen]

Hi, I’m Alyssa, and I’m Deaf. Direct Video Calling (DVC) has improved my life, allowing clear communication in ASL. I hope DVC becomes widely available, especially in telehealth services. Watch my story to learn more. #Deaf #DeafCulture #EquitableCommunication #DirectVideoCalling #DVC #CSD #ASLNow [Video Description: A young woman with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, wearing a gray t-shirt, standing outside with a clear blue sky in the background. Transcript: Hi. My name is Alyssa. I’m a Deaf customer who uses Direct Video Calling (DVC). DVC has already improved my lifestyle. I use DVC to get in touch with my bank to ensure my balance is healthy and there are no issues, or I use DVC to contact customer service without any misunderstandings. All of this is possible because I am using my native language, American Sign Language (ASL). The representatives I interact with know ASL and understand Deaf culture. As DVC has transformed many aspects of my life, I still hope it will be widely available to help solve some of our communication challenges. For example, with telehealth services, incorporating DVC will improve healthcare access, making it more accessible for Deaf patients by allowing direct medical consultation. In the near future, I hope DVC becomes more commonly used and makes communication easier in all aspects of life. This means anyone will be able to get emergency services directly, which could save more lives in a timely manner. Discuss with us how we can make this vision a reality together. Contact the CSD or ASL Now team; we’re here to help. Thanks for listening to my story; join us to expand the impact of DVC.]

Hi, I’m Jesse, and I’m Deaf. Direct Video Calling (DVC) has transformed my life. Imagine discussing medical information directly with your doctor in ASL. That’s the power of DVC. Watch my story to learn more. Find us at the 2024 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Let’s make DVC happen for everyone! 🎲 #AreYouIN? #INfor2024 #DisabilityIN #Deaf #DeafCulture #EquitableCommunication #DirectVideoCalling #DVC #CSD #ASLNow #DEI [Video Description: A man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing glasses and a dark polo shirt, standing outdoors with trees in the background. Transcript: Hello, my name is Jesse, and I’m a Deaf customer who prefers using Direct Video Calling (DVC). While DVC has already changed our lives in many ways, I hope it will become mainstream, with more organizations using it in various services and areas in the near future. For example, I want to be able to call my doctor’s office directly to understand medical information. Using a third-party service can sometimes be unclear, but talking directly to a Deaf person or someone who knows ASL ensures mutual understanding. They can explain in detail, avoiding the potential loss of information that might occur with an interpreter. Connecting directly with someone who understands me helps me better understand my health, which is really important for many Deaf people. Not just with medical-related services, but many areas could benefit from having DVC. Now, let’s make this happen everywhere for Deaf people. Get in touch with the CSD or ASL Now team; we’re ready to help, especially for our Deaf community. Thanks for watching my story; join us and make equitable communication happen.]

Watch this video to learn about Ryan’s experience with direct video calling service!

Learn more data points on educational attainment among Black deaf individuals through our interactive data dashboard. Visit now at https://lnkd.in/gQvKEBY5. [Image descriptions: Light grey background with dark teal text that reads: "15.6%% of Black deaf people have a Bachelor's degree or higher compared to 26.8% of Black hearing people and 23.8% of white deaf people." The data numbers are in red color. On the right side of the text is a signer, an Ethiopian woman wearing a black top, a black hair scarf, and a gold necklace. She signed: "15.6%% of Black deaf people have a Bachelor's degree or higher compared to 26.8% of Black hearing people and 23.8% of white deaf people."There's an orange and red background behind the signer. Underneath the signer is a smaller text at the bottom of the post in dark teal text that reads: "Bloom, C.L, Palmer, J.L., & Winninghoff, J. (2023). Deaf Postsecondary Data from the American Community Survey [Data visualization tool]. National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes, University of Texas at Austin. https://lnkd.in/gmg6Ze8u." On the bottom right corner is the NDC logo. Logo Description: A circle logo is displayed on the top with text below it. Inside the circle, there is a teal-colored swirl going downwards into a wavy-lined lime green bowl; the background color inside the circle is light blue. Below the logo, the "National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes" is visible in smaller font sizes. End of Image description.] #Deaf #HardOfHearing #HearingLoss #ASL #AmericanSignLanguage #SignLanguage #Deafverse #ChooseYourFuture #NationalDeafCenter #DeafCommunity #DeafYouth #DeafTeens #NADYouth

Bridges Oregon isn’t just an organization—it’s a lifeline and community for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing. Our mission is to ensure equity and inclusiveness for all. You can count on us to be there. We build bridges. Learn how we’re building bridges to opportunity across Oregon: bridgesoregon.org #BridgesOregon #YouCanCountOnUs #WeBuildBridges #DeafCommunity [Video Description: A man in a blue shirt with the Bridges Oregon logo stands outdoors in a park, signing in American Sign Language (ASL) as a banner appears, reading "Bridges Oregon | bridgesoregon.org | Statewide Nonprofit Organization for the Deaf in Oregon." The video transitions to two women walking in a hallway, one wearing a black Bridges Oregon shirt and the other in a jean skirt, gesturing expressively, with text below highlighting "Support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault" and "Advocacy Services." Next, four people sit at an outdoor table, with one man speaking, as the screen reads "Employment & Independent Living Services" and "Programs to help individuals find jobs and live independently." The scene shifts to a woman at a desk working on a computer, with the message "Ensuring DeafBlind individuals have full access to communication in various aspects of life | Communication Facilitator Services." A wide view of a river and city skyline follows, showing "Providing ASL interpretation in legal, medical, and educational settings | Interpreting Services." The video then shows a small group in a meeting room, with a man standing near a whiteboard and text reading "ADA Accessibility Assessments | Helping organizations meet ADA compliance and accessibility standards." In the next scene, a close-up of someone writing "DEI training series" and "job descriptions" on a whiteboard is accompanied by "Training Opportunities | Workshops and training for employers, healthcare, and law enforcement on interacting with Deaf individuals." Finally, a group is seen signing to each other in ASL, with the Bridges Oregon logo and the message "You can count on us to be there. We build bridges | bridgesoregon.org" concluding the video.]

🗣️🗣️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