Designing Deaf Community Engagement

First Encounters There is a distinction between the terms: ‘persons with disabilities’ and ‘disabled persons.’ When one describes a person with a disability as a ‘disabled person’, it is as if one is defining that person by his or her disability. This definition may cause that individual to feel offence, as their disability does not define who they are or what they can accomplish as individuals.

Teresa, a young determined woman, greets us and leads us on a tour of our partner’s building. She holds our attention with an unforgiving presence. We would later learn that, these qualities were notorious amongst her coworkers who referred to it as her “mental whip” which no one can escape.

When I initially saw her in her wheelchair, having a severe condition of Cerebral palsy and persisting to make her speech understandable to the group, my emotions were in complete confusion. I wanted to do something, extend a hand, perhaps make the speech for her, but couldn’t.

Nevertheless, her determination, confidence and strength, reassured me that she doesn’t need me, or anyone, to help her communicate with others.

Inside the building, we saw giant posters of individuals with disabilities at national events fighting for their rights and representing their community.

Signs with encouraging words were displayed on the walls. As I started to