Signing V-O-I-C-E-S-U-N-I-T-E-D with ASL instructor Dyi’eldra Jones
Vicki Baker
On March 12, 1990, over 1,000 disability rights activists marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol demanding passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which had stalled in Congress. To illustrate the barriers people with disabilities faced every day, over 60 activists cast aside their wheelchairs and crutches and began crawling up the 83 stone steps leading to the Capitol building—among them, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, an eight-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Following this heroic act, the ADA was overwhelmingly signed into law on July 26, 1990.
To commemorate this landmark legislation, the month of July is recognized as “National Disability Pride Month” highlighting the incredible achievements of the disabled community and standing up for their rights to equality, inclusion, and visibility. Today, 40.7 million Americans are living with disabilities of which 11 million individuals consider themselves deaf or significantly hearing impaired. Prior to the creation of the ADA, it was believed deaf individuals could only function within the deaf community. Too often, they faced stigmas, discrimination, and stereotypes as they lived in a predominantly hearing world.
During Disability Pride Month, Voices United stepped into this world of silence and enrolled in a class to learn a new language—American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is a visual language complete with its own grammar and syntax and uses a combination of hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language to communicate.
Our beginners class was taught by ASL instructor Dyi’eldra Jones who has been deaf from near birth. She took deaf education classes growing up while attending a hearing school. Now she teaches the weekly, free, one-hour class to mostly hearing individuals.
We learned to sign the alphabet, numbers, and family members (mother, father, baby, etc.), leaving us with a desire to learn more. But more importantly, the class offered us the opportunity to form connections with the deaf community, to understand the challenges and barriers faced by deaf people in everyday life, and to cultivate friendships and relationships outside of the hearing world.
Next July, actively engage in National Disability Pride Month and celebrate people with disabilities, honor their inherent dignity and inalienable rights, promote their visibility, break down stereotypes, and applaud their achievements. Better yet, advocate for disability rights, today and every day by emphasizing the need to see individuals with disabilities for their abilities and potential, acknowledging their struggles, and applauding their triumphs. Build on the progress made, creating a society where everyone thrives in a truly inclusive world. Visit our website at voicesunitedrr.org.