Deaf Culture Totally Had a Moment: 2015 Edition

New York City is an epicenter of contemporary culture, but for many years people who are Deaf were left out of the excitement. In 1980, NY Deaf Theater changed the game. For 35 years now, NY Deaf Theater has been crafting theater experiences for Deaf audiences, and offering complex roles to Deaf actors and actresses.

Throughout 2015, we celebrated a number of victories in the Deaf community, but Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf (HEARD) used social media to remind us that there is still much work to be done. Following the release of the Al Jazeera documentary “Deaf In Prison,” the first ever #DeafInPrison twitter chat was held on March 28, 2015. The hashtag and Storify serve as a hub to explore the many ways that the rights of deaf people are oppressed within the justice system.

I think we can all agree that emojis are super important. The Signily app offers sign language users the option to communicate in ASL via text or email. Created by nonprofit group ASLized, the app was made by Deaf people for Deaf people. Finally, a tech company that gets it!

This year, Christine Sun Kim earned critical acclaim throughout the art world. As a person who is deaf, Kim uses the theme of sound in her art to challenge the assumption that deafness is silence. In August, she presented a poignant TED Talk at the TED Fellows Retreat 2015 titled “The Enchanting Music of Sign Language.”

Instead of waiting for the mainstream media to realize their talents, Deaf directors, actors, writers, and creatives took matters into their own hands. In 2015 we saw the premier of awesome videos and webseries such as "Don't Shoot the Messenger" “ASL Mythbusters,” “Fridays,” DeafNation’s “Deaf Culture Series,” plus the short films “The Kiss,” "Passengers" and many many more!

Did you know: Deaf History Month begins March 13, marking the anniversary of the Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University in 1988, and ends April 15, marking the anniversary of the establishment of the American School for the Deaf in 1817. Deaf Women History Month was created in 2014 by Deaf Women United, and is now celebrated each March to honor the many important Deaf women who have paved the way to social change.

When Rebecca King pulled into the drive through at her local Starbucks and was able to order from the barista on a video screen using ASL, she was so pleasantly surprised that she had to come back the next day and get it on video. The clip quickly went viral as the Deaf community applauded Starbucks for their accessibility efforts. Other corporations to take note!

Sick of actors who are hearing being cast for deaf roles, members of the Deaf community began the #DeafTalent campaign to raise awareness about this issue, and to help bring talented Deaf entertainers into the spotlight. Hollywood better think twice before they overlook the #DeafTalent roster again.

Marginalized and generally silenced within mainstream society, members of the Deaf community stood together at the Deaf Protest in Washington, DC during Labor Day Weekend. More than 1500 people turned out for the protest to raise awareness about the discrimination, high rates of unemployment, civil rights violations, and lack of communication access that deaf people endure on a daily basis. Using the power of social media, the Deaf community is organizing to fight back against oppression and create a world of opportunity.

When people truly set their hearts and minds to accomplishing something, there are no barriers that can hold them back. This year, Haben Girma became the first Deaf-Blind woman to graduate from Harvard Law School, and helped to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ADA by introducing the President at the White House. Girma is currently a lawyer at Disability Rights Advocates, and a campaigner for accessible technology.

Imagine walking into the White House for a meeting with the President and you are greeted by a Deaf receptionist who uses American Sign Language. This year, former White House intern Leah Katz-Hernandez made headlines when she became the first Deaf receptionist at the White House, appointed by Obama himself. Congratulations to Katz-Hernandez for breaking down barriers and showing government officials that Deaf people can do anything!

Performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl is kind of a big deal, especially if you happen to be deaf. In 2015, actress Treshelle Edmond became the third Deaf performer to sign the National Anthem during the Super Bowl broadcast, an effort sponsored by PepsiCo as part of an ongoing partnership with NAD to advance awareness of ASL and promote inclusivity in pop culture. The event is also fully captioned, including the much-discussed commercials!

Passed on July 26, 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been helping people who are Deaf preserve their civil rights for 25 years. Although the fight for equality continues, the ADA provides a framework that secures access to public spaces, businesses, and employment opportunities. Hooray for ADA!