Deaf and hard of hearing communities in the United States
comprise nearly 30 million
people. They live largely cut off from the general population
that surrounds them and—too often—determines
policy for them. They have less than full and equal access
to cultural events, less than full and equal access to
broadcast information, less
than full and equal access to participating in society.
The situation is even more critical for Deaf children. Ninety percent
of them are born to hearing parents, which leave them largely
cut off from the language community of their own families.
But hearing society is cut off, too—cut off from learning
about and experiencing the language, culture, and art of the
Deaf world. And major cultural and educational institutions
are cut off from serving the Deaf community, a population they
want to reach.
There has been and continues to be a crucial need to bridge
these divides that cut off community from community. There
is, in a sense, a need to make the Deaf world hearing and the
hearing world Deaf.
DEAF Media was founded to build those bridges, to make those
connections between communities, and to advocate for those
who need a voice. For over thirty years it has filled those
needs in a variety of ways. It helps major cultural institutions
work with the Deaf community, thereby ensuring that community’s
full participation in society.It exposes the hearing world
to the richness of Deaf culture, which promotes Deaf arts
and the professional development of Deaf artists. It strives
increase education and opportunity for Deaf individuals.
And, it works to foster mutual awareness, acceptance and understanding
between the Deaf and hearing worlds.