Intersectionality, Inequality, & InclusionIf you have yet to see my initial review of the new CODA film, please click here to start with part 1. Then click here to find part 2 of my review. Going in chronological order of my reviews of the CODA film will allow you to find out more about my background. Yes! I'm a Coda, with three Deaf parents, and five other Deaf members in my family such as grandparents on my mom's side, aunts, uncles, and so on. At the end of my second review, I discussed inclusion. However, one really can't examine inclusion without looking at intersectionality and inequality. In this third review of CODA, the most awarded film in Sundance history, I share insights and themes I've learned about my identity, as well as factors related to intersectionality and inequality that have impacted Deaf families and their children. As I mentioned in part 1 of my review, I must share A to Z! This blog represents some real facts about Codas and Deaf people, so I invite you to consider what it means to be a Coda from an authentic perspective. So, join me here for part 3! Let's explore some factors that have contributed to the Rossi family's dynamics and how Ruby has also been impacted as a "Coda." (I put parentheses here because I'm referring to the fact that she is an actress who plays a Coda, but does not authentically represent Codas).
Codas = Resistance to Eugenics!So, you may gather by the images of the scenes above, I'm going to talk about sex. Parents have sex...Deaf people have sex. Whoa! Say what?! Let me go even further... Disabled people have sex. Why am I emphasizing this? Because I'm attempting to co-construct some normalcy for those who are able-bodied to consider reality. Please note that I am not the first, nor the author of constructing normalcy around sex and disability. Google it, seriously! My hope is that you will find beauty in love, in all types of love and sexuality. You may find documentaries or films like Sins Invalid or Somebody to Love - Sex and Disability just to name a few. And you may discover beautiful principles such as disability justice that can guide our society to cross-disability solidarity, interdependence, collective, access, and collective liberation as outlined by Patty Berne here in this document (click here). Disability justice means looking at the inequality and intersectionality of us all. The scenes above are also most likely why this film is rated PG-13. Outside of the obvious fact that parents have sex, here's something that you may not know... Eugenics was developed during the 20th century to "improve the human race." Sir Francis Galton, largely responsible for developing eugenics, stated that human reproduction needed to be arranged or controlled to decrease the characteristics of the "undesirables." Eugenics was adopted as Nazi doctrine as a justification for murdering Jews, disabled people, queer folx, and other minority groups. Have your doubts about eugenics and how they were adopted by Nazi Germany? Read Crying Hands by Horst Besold, and you will find a lot of heart-breaking history on how eugenics devastated the Deaf community...not just the Deaf community...personally, some of my family didn't survive. However, that's another story for another time. In a nutshell, eugenics basically stated Deaf people, disabled people, and other "undesirables" should not have sex to eliminate genetic deafness or other characteristics from the future of the human race. Eugenics resulted in the sterilization of Deaf men and women, including deaf children. The very existence of Codas...my body and existence of Codas is proof that eugenics is false! This is something that makes me beam, cause they were WRONG! A shout out here to Erik Witteborg for planting the origin of this thought in his poem, Painting Apples (2016): My Body is De’VIA My body is resistance art. Coda bodies are resistance pieces, in a society that tried to prevent Deaf people from marrying Deaf people, or marrying Hearing people, or marrying, or being people. I am a product of resistance. I am a resistance piece borne from the labor of love, which then had to ironically labor for love. So I am a resistance piece twice made. (This is only an excerpt of Witteborg's poem, please click here to see the entire poem)  Inequality & Socioeconomics In my first review, I reference this scene where Frank and Jackie are arguing. The one thing I left out was that the argument was over finances. This type of argument may be commonplace for blue collar families that struggle to make ends meet, however, there is another layer of intersectionality when it comes to the inequality of workplace opportunities here. Deaf people and the community around the world often face audism, behaviors, or attitudes that illustrate negative stigma or discrimination toward anyone who does not hear. American society and many others around the world value how much a human can "produce." And disabled people are seen as undesirable or challenging to work with, so more often than not, opportunities and resources are given to able-bodied people. In 2019, the National Deaf Center reported that Deaf people face many disparities when it comes to employment in comparison to hearing people. Hearing individuals are more likely to have full time jobs, higher employment rates, and typically, higher earnings than Deaf people. And when one looks at the intersections of race, gender, age, and other disabilities in addition to deafness, there are even larger disparities. Check out this video to see more about the study released by the National Deaf Center in 2016: Can't Afford School...This awareness of not being able to afford college is reality for many Codas worldwide. Whether it is just a feeling or awareness of reality, it is an overlapping financial outcome that occurs due to the disparities in employment for Deaf people. This is not me asking for pity for Ruby or the Rossi family. It is simply a reality that many Codas face, feel, and/or accept. Some of us, such as myself, take out loans for hopes that we can pay them back someday. However, other Codas have expressed to me that it is not financially feasible to take on the risk of loans or in many cases, financial aid is not available to Codas worldwide. The Origin of CODA & the Millie Brother Scholarship When Ruby's choir teacher, Mr. Bernardo Villalobos said, "They have scholarships!" I grinned from ear to ear. While it made me smile, it also made me realize that there are two MAJOR things that the CODA film missed the boat on!
First, when you think of CODA, please know that this term was not coined by Sian Heder, the Director and screenplay author of this new release. I share with you the name of a legend in the Coda community... Millie Brother, a Coda who established an organization for Codas worldwide known as CODA International in 1983. In her first newsletter (*please see correction below) to the members of CODA International, Millie Brother coined the term CODA = "Children of Deaf Adults” referring to hearing offspring of Deaf parent(s). I believe that Sian Heder missed a huge opportunity with this film by not sharing the origins of CODA or at least sharing CODA International's website at the end of the film with its audience. Many Codas even today are still learning about the term "CODA," and that they are not the only one with this unique identity and experience in the world. Lastly, the other issue that I believe the film missed the boat on is sharing with the audience that there are INDEED scholarships for Codas! This is known as the Millie Brother scholarship and it is one of the main reasons, we gather as a Coda community as often as we can to raise funding for the Millie Brother scholarship. If the new release CODA made any impact on you....I ask that you consider donating to CODA International here. Attending a CODA International conference was absolutely life changing for me, and I know that CODA International has touched and inspired the lives of many Codas worldwide. When considering causes to support this year, this scholarship fund and organization is worthy of your consideration. For parents of K/Codas, there are also other resources that I would like to share with you: www.kodaheart.org Koda camps A Blog for Parents and Teachers of Codas If you've made it this far, thank you for your interest in my BLOG and for taking a moment to consider an authentic perspective of what it means to be a Coda! I wish I had more time to write about the rest of my "A to Z" thoughts about the new CODA film. I have an amazing opportunity this week to be involved with facilitating a virtual conference for Codas seeking to become professional interpreters in the U.S. I may return to writing next week, SEE SEE (ASL phrase meaning, this has yet to be determined). So grateful for life, so grateful to be a Coda, last, but never least, I'm so grateful for my Coda & Deaf family and community who have inspired me. I hope this BLOG inspires you to reflect, to question, to get involved, to seek out authenticity, and to take action toward collective access and liberation! Viva La Resistance! Taking steps toward liberation, one step at a time... I'd love to hear your thoughts in response to my part 1, part 2, or part 3 of my review of CODA (the film that is, wink wink)... *In my initial article, I stated that it was in a thesis in the early 1980s that Mille Brother coined CODA. This was an error on my part. It was in her first newsletter to the members of CODA International, Millie Brother coined the term CODA = "Children of Deaf Adults” referring to hearing offspring of Deaf parent(s). Click here to see the origins of CODA and CODA International. Much love and Coda hugs! ~ Rose Clifford
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Film Review, Perceptions of Codas, & ResearchIn my initial review of CODA (the recently released film), I shared some of my background and discussed various scenes, lines, and themes that resonated with me. In this review, I share supplemental observations and thoughts as they pertain to the film. As far as my background, another lens that I would like to offer here regarding the film are some parallels with my research. In 2019 (Voss), I conducted an ethnographic study of Perceptions of Codas in leadership positions within the Deaf community", where I gathered perceptions of two groups: Deaf individuals and Coda individuals. While Ruby, the main character, portraying a Coda in the film, isn't necessarily a "leader in the Deaf community," there are themes in the film that I find that align with some common perceptions of Codas found in my study. My study revealed some negative perceptions of Codas, which were divided into 4 themes: Dismissive, egotistical, entitled, & paternalistic (somewhat defined later in this review). However, it's not all negative! Throughout my study, I found there were actually MORE positive perceptions of Codas than negative ones! The positive perceptions of Codas were also divided into 4 categories: "Collaborative Coda," the "communication facilitator," "DEAF-HEART", and "promoter." Thank you for joining me in this second part of my review! Let's take a look at how Ruby's behaviors and choices illustrate some of these common perceptions... Egotistical PaternalismAt first glance, it appears Ruby is simply trying to prevent her brother and family from getting ripped off. This is almost inevitable as a child language broker who has learned to navigate and resist the oppression toward her Deaf family her entire life. Her circumstances have led her to believe that she has the privilege of hearing things that her family cannot hear and to "fill in the gaps" as a communication facilitator or protect and shield them from stigma or common misunderstandings about Deaf culture and sign language. However, as you can see from Leo's reaction (Ruby's brother), he's furious with her for not providing him the space to exercise his authority, autonomy, and agency. Ruby's behaviors illustrate that she believes that she has no choice but to step in and fix things. Throughout the film, Leo exhibits disdain and frustration with the family's reliance on Ruby and how Ruby chooses to assert herself into nearly every situation. In my research, Codas and Deaf individuals described how there are instances where they have very similar experiences, where Codas have exhibited an egotistical attitude or behaviors of being "all knowing." Paternalistic behaviors or attitudes were described as having to take care of Deaf people, fostering reliance as opposed to independence, often resulting in taking over, or controlling a situation. While Ruby is attempting to be a communication facilitator, she is also illustrating some egotistical paternalism as well. What am I really saying here? I'm saying that Deaf people, just like Leo asserted, can take care of themselves! They don't need Codas to take care of them or fight their battles unless they ask us to, then we are working side by side to collaborate with them. Table Syndrome, Loneliness, & InclusionWhen Leo goes to the bar, he tells his father that he doesn't need Ruby to go with him because he can handle himself. All the guys in the bar carry on and talk as if basically as if Leo doesn't exist. They could have opted in to acknowledge his presence and include him in their conversations by gesturing, writing, or using their cell devices to type out notes. But they didn't... they excluded him. This exclusion, also known as Table Syndrome, which often occurs when Deaf people are perpetually left out of conversations. The moment I saw Leo holding his beer, watching people talk all around him, being utterly left out of the conversation, it reminded me of my father. He often experienced this growing up in a hearing family that was told, "do not sign with him, he has to learn how to read lips!" This was legitimately a doctor's words to my grandmother's ears. And as a new mother in 1945, who was she to question the doctor; she assumed he was the expert. This meant a lot of lonely days for my father, often feeling isolated, even when surrounded by people at the table, attempting to grasp conversations being exchanged, coping through avoidance, reading, or even getting angry when being told, "I'll tell you later." Gertie, Ruby's friend, and Leo's romantic interest (turned girlfriend) shows a different approach. Yes, besides the fact that she had a romantic interest in Leo, she took genuine interest in trying to communicate directly with him. She used whatever method she could, such as gesturing, smiling, and using their cell devices to acknowledge his presence and communicate. Inclusion begins with recognition of each other's humanity. However, recognition and genuine interest are only the beginning... True inclusion requires action. InclusionInclusion is defined by Google's dictionary as:
"The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups." Don't get me started on the scene where the on-boat observer calls the coast guard. If this had been reality, I would have been livid! I would have been in her face to discuss discrimination, reasonable accommodations according to the ADA, and some choice swear words for what she did! In my opinion, she displayed outright audism! However, beyond that scene, I want to pose a question for all of us.. Consider the questions and the statements shared in the above scenes... Frank Rossi asks, "Who's going to support us?" Followed by an ironic reminder that they're the Deaf guys and that the community they live in, comprised by a majority of hearing people, see them as a joke. Later in the film, when the Rossi family is entertaining the idea of starting their own business, Marlee Matlin's character, Jackie expresses, "Those hearing bitches want nothing to do with me." Whether you are hearing, a Coda, or Deaf, in what ways do you seek to provide access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized? Clearly, the Rossi family needed allies to make their business work! They needed local fisherman, they needed their community to step-up and buy from them, they needed the local TV station, and so on. How are you taking action to actually support the Deaf members of your community and their children? Throughout the scenes illustrated above, Frank, Leo, and Jackie Rossi, as the Deaf members of the community share that they don't have much faith in their hearing community members. Even Ruby illustrates some dismissive behaviors during the TV interview. In my study, dismissive behaviors of Codas were "neglectful of other's needs or input." However, in regards to Ruby, I pose a question... In the TV interview, is she being included or excluded? When hearing people rely on Codas to broker conversations, it is my opinion that this type of "inclusion" of Codas is superficial. Susan O'Reilly, a Deaf mother, from the Irish documentary Mother, Father, Deaf (2019), states, "Hearing people often wouldn't look at us as his parents...they would look at Shayne (son) or daughter...because it's easier to communicate with them. I was willing to write with them (hearing people), but they wouldn't even make eye contact with me.... Just look to the children." Shayne, Susan's son (a Coda), shares in this documentary that hearing people would often talk about his parents right in front of his parents without directly acknowledging them, where he watched them "being robbed of their authority, their integrity, and dignity." He also shares how as a child language broker, he felt that he had a part or played a role of taking away his parents' authority, integrity, and dignity. Being a child language broker (CLB) has benefits, it also has downsides. When hearing people rely on K/Codas to broker/interpret conversations, there is often a high risk of further marginalization for Deaf parents and their K/Coda children. The practice of providing access and equal opportunities requires action. Action to communicate with Deaf people and K/Codas directly! Actively seek their input regarding access, equal opportunities, and resources. Bring Deaf people and Codas to your tables at home, to your board meetings, to councils, town halls, and provide access by being willing to provide interpreters, so that K/Codas can actually participate with their families! So that's part two of my review of the newly released CODA film. However, I still have MORE thoughts to share, so if you're interested.... Keep an eye out for part 3 of my CODA film review! You can click on the subscribe button (under categories on the right column off the website), so that you are notified when the next article is released! Thank you for joining me as I explore identity, intersectionality, inequalities, and inclusion! AppleTV+ introduces CODA... |
| | "Socially Challenged" |
Politeness & Loud Music | My whole ass is vibrating! |
Codas = Negotiators | Codas ≠ Interpreters |
All people get frustrated...
This is a universal theme, at least from my experience, regardless of intersectionality, identity...we all have moments where we become frustrated and vent. One question that I often would get asked by peers who did not understand Deaf culture or my childhood, do your Deaf parents yell? Um, YES! Of course they did and still do! Just like any other parent who might be frustrated with a child or with a situation. Mine just happen to use sign language, and on some occasions their voice. Deaf, Coda, or hearing, we are all human individuals with a full range of emotions.
Have a second? | Interpreters & Vulnerability |
The only way people thought I was cool...
I lost count how many times my peers and my friends asked me how to sign some dirty word or concept. THIS IS a common theme among Codas and it is one that I still have to put up with from time to time. When people not affiliated with the Deaf community find out that my parents are Deaf, the first reaction is often pity. First off, no need for pity! I, like many other Codas, are DAMN proud of having Deaf parents...they are our family, sign language and Deaf culture are our heritage, and we celebrate the many nuances of being in a home where we navigate both hearing and Deaf culture.
After the initial pity reaction, then people often move on to the stage of curiosity... what did you do when you ran out of toilet paper in the bathroom? What if you broke a bone and screamed out for help? Do you parents drive? (UM, YES, please stop asking this question!). Do your parents read? (YES! Please also stop asking this question!). Okay, you can ask those questions... but honestly, they just make you seem completely clueless about Deaf people!
Once the initial questioning and answer session was nearly over, then my friends or peers would say, "Wait! How do you sign #&*$&^?" [insert any swear word or sexual concepts here]. And like, Ruby, I would resist, but finally I would give in because I knew that if I did, they would think I was cool and a little less socially awkward!
 My mother and I during her first Washington ferry ride last month (July 2021). | More to come! |
Exploring Inclusion & Representation:
Andrea Hall signs "I Pledge Allegiance"
This video (48 min) is my ASL translation of this article.
* Please note: this was a labor of love (over 4 hours of recording and editing this video) to authentically share my journey at this point in time. I look forward to further discussions toward peace and solidarity. Thank you for welcoming my perspective as I am still finding how to best express my thoughts and journey in both ASL and English.
* Please note: this was a labor of love (over 4 hours of recording and editing this video) to authentically share my journey at this point in time. I look forward to further discussions toward peace and solidarity. Thank you for welcoming my perspective as I am still finding how to best express my thoughts and journey in both ASL and English.
One of the goals for this blog is to create a safe space to discuss identity, intersectionality, inequality, and inclusion as they pertain to Codas. I do not have all the answers, I simply share my perspective and my own journey regarding Coda identity, intersectionality, and inclusion.
Most likely, if you know me or found your way here, you may already know what Coda means. If not, it is an acronym that was coined to discuss individuals who are nondeaf (aka: hearing) and have at least one deaf parent, more commonly known as "Child Of Deaf Adult."
While I truly wish I had been more active over the past year to post or ask others to post on this site, it was 2020, and other priorities found their way into my life. However, I feel it's critical to revive this space, as judgment, criticism, and division have continued to occur in some spaces toward Codas in the public eye. And before you read any further, I feel inclined to warn you that brevity is NOT my strong suit. This post may need to be digested in sections.
Over the past few days, I have read multiple posts, threads, and articles as they relate to Andrea Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance at Biden's Inauguration on January 20, 2021.
Why am I even bringing this up? Why am I taking time, on my birthday of all days, to write this? Some may see this as too philosophical or intellectual or even defensive because I am a Coda taking a stand and sharing my opinion. I venture to say that my opinion has merit...
Because the pursuit of love, inclusion and happiness is something worth pausing for and taking a stand for. We need to evaluate what might be some of the root causes that have led to the criticism and judgment of Codas. Being a bystander or being silent, for me, comes with too high of a cost.
First, I would like to identify and challenge some common assumptions about Codas:
Assumptions:
Before I dive into these assumptions, I want to share more about Andrea Hall...
Several news outlets such as NPR, the 19th, and others shared that Andrea Hall is a career firefighter and union leader from Fulton County, GA. According to Georgia School for the Deaf (GSD) Alumni Association, Andrea Hall is a Coda who exhibited Black ASL, which she learned from her Deaf father, a GSD alumni. Hall has a deaf cousin, who also graduated from GSD and the Alumni Association is looking forward to adding pictures of Hall's family to their display on GSD Black History. It is and was a proud moment for GSD and for many others who expressed that they shed tears of joy and pride.
Members of several communities beamed with pride as news articles, Facebook, and Instagram posts flourished, such as this one from Jermaine Williams. To be transparent, a part of me wants to share whether he is Deaf, nondeaf, or Coda, but I would rather not, because his opinion is worthy of merit regardless of his hearing status. Yet, I know if I state that he is a Deaf individual sharing his opinion, it will likely carry more merit and validity in some people's eyes:
Most likely, if you know me or found your way here, you may already know what Coda means. If not, it is an acronym that was coined to discuss individuals who are nondeaf (aka: hearing) and have at least one deaf parent, more commonly known as "Child Of Deaf Adult."
While I truly wish I had been more active over the past year to post or ask others to post on this site, it was 2020, and other priorities found their way into my life. However, I feel it's critical to revive this space, as judgment, criticism, and division have continued to occur in some spaces toward Codas in the public eye. And before you read any further, I feel inclined to warn you that brevity is NOT my strong suit. This post may need to be digested in sections.
Over the past few days, I have read multiple posts, threads, and articles as they relate to Andrea Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance at Biden's Inauguration on January 20, 2021.
Why am I even bringing this up? Why am I taking time, on my birthday of all days, to write this? Some may see this as too philosophical or intellectual or even defensive because I am a Coda taking a stand and sharing my opinion. I venture to say that my opinion has merit...
Because the pursuit of love, inclusion and happiness is something worth pausing for and taking a stand for. We need to evaluate what might be some of the root causes that have led to the criticism and judgment of Codas. Being a bystander or being silent, for me, comes with too high of a cost.
First, I would like to identify and challenge some common assumptions about Codas:
Assumptions:
- Codas are hearing individuals, aka who do not belong to the Deaf community.
- Codas do not authentically represent the Deaf community.
- ASL or signed languages only belong to Deaf, Deaf Blind, hard of hearing people.
- All Codas sign fluently.
- Codas should only sign in public if they can model "grammatical" ASL.
- All Codas are interpreters.
Before I dive into these assumptions, I want to share more about Andrea Hall...
Several news outlets such as NPR, the 19th, and others shared that Andrea Hall is a career firefighter and union leader from Fulton County, GA. According to Georgia School for the Deaf (GSD) Alumni Association, Andrea Hall is a Coda who exhibited Black ASL, which she learned from her Deaf father, a GSD alumni. Hall has a deaf cousin, who also graduated from GSD and the Alumni Association is looking forward to adding pictures of Hall's family to their display on GSD Black History. It is and was a proud moment for GSD and for many others who expressed that they shed tears of joy and pride.
Members of several communities beamed with pride as news articles, Facebook, and Instagram posts flourished, such as this one from Jermaine Williams. To be transparent, a part of me wants to share whether he is Deaf, nondeaf, or Coda, but I would rather not, because his opinion is worthy of merit regardless of his hearing status. Yet, I know if I state that he is a Deaf individual sharing his opinion, it will likely carry more merit and validity in some people's eyes:
As Jermaine mentioned, and other news sources confirmed, Hall was the first Black woman hired and assigned to a station at the City of Albany Fire Department, and later became the first Black woman to serve as fire captain at Fulton County Fire Rescue.
Captain Hall told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "I just am intending to represent, my family, the city of South Fulton, women, African-American women, firefighters, and everyone in the nation, well."
Like Jermaine, I am also extremely proud and was so happy to see Captain Hall, who is a beautiful Black woman being lifted up, someone who became a union leader in a male dominated industry, someone who was the first Black woman to serve and lead in her department....and to me, she did represent!
In an inaugural setting, Capitan Andrea Hall is the first person to ever represent a heritage language user of ASL and the Coda community, who directly expressed the Pledge of Allegiance bilingually in both ASL and English. ASL is my first language, it is a part of who I am to the core, it is my heritage, which is not often represented or honored on such platforms.
Captain Hall told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "I just am intending to represent, my family, the city of South Fulton, women, African-American women, firefighters, and everyone in the nation, well."
Like Jermaine, I am also extremely proud and was so happy to see Captain Hall, who is a beautiful Black woman being lifted up, someone who became a union leader in a male dominated industry, someone who was the first Black woman to serve and lead in her department....and to me, she did represent!
In an inaugural setting, Capitan Andrea Hall is the first person to ever represent a heritage language user of ASL and the Coda community, who directly expressed the Pledge of Allegiance bilingually in both ASL and English. ASL is my first language, it is a part of who I am to the core, it is my heritage, which is not often represented or honored on such platforms.
Mo Clark, a Coda, also shared her excitement on social media and praised for Captain Andrea Hall's Pledge. She describes Hall as a Coda "Sista, " who was "Queening" by authentically sharing in her native language and expressing it in manner to move our country forward. For many of us it was a shining moment for ASL and our communities in America.
| | An outpouring of love from all over the country (and I believe even the world) was expressed for Captain Hall's display and representation of her native language and community. Even Hall felt the love and reposted the love via her Instagram story. For many of us, this was a beautiful moment, where we saw representation of our love for our family, culture, heritage, language, and the Deaf/Coda Communities. |
A moment of transparency: as a Coda writer, I struggle with whether I should reference the Deaf and Coda community above because I know for many, such as Jermaine and so many others, Hall also represented the Deaf community during this event. Yet, since I am not personally Deaf, I cannot attest to whether she represented the Deaf community or not; some Deaf community members welcomed her representation, others did not.
Captain Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance at Biden's inauguration has seized our attention. For many individuals, it was a moment that led to tears and joy; for others, it was a moment that triggered frustration and anger. Concerns were brought up about authentic representation for Deaf people, language purity, and the possibility of language appropriation. From the responses I have read, it seems there are many layers and I could probably write a book about this, however I'm going to write for the next hour and call it a day.
The president of the World Federation of the Deaf, Dr. Joseph Murray, shared a thread of 20 comments via Twitter, where he implores his readers to consider why this event would inspire tears. I HIGHLY recommend that you read his entire thread, as he shared his perspective of what we should learn from this and what we need to be careful of (or not learn from this event). He asserted that it was not about access, since access was already being provided by ASL interpreters, closed captioning, and even cued speech via current administration via the Inauguration website. Dr. Murray suggests that when Captain Hall signed the Pledge of Allegiance, she legitimized the status of American Sign Language as a part of our national political and cultural heritage in our country.
This affirmation, recognition, and legitimization of American Sign Language shows that we no longer need to be ashamed to sign in public; it showed inclusion, human diversity, how sign language is for everyone, and recognition of Black ASL.
Captain Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance at Biden's inauguration has seized our attention. For many individuals, it was a moment that led to tears and joy; for others, it was a moment that triggered frustration and anger. Concerns were brought up about authentic representation for Deaf people, language purity, and the possibility of language appropriation. From the responses I have read, it seems there are many layers and I could probably write a book about this, however I'm going to write for the next hour and call it a day.
The president of the World Federation of the Deaf, Dr. Joseph Murray, shared a thread of 20 comments via Twitter, where he implores his readers to consider why this event would inspire tears. I HIGHLY recommend that you read his entire thread, as he shared his perspective of what we should learn from this and what we need to be careful of (or not learn from this event). He asserted that it was not about access, since access was already being provided by ASL interpreters, closed captioning, and even cued speech via current administration via the Inauguration website. Dr. Murray suggests that when Captain Hall signed the Pledge of Allegiance, she legitimized the status of American Sign Language as a part of our national political and cultural heritage in our country.
This affirmation, recognition, and legitimization of American Sign Language shows that we no longer need to be ashamed to sign in public; it showed inclusion, human diversity, how sign language is for everyone, and recognition of Black ASL.
Cpt Hall's #PledgeofAllegiance in #AmericanSignLanguage on #InaugurationDay has rightfully seized our attention. In this thread, I want to analyse where this came from, what we can learn from it, and what we should NOT learn from it. Read more on this longish THREAD 1/20 pic.twitter.com/TJyPNPkhX8
— Joseph Murray (@drjosephjmurray) January 22, 2021
Black ASL....
I also want to take a pause here to discuss the recognition and erasure of Black ASL.
One of the poignant criticisms of Captain Hall's delivery of The Pledge of Allegiance in sign language was that she did not sign "proper" or "pure" American Sign Language. On ASL That, a Facebook group of over 80,000 members, where over 4,000 members reacted with likes, love, or care emojis for Hall's recitement of the Pledge in ASL. There were over a thousand shares from this post and over 800 comments. Several members remarked how beautiful it was to see, others began to assess her fluency, criticized her use of white gloves, or analyze specific signs and even labeling some of her sign choices as "wrong." This implied that there is only one proper way to sign something in ASL, this is known as language policing.
Dr. Murray also speaks to this in his Twitter thread and mentions, "The Hidden Treasure of Black ASL." One thing to consider is that Andrea Hall learned ASL from her Deaf father, Russell "Bubba" Williams, who attended a segregated Deaf school in the 1960s. Murray isn't the first one to discuss the recognition of Black ASL.
The concepts of being "hidden" or "recognized" also go hand-in-hand with erasure. David Player, a Black Deaf man who speaks to "The Power of White Gaze and the Erasure of Black Signers" shares his personal experience on how Black Deaf Americans have been oppressed and speaks to how white Deaf people are not the only ones who have contributed (even if unintentionally), but that white nondeaf signers and interpreters have also contributed to this erasure of Black signers.
Below, Cecely Boga, a Black Deaf woman shares her experience and reaction to Captain Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance. She declares that Black ASL is a language, and criticism or negativity toward Captain Hall's use of ASL or Black ASL is not appropriate or acceptable.
One of the poignant criticisms of Captain Hall's delivery of The Pledge of Allegiance in sign language was that she did not sign "proper" or "pure" American Sign Language. On ASL That, a Facebook group of over 80,000 members, where over 4,000 members reacted with likes, love, or care emojis for Hall's recitement of the Pledge in ASL. There were over a thousand shares from this post and over 800 comments. Several members remarked how beautiful it was to see, others began to assess her fluency, criticized her use of white gloves, or analyze specific signs and even labeling some of her sign choices as "wrong." This implied that there is only one proper way to sign something in ASL, this is known as language policing.
Dr. Murray also speaks to this in his Twitter thread and mentions, "The Hidden Treasure of Black ASL." One thing to consider is that Andrea Hall learned ASL from her Deaf father, Russell "Bubba" Williams, who attended a segregated Deaf school in the 1960s. Murray isn't the first one to discuss the recognition of Black ASL.
The concepts of being "hidden" or "recognized" also go hand-in-hand with erasure. David Player, a Black Deaf man who speaks to "The Power of White Gaze and the Erasure of Black Signers" shares his personal experience on how Black Deaf Americans have been oppressed and speaks to how white Deaf people are not the only ones who have contributed (even if unintentionally), but that white nondeaf signers and interpreters have also contributed to this erasure of Black signers.
Below, Cecely Boga, a Black Deaf woman shares her experience and reaction to Captain Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance. She declares that Black ASL is a language, and criticism or negativity toward Captain Hall's use of ASL or Black ASL is not appropriate or acceptable.
Codas, this past week, also joined in on this online discussion, such as Dr. Jeffrey Levi Palmer, who asserted that language policing is a tool used to further white supremacy and classism.
Assumptions about Codas: Representation & Ownership
Previously, I mentioned an assumption that Codas should only sign in public if they can model "grammatical" ASL. Not all Deaf parents are fluent in "grammatical" ASL as defined by white washing and erasure as David Player mentions. One of the most frequent concerns that I have read over the past three days is that Codas are not representative or owners of sign language.
However, others would assert differently...
Sarah Hafer, a Certified Deaf interpreter and heritage language user of ASL, presented at Street Leverage in 2017 in St. Paul Minnesota. Here's a direct link to her presentation regarding interpreters in the Deaf community and recognizing their place in the Deaf community.
In this presentation, Hafer shares a pre-recorded video of Swanhilda Lily, where she clarifies the differences between culture and heritage. Her quote below was translated and taken from Street Leverage's website:
"A culture is defined as a community of people sharing a common language and set of values. With specific reference to the Deaf community, the culture is made up of individuals having a so-called “audiological impairment” as perceived by those in the hearing-centric world at large.
In contrast, heritage refers to the intergenerational passing down of a particular culture. In the Deaf World, Deaf individuals with Deaf parents and [C]odas (individuals who can hear with Deaf parents) are the heritage speakers of ASL and owners of Deaf culture. Together, the members of these two groups (culture and heritage) constitute the owners of the culture."
Some may argue that a language cannot be owned. Consider the commonalities and intersections of culture. A culture that has historically been passed down in the Deaf world, where Deaf individuals with Deaf parents and Deaf parents of Codas share certain behaviors, values and beliefs, including, but not always, sign language. This brings me back to the assumptions that I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
Assumptions about Codas...
Assumptions:
With his permission, Adrian Bailey, a British Coda who is the current president of CODA International, shares his personal perspective which is his own and not representative of his position with CODA International:
" With regard to Andrea Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance...
Here is my personal position on this issue. Not something I share every day, but on this occasion of unity and on a day when the country that leads the free world is making its first step after the most significant test of its existence, I figure I’ll make an exception.
We need to make clarifying distinctions between the intersections of being [C]oda and of signing. Sign languages are not a given for all deaf people (though they should be) and are not a given for all Codas (though they should be). It should not be controversial that people whose first language, or home language, is a signed language chooses to use that language in private or in public. Sign languages go beyond functionality and access. They have cultures and histories and powers of their own.
While exposure to those languages and that language modality often converges with experience of and close contact with deaf people, that is not guaranteed. Many of our [C]oda brothers and sisters do not sign. Many of their parents do not sign. We still share powerful stories and experiences with them. They are our family.
This Coda signs. She is clearly a heritage signer who had a position and a platform to show the world her heritage and was at once soaring and grounded. To attempt to clip her wings is to perpetuate the most pernicious prejudice and to prolong the real healing that needs to happen within and across our communities."
However, others would assert differently...
Sarah Hafer, a Certified Deaf interpreter and heritage language user of ASL, presented at Street Leverage in 2017 in St. Paul Minnesota. Here's a direct link to her presentation regarding interpreters in the Deaf community and recognizing their place in the Deaf community.
In this presentation, Hafer shares a pre-recorded video of Swanhilda Lily, where she clarifies the differences between culture and heritage. Her quote below was translated and taken from Street Leverage's website:
"A culture is defined as a community of people sharing a common language and set of values. With specific reference to the Deaf community, the culture is made up of individuals having a so-called “audiological impairment” as perceived by those in the hearing-centric world at large.
In contrast, heritage refers to the intergenerational passing down of a particular culture. In the Deaf World, Deaf individuals with Deaf parents and [C]odas (individuals who can hear with Deaf parents) are the heritage speakers of ASL and owners of Deaf culture. Together, the members of these two groups (culture and heritage) constitute the owners of the culture."
Some may argue that a language cannot be owned. Consider the commonalities and intersections of culture. A culture that has historically been passed down in the Deaf world, where Deaf individuals with Deaf parents and Deaf parents of Codas share certain behaviors, values and beliefs, including, but not always, sign language. This brings me back to the assumptions that I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
Assumptions about Codas...
Assumptions:
- Codas are hearing individuals, aka who do not belong to the Deaf community.
- Codas do not authentically represent the Deaf community.
- My truth: Codas are hearing individuals, yet they are hearing individuals who have at least one Deaf parent, which makes us a heritage member of the Deaf community.
- ASL or signed languages only belong to Deaf, Deaf Blind, hard of hearing people.
- My truth: Codas are heritage language users of signed languages and therefore, I own ASL as my native language, my home language, often known amongst Codas as our heart language. It is often how we communicate with our parents, our family, and community.
- All Codas sign fluently.
- My truth: For the Deaf parents who have sign language fluency, those who do sign to their children may also be told by medical or educational professionals NOT to sign with their children for fear that it will prevent their English acquisition. This is language deprivation for Codas. This, amongst many other factors, impacts fluency of sign language, including the fact that dominant society utilizes the dominant language, English, to instruct all children regardless of their native or heritage language.
With his permission, Adrian Bailey, a British Coda who is the current president of CODA International, shares his personal perspective which is his own and not representative of his position with CODA International:
" With regard to Andrea Hall signing the Pledge of Allegiance...
Here is my personal position on this issue. Not something I share every day, but on this occasion of unity and on a day when the country that leads the free world is making its first step after the most significant test of its existence, I figure I’ll make an exception.
We need to make clarifying distinctions between the intersections of being [C]oda and of signing. Sign languages are not a given for all deaf people (though they should be) and are not a given for all Codas (though they should be). It should not be controversial that people whose first language, or home language, is a signed language chooses to use that language in private or in public. Sign languages go beyond functionality and access. They have cultures and histories and powers of their own.
While exposure to those languages and that language modality often converges with experience of and close contact with deaf people, that is not guaranteed. Many of our [C]oda brothers and sisters do not sign. Many of their parents do not sign. We still share powerful stories and experiences with them. They are our family.
This Coda signs. She is clearly a heritage signer who had a position and a platform to show the world her heritage and was at once soaring and grounded. To attempt to clip her wings is to perpetuate the most pernicious prejudice and to prolong the real healing that needs to happen within and across our communities."
Real Healing? Intersections & Solidarity...
Codas and Deaf people have completely different lived experiences. And yet, we have intersections that overlap as Deaf parents are the ones who give birth to and raise K/Codas.
Several Codas have also spoken about the issue of belonging and how we live on the border of two communities, the Deaf AND nondeaf communities. Codas are not hearing people who learned ASL because they thought it was cool or because they wanted to profit off of it, especially in the case of Captain Andrea Hall sharing the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language.
Codas embody resistance against eugenics. Some of them are fluent in sign language, some are not. If they sign, it is often because it is the heritage language they used during their formative years, without formal education, to communicate with their parents. Some of us sign in our sleep, some of us sign concerts to our parents, and some of us sign to dedicate public ceremonies by signing for our parents.
While there are several assumptions that I have mentioned, there is one more I want to explore in regards to Captain Hall's rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance...
With the permission from the author, Sara Pierce, I share another Coda's perspective regarding this assumption:
"In 1976, Louise Fletcher won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her Deaf mother and father using ASL. She didn't do that to show off her interpreting skills. She did it because she was a Child of Deaf Parents and proud of her heritage, and she wanted to include her parents as they watched her on that stage. Was it perfect ASL? No. She was nervous and emotional. But she signed her acceptance because she wanted to include her love for her Deaf family. At that time, Deaf and hearing alike were so impressed by this moment. No one thought to scrutinize her signing skills. She was a movie actress, not an interpreter. And it made all of us proud that she recognized that wonderful C[oda] aspect that helped her get where she was.
Now it's 2021. Andrea Hall, Black female Firefighter, who happens to be a C[oda], is chosen to say the Pledge of Allegiance at Biden's inauguration ceremony. She gets on stage in full uniform to represent the firefighters of Fulton, GA, and she chooses also to sign as she speaks the Pledge, because she is proud of her heritage as the Child of Deaf Parents. My eyes welled up with tears because I could feel that pride.
However, there are some haters out there who chose to chide her for wearing gloves (full dress uniforms can't be altered), and for her choice of signs. Seriously??? Was she asked to sign the Pledge? No. Is she an interpreter? No. Was she taking advantage of the Deaf community by getting paid extra for signing? No. Did you miss the part where she is Black, female, and working as a First Responder? That's her job. That's who she was representing. And the fact that she simply wanted to include her parents is just icing on a very beautiful cake.
Please don't mess with a moment. Let's have that moment and be content."
We are in a unique time of history, where recognition of sign language is happening front and center during one of the most sacred political events in American democracy. Regardless of your initial reaction, we have the opportunity to pursue a deeper understanding of each other. To move toward real healing by seeking understanding, solidarity, and inclusion. It's a time to celebrate and consider what each of us can do, to engage in discussion, and to take action toward peace with ourselves and others.
As I look ahead, I have much hope for our communities... ASL and signed languages are for us! I look forward to future discussions regarding topics such as privilege, language deprivation, and so on.
I am excited as I see individuals, organizations, and spaces in social media creating bridges, coalitions, welcoming inclusion, and seeking peace in our country and our world. 2020, you'll go down in history... 2021, I see much light and love already....
Thank you Captain Hall for giving many of us a chance to explore our identities, show our pride, and show our support for the America we want to see.
Several Codas have also spoken about the issue of belonging and how we live on the border of two communities, the Deaf AND nondeaf communities. Codas are not hearing people who learned ASL because they thought it was cool or because they wanted to profit off of it, especially in the case of Captain Andrea Hall sharing the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language.
Codas embody resistance against eugenics. Some of them are fluent in sign language, some are not. If they sign, it is often because it is the heritage language they used during their formative years, without formal education, to communicate with their parents. Some of us sign in our sleep, some of us sign concerts to our parents, and some of us sign to dedicate public ceremonies by signing for our parents.
While there are several assumptions that I have mentioned, there is one more I want to explore in regards to Captain Hall's rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance...
- All Codas are interpreters
With the permission from the author, Sara Pierce, I share another Coda's perspective regarding this assumption:
"In 1976, Louise Fletcher won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her Deaf mother and father using ASL. She didn't do that to show off her interpreting skills. She did it because she was a Child of Deaf Parents and proud of her heritage, and she wanted to include her parents as they watched her on that stage. Was it perfect ASL? No. She was nervous and emotional. But she signed her acceptance because she wanted to include her love for her Deaf family. At that time, Deaf and hearing alike were so impressed by this moment. No one thought to scrutinize her signing skills. She was a movie actress, not an interpreter. And it made all of us proud that she recognized that wonderful C[oda] aspect that helped her get where she was.
Now it's 2021. Andrea Hall, Black female Firefighter, who happens to be a C[oda], is chosen to say the Pledge of Allegiance at Biden's inauguration ceremony. She gets on stage in full uniform to represent the firefighters of Fulton, GA, and she chooses also to sign as she speaks the Pledge, because she is proud of her heritage as the Child of Deaf Parents. My eyes welled up with tears because I could feel that pride.
However, there are some haters out there who chose to chide her for wearing gloves (full dress uniforms can't be altered), and for her choice of signs. Seriously??? Was she asked to sign the Pledge? No. Is she an interpreter? No. Was she taking advantage of the Deaf community by getting paid extra for signing? No. Did you miss the part where she is Black, female, and working as a First Responder? That's her job. That's who she was representing. And the fact that she simply wanted to include her parents is just icing on a very beautiful cake.
Please don't mess with a moment. Let's have that moment and be content."
We are in a unique time of history, where recognition of sign language is happening front and center during one of the most sacred political events in American democracy. Regardless of your initial reaction, we have the opportunity to pursue a deeper understanding of each other. To move toward real healing by seeking understanding, solidarity, and inclusion. It's a time to celebrate and consider what each of us can do, to engage in discussion, and to take action toward peace with ourselves and others.
As I look ahead, I have much hope for our communities... ASL and signed languages are for us! I look forward to future discussions regarding topics such as privilege, language deprivation, and so on.
I am excited as I see individuals, organizations, and spaces in social media creating bridges, coalitions, welcoming inclusion, and seeking peace in our country and our world. 2020, you'll go down in history... 2021, I see much light and love already....
Thank you Captain Hall for giving many of us a chance to explore our identities, show our pride, and show our support for the America we want to see.
Author: Rosalinda Clifford signing " I support America, America I support!"
**ASL sign for America Etymology: 1) Origins of the interlocking fingers that sway in a circular fashion represent people in unity 2) Others believe it represents a cabin.
Seeking unity in our beautiful country and world! Always seeking and learning. A special shout out to all of those who have bravely shared your journey publicly over the past few days. Thank you!
Author is a white Coda cisgender woman, of Jewish, Italian, and German decent with a Brazilian immigrant Deaf mother. Author is also looking for fellow authors interested in sharing their Coda experiences and journey toward understanding identity, intersectionality, inequality, and inclusion.
**ASL sign for America Etymology: 1) Origins of the interlocking fingers that sway in a circular fashion represent people in unity 2) Others believe it represents a cabin.
Seeking unity in our beautiful country and world! Always seeking and learning. A special shout out to all of those who have bravely shared your journey publicly over the past few days. Thank you!
Author is a white Coda cisgender woman, of Jewish, Italian, and German decent with a Brazilian immigrant Deaf mother. Author is also looking for fellow authors interested in sharing their Coda experiences and journey toward understanding identity, intersectionality, inequality, and inclusion.
Click here for a transcript in English
Practicing Gratefulness? The Sky's the Limit!
Just as Codas are vastly different, journaling can look different for everyone!
My personal goal is to list 10 things I'm grateful for on a daily basis. It typically takes me between 5-15 minutes a day. However, just as seen in the example below, when it comes to journaling and practicing gratefulness, the sky's the limit! Just search "Gratefulness" online and you'll find endless examples and inspiring quotes.
Wishing you all health and strength through this time!
While I very much miss socializing during this time, I'm grateful for the many memories of times together with family, friends, and my Coda flammy!
My personal goal is to list 10 things I'm grateful for on a daily basis. It typically takes me between 5-15 minutes a day. However, just as seen in the example below, when it comes to journaling and practicing gratefulness, the sky's the limit! Just search "Gratefulness" online and you'll find endless examples and inspiring quotes.
Wishing you all health and strength through this time!
While I very much miss socializing during this time, I'm grateful for the many memories of times together with family, friends, and my Coda flammy!
My roots are mother father deaf.
They are intertwined with history, stories, oppression, barriers and rich language. They are a gift that bonds me with individuals around the world who share my “otherness.” My roots are my hands-up language, my long Sundays at church that inevitably turned into midnight potlucks, the facial expressions I can never hide even if I tried. They are all the grunts & giggles that I love to hear and mirror. My roots are the core of who I am & where I come from.
My trunk is the generation before me.
The ones who bore burdens before legal intervention. Before the internet and before social media. This generation helped build me, I hope they know that I am grateful. I know they wear scars that I don’t see. Some of them were peers among my parents, who saw things I will never know, who walked with my parents in the lowest of lows. My trunk is the steady confidence that I am not alone.
My branches are like me.
90’s & millenia babes who were born into a richness we may never fully grasp. My branches are mostly like me, craving to hold close what I know means the world, while the world tries to tell me otherwise. My otherness is not understood by many, but it is understood by you. Some are big and some are small. Some are only now understanding what this coda world is all about, some are coming back after some time away and some have stayed through it all. Some are like me, desperate to never forget the feeling in my soul when my hands move silently, my face wildly and my heart loudly.
My twigs are the pokes and progress I have yet to process.
My twigs are the reminders that I have fine tuning to do and that there is room for growth. Even though it can be a little painful, there is a purpose. The healing and fruition is coming, even if at times, I can’t remember.
My leaves are the culmination of the beauty that is me & you.
Dark to light and all the shades in between. All beautiful and valuable. The colors of my leaves are the different nations that come together as one. All our growth spurred from pain and beauty. The colors of my leaves are the different colors of you.
For you see, that is you, and that is me. We. Are. Tree.
They are intertwined with history, stories, oppression, barriers and rich language. They are a gift that bonds me with individuals around the world who share my “otherness.” My roots are my hands-up language, my long Sundays at church that inevitably turned into midnight potlucks, the facial expressions I can never hide even if I tried. They are all the grunts & giggles that I love to hear and mirror. My roots are the core of who I am & where I come from.
My trunk is the generation before me.
The ones who bore burdens before legal intervention. Before the internet and before social media. This generation helped build me, I hope they know that I am grateful. I know they wear scars that I don’t see. Some of them were peers among my parents, who saw things I will never know, who walked with my parents in the lowest of lows. My trunk is the steady confidence that I am not alone.
My branches are like me.
90’s & millenia babes who were born into a richness we may never fully grasp. My branches are mostly like me, craving to hold close what I know means the world, while the world tries to tell me otherwise. My otherness is not understood by many, but it is understood by you. Some are big and some are small. Some are only now understanding what this coda world is all about, some are coming back after some time away and some have stayed through it all. Some are like me, desperate to never forget the feeling in my soul when my hands move silently, my face wildly and my heart loudly.
My twigs are the pokes and progress I have yet to process.
My twigs are the reminders that I have fine tuning to do and that there is room for growth. Even though it can be a little painful, there is a purpose. The healing and fruition is coming, even if at times, I can’t remember.
My leaves are the culmination of the beauty that is me & you.
Dark to light and all the shades in between. All beautiful and valuable. The colors of my leaves are the different nations that come together as one. All our growth spurred from pain and beauty. The colors of my leaves are the different colors of you.
For you see, that is you, and that is me. We. Are. Tree.
Did you know that there is an public Facebook page that offers resources, stories, and panels about and from Codas? One such group is CODAdet! Click here to check it out!
With permission from Jaymes Pomare and Petey Peters, I am reposting the most recent post from CODAdet to highlight this incredible page and an example of what it means to be a Coda.
According Jaymes' post:
Petey Peters is from Washington D.C.; Major: Communication/Linguistics; Career Goal: Interpreter; Middle child of 3 children -only signing child in family; Fun fact: Didn't find out about Coda till age 32; Hobbies: traveling.
Check out his story below:
With permission from Jaymes Pomare and Petey Peters, I am reposting the most recent post from CODAdet to highlight this incredible page and an example of what it means to be a Coda.
According Jaymes' post:
Petey Peters is from Washington D.C.; Major: Communication/Linguistics; Career Goal: Interpreter; Middle child of 3 children -only signing child in family; Fun fact: Didn't find out about Coda till age 32; Hobbies: traveling.
Check out his story below:
Thank you Petey for sharing your story!
One of the resources shared on the CODAdet Facebook page is an Infographic created by Jeffrey Levi Palmer (2016).
While it is a couple of years old, I thought as we explore Coda stories and experiences, looking at the statistics below can also inform our awareness for Codas here in the U.S.. I hope to see more stories, research, and statistics worldwide to learn more about what it means to be a child of a deaf adult/s.
PDF: http://tinyurl.com/US-Codas
One of the resources shared on the CODAdet Facebook page is an Infographic created by Jeffrey Levi Palmer (2016).
While it is a couple of years old, I thought as we explore Coda stories and experiences, looking at the statistics below can also inform our awareness for Codas here in the U.S.. I hope to see more stories, research, and statistics worldwide to learn more about what it means to be a child of a deaf adult/s.
PDF: http://tinyurl.com/US-Codas
[Image description for a infographic in pastel green, pink, blue and green about Children of Deaf Adults (Codas) in the United States: a green banner is centrally placed and reads in all capital letters: Children of Deaf Adults. In the upper left are two circles that are formed by twenty person icons each. On the left nineteen of the person icons are in slate gray and the remaining one icon is in a lighter gray, the text below reads in the United states ninety-five percent of children born to Deaf parents are Codas, on the right, only one person icon is in slate gray and the remaining nineteen are in light gray, the text below reads five percent of children are born to Deaf parents are Deaf. Below the person icon circles are a set of numbers in large print that read one hundred thirty-three thousand to one hundred eighty-eight thousand five hundred followed by text that reads the estimated number of Codas living in the United States. In the bottom left corner of the infographic is the silhouette of a mother, father and daughter that run off the page above their knees. From head to toe the mother is pink gradating from dark to light. The father is in purple and similarly gradates from dark to light. The daughter, who is standing in-between and in front of the two, is in green and gradates from dark to light. On the daughter’s chest is a heart that is half pink and half purple. On the right-hand side of the infographic is a large blue box with the text Codas are Heritage Signers. The word heritage signer is prominent as it is in a cursive font. Below the text is a table with two columns Deaf of Deaf and Coda. In the first row it contains the text home language. In the cell to the right, for Deaf of Deaf, it reads ASL. In the next cell to the right, for Coda, it also reads ASL. In the second row it contains the text school language. For Deaf of Deaf it reads ASL and written English but for Coda it reads English. In the third row it contains the text language settings. For Deaf of Deaf it reads unlimited and for Coda it reads limited. In the fourth row it contains the text proficiency level. For Deaf of Deaf it reads less variable and for Codas it reads highly variable. To the right of the table is a outlined image of a human face, neck and brain. The brain is separated into two parts, the upper portion is in white and is labelled spoken languages, the bottom portion is in blue and is labelled sign language. Below the image is text that reads Codas are bimodal bilingual. The word bimodal bilingual is in bold purple text. In the bottom right of infographic are two final images. To the left is a map of the United States with the states of New York, Ohio, Wisconsin and California highlight. The text below reads five, the number of Koda-only summer camps in the US. Followed by smaller text that reads three more camps are available for Deaf and Kodas. The image on the right is a tree with varying shades of blue leaves. In bold green print is the year nineteen eighty six followed by the text year of the first CODA International conference in Fremont California. In the lower right-hand corner of the inform graphic is very small print is the text created by Jeffrey Levi Palmer [email protected].]
As Brene Brown shares, embracing vulnerability and owning our stories is risky, yet it comes with the incredible rewards that come with embracing love, belonging, and joy.
This space is where Codas can bravely embrace and own their narratives to discover the power of identity and inclusion, as well as explore the darkness of intersectionality and inequity to find paths toward love and liberation for all members of our community.
Earlier this year, during my research on perceptions of Codas, many of the participants expressed a desire for more open discussion on what it means to be a Coda. From identity to how Codas may have intersectional experiences, we seek to explore various topics, such as looking at the impact of inequity and overlapping oppressions that Codas may face. Additional topics will explore collaboration, inclusion, solidarity, and restorative justice. Not sure what these terms mean? Keep an eye out for future VLOGs/BLOGs in the future!
This website is to foster a space to explore the four I's (identity, intersectionality, inequality, and inclusion) and embracing wholeness. A fishbowl approach will be utilized, where Codas can share individually or in groups such as a panel discussion to explore these topics.
Please note: this is a living project and I am not perfect. The people sharing on this website are not perfect, we are offering awareness and suggestions regarding paths for exploration. This is a space where Codas and others share their personal exploration and express their heritage and culture.
As we do this in this space, please note that all comments will be screened prior to being published to ensure all comments are respectful, considerate, open-minded, where we seek to embrace wholeness and collaboration.
If you would like to submit a VLOG to share your story of what it means to be a Coda, send an email at [email protected]. Lastly, if you have questions or have a topic you would like to see discussed in this space, please send your questions or topics to that email as well.
Cheers to bravery, vulnerability, and owning our stories as we seek to explore both the darkness and the infinite power of our light!
This space is where Codas can bravely embrace and own their narratives to discover the power of identity and inclusion, as well as explore the darkness of intersectionality and inequity to find paths toward love and liberation for all members of our community.
Earlier this year, during my research on perceptions of Codas, many of the participants expressed a desire for more open discussion on what it means to be a Coda. From identity to how Codas may have intersectional experiences, we seek to explore various topics, such as looking at the impact of inequity and overlapping oppressions that Codas may face. Additional topics will explore collaboration, inclusion, solidarity, and restorative justice. Not sure what these terms mean? Keep an eye out for future VLOGs/BLOGs in the future!
This website is to foster a space to explore the four I's (identity, intersectionality, inequality, and inclusion) and embracing wholeness. A fishbowl approach will be utilized, where Codas can share individually or in groups such as a panel discussion to explore these topics.
Please note: this is a living project and I am not perfect. The people sharing on this website are not perfect, we are offering awareness and suggestions regarding paths for exploration. This is a space where Codas and others share their personal exploration and express their heritage and culture.
As we do this in this space, please note that all comments will be screened prior to being published to ensure all comments are respectful, considerate, open-minded, where we seek to embrace wholeness and collaboration.
If you would like to submit a VLOG to share your story of what it means to be a Coda, send an email at [email protected]. Lastly, if you have questions or have a topic you would like to see discussed in this space, please send your questions or topics to that email as well.
Cheers to bravery, vulnerability, and owning our stories as we seek to explore both the darkness and the infinite power of our light!
Purpose
This page is dedicated to sharing experiences and reclaiming what it means to be a hearing person with at least one Deaf parent, where a fishbowl approach is used to create a safe space.
Goals
Solidarity
Peace with self
Peace with others
Wholeness
Explore the 4 I's:
Exploring Identity
Exploring Intersectionality
Explore Inequality
Explore Inclusion
Archives
August 2021
January 2021
October 2020
November 2019
October 2019
Categories
