Community Organizing & Activism

One thing that has stuck with me is the fact that not every state requires certification for ASL Interpreters. Because of that, school districts within those states can decide if they want to provide interpreters to their Deaf students and what level of ASL proficiency those interpreters have. Meaning, anyone who knows any amount of ASL can apply for those jobs and may get them because it will save the school district money and they may see it as “better than nothing”. This has always sat wrong with me because it can have a major impact on the education that child is receiving. I have heard first hand accounts of children being behind their peers because their families didn’t bother to learn ASL while also putting them in a mainstream school in one of these states. So now the child has to learn ASL at ages 6+ instead of focusing on what all of the other kids get to learn in school at that age. 

I think organizing a march or rally is always a good idea because it draws attention and causes a ruckus. However, in this situation, you can also start a petition and write directly to these school districts to demand that change be implemented for the kids. Interpreters and teachers can do this, but it would be most effective if the families of the Deaf children also partook in demanding higher standards for their kids. They deserve the right to certified and qualified interpreters, and they deserve the same education hearing kids freely recieve.

I chose to research the Robert G Sanderson community center for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing. I did this by utilizing the Utah Deaf History website, which had an article about them. Their mission was and is to provide a gathering place for the Deaf community in Utah. Prior to its existence, there wasn’t one which meant that said Deaf community had to “beg for time and space”, often renting out places that weren’t preferable when it came to large gatherings. Many other places had Deaf club’s by this time, but Utah was lacking. So from this idea came the Sanderson Center. 

While this was the original idea behind it, they provide aid to societal issues Deaf people face such as lack of resources. I think they contribute a lot to community organizing and activism. Community members are able to seek help with technology, finding a job, identifying services and resources needed, and access to a myriad of classes. The center also manages the state certification test and ensures interpreters are qualified. 

I have volunteered for and attended a handful of events at the Sanderson Center, but would definitely like to further my experience with them. I always learn a lot and have great interactions with new people I hadn’t yet met! I would love to find more opportunities to volunteer in events they may host in the future such as Thanksgiving or the Sego Lily Gala.