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What is DECLARE?
DECLARE is a Deaf-led community of practice dedicated to strengthening our shared movement to create a new future for deaf babies: a world in which all deaf children access sign languages and deaf communities, cultures, and education they need from birth.
DECLARE builds on and amplifies the work of existing efforts like REAL, the Beacon Center, LEAD-K, and many other federal, state, community, and international efforts to create systemic change in the conditions that shape deaf children’s lives. DECLARE is a space for leaders of key initiatives to come together with deaf communities to build “connective tissue” across our movement: break down silos, share knowledge, learn together, and build solidarity and collective power to change systems that affect deaf children.
Who is DECLARE for?
DECLARE is for anyone who shares an interest and dedication to building a future in which language deprivation is no more, and who wants to share their experiences and learn from others in the movement.
DECLARE convenes leaders and communities through community events that aim to connect the various parts of the movement and make our diverse perspectives and experiences visible: advocates, educators, creators, service providers, researchers, community members, and leaders of initiatives aiming to build change in key systems, from legislation to medical systems, education, family resources, and mentorship, to awareness campaigning and deaf representation.
What has DECLARE done so far?
On March 4, 2024, DECLARE held an initial convening at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, to strengthen relationships across the movement and create a shared baseline for how we talk about and act to prevent language deprivation. The event brought together deaf leaders from across our ecosystem to shared what we are seeing on the ground, what’s working, where systems are failing families, and what future we are trying to build for Deaf babies.
Since that convening, the group has continued to meet several times per year to share experiences, learn from one another, and build the “connective tissue” needed to reduce silos and build alignment.
Now what?
The DECLARE Summit in 2026 opens these conversations to the wider community of people who connect with early language learning, from medical professionals, to educators, to creators and storytellers, to families with lived experiences the whole community needs to learn from.
Join us to learn from people across this movement, share your experience, and discover more about how you can take action.
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