Citizen: An active participant in the life of American duties ~ LTS

What does citizenship look like in relation to service with the Deaf community?

I believe citizenship in relation to working with the Deaf community involves being aware of the issues that face the Deaf community and caring enough to do something about it. It is recognizing that as a citizen, you have a responsibility to assist in the betterment of other communities because everyone matters. It is important that we increase our civic capacity by practicing how we apply our experiences and knowledge to problems impacting the Deaf community.

Citizenship, for me, has looked like raising awareness of Deaf History Month, supporting Deaf activists, learning more about discrimination against the Deaf community, and getting other people to make items for Deaf children.

Community Accountability: Consists of leadership, proactive responses, and effective communication

What does community accountability look like at our sites?

Community accountability is about taking ownership of how you interact with members of the Deaf community. For me, it looks like practicing my expressive and receptive skills at home so I can communicate more effectively with the Deaf teachers at the school. It looks like taking a leadership role during activities and being someone that the children can look to for help and questions. It looks like taking time to slow down and really pay attention when the children are signing, so I can better understand what they want.