On Global Deaf Communities
Sonshiner Spotlight: Emma DeCaro
“Nothing about us without us” – a slogan from the 1500s that made its way into Deaf and disability activism in the 1990s. This is a concept that still holds importance today globally and is also a driving factor behind Sonshine’s core value of Deaf input. My name is Emma DeCaro, and I have been a project manager and interpreter with Sonshine since 2017. I took a brief hiatus to earn an International Development M.A. degree at Gallaudet University, which took me to Jordan during my final semester and led to an opportunity to work with the Deaf Kurdish community in northern Iraq upon graduation (DeCaro 2024).
From collaborating with Deaf communities across the Middle East, and recently meeting with dozens of Deaf leaders along the voyage path during Semester at Sea, I have been reminded why the theme of ‘nothing about us without us’ remains critically important and some other key takeaways–
1. Going the extra mile for accessibility (i.e., interpreters, image descriptions, high-contrast presentations) may seem long, but it is always worth it.
2. Language deprivation is a reality for Deaf communities worldwide. It can be prevented through early access to a local community’s sign language and Deaf language mentors.
3. Involve the local community in decision-making processes for projects that impact them, instead of assuming ‘we’ have all the answers. Become comfortable with ‘not knowing’ and considering others outside your immediate circle of influence. Cross-cultural exchange is invaluable.
We all have a role in engaging and learning from global Deaf communities – the first step is awareness. I love that Gather25 (hosted by the team behind IF:Gathering) is also committed to accessibility, language access, community involvement, and reaching countless people groups worldwide.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to see this event evolve into what was a history-making weekend February 28 to March 1. To learn more, check out https://www.gather25.com/.
Emma DeCaro
