online deaf+ community expands and inspires

submitted by madison gonzalez
edited by sarina e. guerra

Although the term Deaf+ isn’t widely known, it represents a unique community of individuals who are Deaf and also live with blindness, Cerebral Palsy (CP), or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While being Deaf is often seen as simply a lack of hearing, in my eight or so years of experience working with and advocating for Deaf+ individuals, I’ve learned that it’s actually more of an identity with its own culture, history, and language.

My personal involvement with the Deaf community started in high school when I began learning American Sign Language (ASL). Looking back, I can see that it was God working in my life because I only took ASL to avoid failing Spanish—again! But I picked it up quickly, and my passion grew into something much more. Some of my closest friends are Deaf, and I even enjoy attending Deaf socials. What started as a requirement for my interpreting program (which I graduated from two years ago) became something I truly love.

A defining moment in Deaf culture for me was watching Nyle DiMarco on America’s Next Top Model.

It might sound silly, but I was rooting for him from the start. What stood out was that this wasn’t a documentary or an educational segment—this was a mainstream show that happened to feature a Deaf contestant. Millions of people were exposed to Deaf culture just by watching their regular entertainment. That’s what equal access looks like. Awareness is the first step to real change, and I work every day to help balance those scales.

For those who are Deaf+, the added complexities make finding accessible resources and day-to-day support a major challenge. Advocacy especially is something we see a high need for in this community, and too often I see these individuals being dismissed due to assumptions about their limitations. Everyone has limits, yet when it comes to people with disabilities, these limits are often seen as something negative and separate instead of just part of the broader human experience. Generally, Deaf+ people are expected to prove their worth, as if they need to earn their place in society. But their goals in life are the same as mine and probably yours—getting a job they enjoy, taking a class, learning to cook, moving to a new apartment, building lasting friendships, and maybe adopting a cat or two. They are important for the same reason you and I are—

Deaf+ people are everywhere contributing to their communities in ways big and small.

When it comes to issues of accessibility, a major focus of mine, one memory of a client in need of assistance sticks out to me. This woman in particular was being taken advantage of by her landlord. She wasn’t being heard—literally! So I stepped in to ensure her words carried the weight they deserved.

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By advocating for her, we held the organization accountable, relieved her of an unnecessary financial burden, and set a precedent that this kind of treatment is unacceptable. It was a true team effort, and I was incredibly proud of both of us for pushing forward until a good and fair solution was reached.

Here at Self Determined Futures (SDF), a San Diego-based LLC in partnership with the San Diego Regional Center, we understand that helping people meet basic needs and raising awareness for others who face similar obstacles is absolutely essential here in the Imperial Valley. Our CEO, Ebony Montgomery, has been expanding our reach throughout California in order to empower DEAF+ individuals in underserved areas, and by spreading the word about the services we offer we will continue to do so.

That’s why we’re hosting an online resource fair for Deaf+ and Hard of Hearing (DHOH+) individuals near and far. We all really do share the primary goal of empowering people to live fulfilling lives—

Our event is an opportunity to connect with organizations like California Hands & Voices, SDUSD TRACE Program (which provides ASL-fluent instructors for students with disabilities), and Deaf Community Services (which offers various advocacy and support programs). Having personally seen so many success stories, I can say with confidence that the work SDF does definitely makes a lasting impact on people’s lives. We’ve worked hard to make this event as accessible as possible, providing translations in English, ASL, and Spanish (upon request), to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Here is a recording of a previous resource fair so you know a little bit about what to expect:

During this time, participants will be able to engage directly with the organizations, ask questions, and learn about everything from the specific services SDF offers to mental health in general. But we understand that with so many different schedules to accommodate, everyone who is interested might not be able to join us during those hours. But you’re in luck! We will be back again for a second session on February 27th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This will be a recorded version of the previous day’s presentations, featuring live hosts who will be raffling off gift cards, as well as access to our Deaf+ community network. And of course, we are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

This online event is free, and the only thing we ask is that you register beforehand. You can easily sign up through the QR code on the flyer. If you need more info, assistance logging in, or have any suggestions for future Deaf+ friendly events, feel free to reach out to me personally at madison.gonzalez@sdfllc.org.