DeafConnect

From left to right: Deafconnect CEO Natasha Parks, LMS Intern Corey Jeffries, and ASL Interpreter DeQuita Crockett. 

Literacy Mid-South Intern Corey Jeffries sat down with DeafConnect CEO Natasha Parks and Interpreter DeQuita Crockett do discuss their work and how DeafConnect fills a a unique gap in the literacy landscape in the Mid-South.

Tell us about your organization.

We provide American Sign Language interpreters to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Shelby County and surrounding areas. Our mission is to empower Deaf individuals and their families through advocacy and outreach.

What programs do you offer to adult learners?

Some of the programs and services we offer include resume help for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who are looking for jobs and interpreters for driving tests and the DMV. Our programs focus on transitional and independent living skills that help with finding employment and maintaining employment along with access to each and every community event held inside of the city of Memphis and beyond. We focus on building academic and non-academic goals by providing legal and educational services as well. Our goal is to make sure every individual has full communicative access to every public setting.

Why is your organization important to Memphis?

Human Beings are innately connective. That is our core belief and we believe that providing that access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in every public setting is what we should all strive for as people. When you talk about literacy, the average person who is deaf or hard of hearing graduates with a 3rd-grade reading level. That is the importance of interpreters being used in these settings, to make sure that individuals have equal access to all materials whether it's through oral or printed literacy. Deaf Connect goes above and beyond its call of duty in order to provide interpreters in pre-k and post-secondary settings and transitional adult ed settings to make sure literacy is available at all times for individuals who need it. It is important to remember that ASL is its own language that is different from English’s structure and linguistics and because of that, ASL is being taught in classrooms across the world, which also helps to bridge the literacy gap in their native language.

Why is it important to offer life-long learning opportunities to adults as a community amongst different forms of literacy?

When you talk about the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, it's important to remember that they and us, all come from different socio-economic backgrounds, and sometimes there's a need that is not readily available or able to be met for those types of people. One way that Deaf Connect comes in to support them is by providing events where those individuals can have their taxes and similar services done for free because literacy is literacy and reading is fundamental. You need to be able to understand everything that goes on with those tax sheets, and as a hearing individual, I know I struggle with that sometimes. Deaf Connect believes it is important for those who are hard of hearing or deaf to have access to these same opportunities.

What common misconception do you notice about adult learners that you wish you could dispel?

One misconception about what DeafConnect does is that we are here only for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, when in reality we are here for all, the entire human community. Giving information to the hearing community gives them a better understanding of what the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing are. We host deaf awareness workshops and support for those interested in hiring deaf and hard of hearing as a stakeholder or positions similar. As far as deaf individuals go, most people don't know the best way to communicate, for example, we use closed captioning however that is not the best way to communicate with that community. Interpreters are much more inclusive and efficient. Another misconception is the idea of the “deaf and dumb”. Our clients are far from deaf and dumb, they are educated and strong, cognitively aware, energetic, and emphatic when it comes to what they can do. They are aware of themselves and their identity and are more than willing to meet you halfway. They've adapted to the hearing world for so long and it is nice that the world is now adjusting to their needs by using relay services, captioning, FM systems, VRI, communicating, and translation apps, and because of this, hearing, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing can now even teach hearing individuals. Far from “deaf and dumb”.

If someone wants to support your work, what is the best way for them to do it?

Donations are always welcome. Volunteering your time as we do several events as well as plenty of office work if they'd like to help, as well as opening up your spaces and establishments for us to hold events and ESL classes.

If someone wants to take advantage of your programming, what should they do?

The best way would be to go to our website, www.deafconnect.org, and we are also on Facebook and Instagram under “DeafConnect of the Midsouth.”

What is one thing you hope can come from the N-ABLE Coalition/Partnership?

Access to a wider community and getting the wider community to notice the deaf and hard of hearing in these settings, and to start a conversation about the various needs that this community has. Once a conversation has started it makes people question and fight for access for all.”

Can you describe any recent partnerships or joint projects with other organizations that have been particularly successful or impactful?

We have so many that I can’t list them all; Methodist Hospital, Youth Villages, Good Will, IRS, Amazon, and FedEx which is important because they hire so many local residents of Memphis. One of our more unique ones is our partnership with Overton Park Shell, which allowed us to get into performance interpreting for our interpreters and clients who enjoy performing in that context. We provide interpreters for the free summer concert series every year for the third year in a row. We’ve also provided interpreters for a Shakespeare play in the park which is something new that we are proud of.”

If you could wave a magic wand, what is one thing you would wish for for Memphis?

I would say fairness and equality. You have a lot of broken hearts and broken spirits because of the lack of the two, and without it, it is not equally accessible to anyone no matter race, creed, background or disability, it doesn't matter. Just equality and fairness. And I would say more love, there's a lot of broken and angry hearts and heart conditions that need to be addressed. I don't really know the answer to how that all starts, but I do know that it starts with you.

Visit deafconnect.org to learn more and connect with their team and be sure to follow on Facebook and Instagram!