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Developmental Disability Awareness Month – Deaf History Month

Jaclyn Baker
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By: Christina Bein – LCSW

March is often known to be the start of a new season, where we can move out of winter and into spring. It’s also a month of bringing awareness to Development Disabilities and Deaf History Month (from March 13 – April 15). 

In a world where people come in all shapes, colors and sizes, we also have variations in our developmental and physical capabilities. 

Some limitations in capabilities are more noticeable and some are less obvious – yet each person learns to find a way to navigate through the intricacies of being part of society.

During the height of protests and marches in support of Black Lives Matter in 2020, diverse groups of people came together to take a unified stand on how this country, government, police, etc – need to do better when it comes to how we treat and support our black communities.

In these protests, deaf people and translators came and represented. They also took it a step further to re-language how people sign “black” (referring to the people) to make it more appropriate, empowering, and respectful. 

The intersectionality of being black and deaf is a unique experience not often shared or discussed in mainstream society. 

During the 2020 protests, and even before it, black deaf people were targeted and misunderstood for using sign language, mistaking them for communicating gang signs. 

When protests were happening there was not enough clear warning to those of impaired hearing, inability to read lips because of masks, or other developmental disability to avoid nearness to flashbangs, gasses, and other tactics used by police forces to disperse protestors. 

The argument from the other side is that these particular persons should not attend protests. It speaks to how little society allows for the integration of developmentally disabled or deaf individuals to participate as their whole self.

What does it look like to help build an environment for our fellow human beings to show up as their whole self?

We could expand our understanding and help by being an ally to their advocacy, sometimes using our voices to amplify theirs to be heard.

Here are some local agencies whose mission is to support communities with developmental disabilities.

Local agencies & resources with information and events supporting developmental disabilities:

Community Pathways

Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities

Compilation of services/agencies in Lane County

Oregon Association of the Deaf

Video for ASL “Black Lives Matter” from June 2020 during protests

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The Pursuit Of Happiness

Jaclyn Baker
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Instead of looking elsewhere, we can find happiness within ourselves. 

Accept The Imperfections

What makes life unique is that it’s imperfect – and that’s okay!

Having such high expectations for ourselves can be stressful. 

It’s so easy to constantly want “more” or to be “better.”

Accepting the imperfections of life starts with embracing being comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Express Gratitude

Expressing gratitude for what you already have can change how you look at things. 

Simply writing down five things you are grateful for every morning can help you start each day on a positive note.  

That small exercise can help you reevaluate your values and challenge yourself to dig deeper. 

Gratitude is a powerful force!

Leave Judgement Behind

Investing time and energy in positive thoughts can be very inspiring.  

Now’s the time to be your biggest cheerleader by creating a judgement-free zone in your mind. 

Our days won’t always turn out as planned, and that’s okay. You deserve to cut yourself some slack. 

“You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now.” – Wayne Dyer.

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Rosa Parks Day

Jaclyn Baker
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February 4th is a time to honor and celebrate the life of American Civil Rights hero Rosa Parks. 

This day was made to commemorate the life of a woman who made a difference. 

In 1955, Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and took her seat in the bus’s assigned “colored” section. When the bus driver told her to give up her seat, she refused. Others before her had made similar refusals.  But her action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became a symbol of the civil rights movement.  She was an activist and collaborated with leaders in the movement.

Her actions inspired others to fight for equality and to challenge the system of oppression. She was proof that we can protest in our own ways and that we all have a right to say no. 

It was a moment in time that continues to live on. We can celebrate this day by taking a moment to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement and the history of segregation in the United States. 

Educating ourselves and our peers about the history of Rosa Parks will lead to open discussions about discrimination. 

Learn more about the life of Rosa Parks by following the resources below:

I Shall Not Be Moved By Rosa Parks

I Shall Not be Moved By Maya Angelou (collection of poetry)

I Am Rosa Parks By Rosa Parks & James Haskins 

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International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Jaclyn Baker

By:  Christina Bein, LCSW

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” -Elie Wiesel, Holocaust Survivor and author of “Night”.

On January 27, the world remembers the devastation of the Holocaust and how far hate and othering can go. The genocide took 6 million Jewish lives and millions more of other victims stemming from Nazi ideology. 

Today, we can honor the lives lost by learning and remembering this part of history and find ways to support the prevention of future genocides. A step in that direction is as clear as Elie Wiesel’s words, that to be an ally is to be vocal against the suffering and humiliation of others.

To learn more about the International Holocaust Remembrance Day please visit these links for events and articles.

www.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance/resources

www.un.org/en/outreach-programme-holocaust/page/2022

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Celebrating Louis Braille on His Birthday

Jaclyn Baker
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When we think about the past, we can honor those whose inventions have impacted the world we know today. One of those people is Louis Braille. As we approach January 4th, the birthday of Louis Braille, we can remember all that he did for those who are visually impaired.

He was a French educator and inventor of the reading and writing system known as Braille, which is used worldwide today to help those with limited vision. Louis himself lost vision in both of his eyes and developed a system of tactile code that could allow others to write and read. 

Now, the Braille system is still used in many different languages to aid those in their everyday lives. He paved the way for communication and equality with this system. 

With braille, he made sure that each letter had its own dots that could be recognized with the touch of a finger. Since its development, it’s completely changed the way we use language. 

We now have access to Braille on magazines, in books, on bathroom signs, bus stops, and elevator panels, to name a few. There even continues to be technological advances with braille as it becomes even more widespread. 

It’s important to look back and acknowledge all of the wonderful things that have allowed our society to become more accessible and equal to everyone.

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Transgender Day Of Remembrance

Jaclyn Baker
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November 20th is Transgender Day Of Remembrance, which is a time dedicated to honoring the transgender lives lost to acts of anti-transgender violence.

“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people – sometimes in the most brutal ways possible – it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.” – Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith, who first started a candlelight vigil on this day to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.

It has since become a tradition that gives a voice to the millions of people who have been silenced. It is meant to be a day of remembrance as well as an opportunity to share the contributions of transgender people in our communities.  This can help to humanize people and hopefully lead to more understanding of those  

By coming together as a community, we can work towards ending the violence and discrimination that surrounds the lives of many transgender individuals. 

You can get involved in the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Candlelight vigils are a common way to mark the day, but you can also attend events such as marches, art exhibits, or panel discussions with local advocates. Connect with local LGBTQ organizations for a listing of events being held in your community.

We can continue to raise awareness for those who have been subjected to hate crimes by showing support as an ally. Speaking out against hate is an important first step.

You can learn more by reading stories created by transgender people, watching documentaries, or reaching out to someone you know. Click the link below for resources:

Transgender Day Of Remembrance

National Center For Transgender Equality 

Transgender Resouces 

Trans Lifeline 

I AM: Trans People Speak Campaign 

Transgender Reading List For Adults