We are failing our Deaf New American neighbors.
But it doesn’t have to be this way…
Introduction.
Video Description: Emma DeCaro, a White woman with brown hair in a ponytail, is wearing a black shirt. This is an ASL interpretation of the English introduction text below.
Topic: There is a lack of ASL and English literacy education access for Deaf refugees, who are sometimes labeled as “Deaf New Americans.” Many existing institutions and systems to support their transition to the U.S. are not designed with them in mind. Some of these systems include Social Security Administration (SSA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, public education, community college curriculum, Video Relay Service (VRS), and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).
Communication through English and ASL is the foundation for accessing these services, and yet many Deaf New Americans arrive in the U.S. without prior exposure to a shared language of any kind. Even for those who do know the signed, spoken, or written language from their home country, they still need years of English and ASL education to receive the most benefit from available U.S. services. As of 2022, there is no comprehensive, cost-effective curriculum designed to teach Deaf New Americans English and ASL. For the programs that do exist to fill this gap, there is no funding available. VR counselors may not be informed about the crucial nature of literacy education for Deaf New Americans to achieve their fullest potential and obtain satisfying employment.
Contents: This website contains key issues and debates, research, organizations, media, and recommendations related to the need for Deaf New Americans to access ASL and English literacy education.
Purpose: It is my hope that stakeholders (service providers, educators, community college administrators, VR counselors, and other allies) will listen to Deaf New Americans and invest in:
Reframing VR priorities to include literacy education for Deaf New Americans
Funding a new clearinghouse related to Deaf New American resources
Developing a free ASL and English curriculum for Deaf New Americans
Creating a department dedicated exclusively to Deaf refugee resettlement
Collecting and archiving Deaf New American narratives
About Emma.
Image Description: Emma DeCaro, a White woman, is smiling in a black and white professional portrait. She has shoulder-length hair, a thick and shiny necklace, circle stud earrings, and a long-sleeved blouse. The trees are blurred behind her.
Video Description: Emma DeCaro, a White woman with brown hair in a ponytail, is wearing a black shirt. This is an ASL interpretation of the English introduction text below.
Hello, my name is Emma DeCaro, and I am a hearing and sighted woman. I grew up in Asia amidst the cherry blossoms in Japan, and the hawker stalls in Singapore, and validated my "third culture kid" status by lining the parade route during Thaipusam in Malaysia. While attending The University of Texas at Austin, I found many opportunities to remain a global citizen. As a public relations major, I pursued involvements that gave voice to human trafficking victims worldwide and social justice issues. I earned a Bridging Disciplines Program certificate in environmental sustainability, and also hold national and state certifications in ASL-English interpretation (RID NIC and BEI Advanced.)
After graduation, I worked in partnership marketing and communications for The Richards Group and Social Capital. Since 2017, I have worked with and learned from several Deaf immigrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees across the U.S. I believe that bringing people together is always a trip worth taking. That belief, combined with my childhood experiences and recent work with Deaf refugees, inspired me to join the International Development M.A. Program at Gallaudet University. I am passionate about being in solidarity with Deaf New American leaders as they convene businesses, governments, and nonprofits to improve the lives and resettlement of all Deaf New Americans.