Despite the bright, twinkling lights and the chiming bells, some of us are full of grief, fear, and pain. We believe there should be a time to honor these feelings as well.

The more I fill my life with people who love me for who I am, the more I’m able to unmask my autism, be open about my blindness and my depression, and freely share my gender and sexuality.

In order to dismantle the systems of oppression that not only deny access, but also inhibit our bodily autonomy we must directly challenge the status quo.

Learn about inclusion and accessibility, and the importance of providing captions or sign language interpreters. Discover ways to promote the rights of deaf people and access to education and technologies. Understand that deaf and hard of hearing individuals are just as capable and able.

In honor Deaf Awareness Month may you consider all the many blessings and gifts that we receive from the deaf community and be mindful of deaf inclusion in your congregation and all spaces every day of the year.

The ADA is a civil rights law that provides broad, legal protections for disabled Americans. Signed by president George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990, it was the culmination of decades of steadfast advocacy by thousands of disabled activists, including leaders like Judy Heumann and Brad Lomax.