Advocating for the Deaf Community

As you look around our site or read about health advocacy online, you’ll probably come to realize that advocacy has about as many applications as people have health conditions. An important role of the Health Advocate is to educate and empower our clients. For most of us doing this work, advocating on behalf of a client comes naturally as we have had a personal experience helping family or friends. This is especially true for Patti, my business partner. Her older brother Ralph Jr. received a diagnosis of complete hearing loss over 50 years ago. Growing up before interpreters and programs for the deaf were commonplace, Patti and her family faced challenges in every aspect of Ralph’s life. At that point, signing was not mainstream. Ralph was bussed everyday for more than an hour to a school that taught lip reading. As he reached the age of 13, signing was becoming more common, and during his teen years, he lived on campus at the School for the Deaf in Berkeley, California. During those years, the family learned sign language, and Patti accompanied her brother to most events and family gatherings, becoming his primary interpreter.

Today, Ralph lives in Dublin, CA with his wife Maureen, who is also hearing impaired. Participating in hearing impaired community activities is a way of life for both of them. They often find themselves supporting a friend in need when a family member has become ill or needs assistance in another way. For example, Ralph is an excellent handyman and has replaced new windows or performed minor household repairs for friends and neighbors.   

Ralph has always stood up for his rights, and sought out resources available to him. He is known for his strength and ability to show others how to advocate for themselves. His passion for motivating others is inspiring. Ralph is a huge advocate for the deaf, acting on behalf of his community whenever the need presents itself

Today programs such as the Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency (www.dcara.org) are widespread and utilized within the deaf community. DCARA is a nonprofit organization that provides its clients with the resources to make independent decisions. When Heartwood Health works with deaf and hearing impaired clients, they collaborate with DCARA to ensure that services are accessible. It is because of the strong advocacy of the community that being deaf no longer limits those who are affected.

If you have a story about someone who has been successful in improving life for a deaf or hearing impaired person please share it with us!