Tuesday 21st September

Deaf communities throughout the world have organized into representative associations to advance their human rights. These organizations need funding, capacity building, and empowerment to carry out the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”

Many Deaf people lead businesses, advocating and many other activities around the world.

For example, Jean is advocating, teaching, and assisting D/deaf people and disabled people in New Zealand.

Jean is not the only person; look at late Patrick Thompson encouraged many Māori Deaf students and adults to learn about their Māori culture, whakapapa and te reo Māori. “The late Patrick Wikiriwhi Thompson was a Māori Deaf activist who dedicated his life to making Māori culture accessible through NZSL. His legacy has had a significant impact on the Deaf community.” https://www.nfd.org.nz/post/te-reo-maori-and-new-zealand-sign-language
Richard Tuhorouta Peri is doing the Māori project and creating sign language concepts for all Māori students and Whānau (family).

Victoria Lessing runs the NZSL course and online NZSL course for students learning our NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language). Now we have Deaf NZSL tutors and Hearing NZSL tutors, and it is growing into the greater community around New Zealand. https://www.mergenz.co.nz/

Marlee Matlin is a Deaf actress, advocator, and author in the USA, and she is well known to all the D/deaf people. Laurent Clerc was a teacher of the Deaf at Gallaudet University, Washington D.C., USA.

Remember, Deaf people and students are doing their roles in Sustainable Leadership to encourage the next generation to learn from us.