Sign Language
From Saturday to Wednesday, August 8th through 12th, hundreds of sign language interpreters gathered (and, as of this writing, are gathering still) in New Orleans for the 2015 Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Conference.
Brandi Rarus kicked the conference off with her keynote address.
Did you know Brandi authored Finding Zoe: A Deaf Woman’s Story of Identity, Love, and Adoption? And in June, she published an article in Women’s Health on her identity as a Deaf mother.
Nestled in the heart of the article is Brandi’s declaration: that her Deaf identity lends perspective and that through her experience, her children can learn and grow.
“I truly believe that the fact that I am deaf and have to deal with ignorance—or in some situations, discrimination—has allowed my children to see and experience the world through my eyes.”
To celebrate Brandi’s keynote address, to get a better understanding of the miracle of her adopting Zoe, and to push the importance of language access for Deaf children, watch this quick YouTube video.
Access to language is paramount, especially for kids. It’s like the old saying says, “The family that languages together stays together.”
