ACCESSIBLITY DOES NOT START WITH TECHNOLOGY OR POLICIES. IT STARTS WITH PEOPLE, PATIENCE, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT SOMEONE IN THAT MOMENT. IT STARTS WITH CHOOSING CREATE SPACE WHERE NO ONE HAS TO FIGHT TO BE INCLUDED.
I was diagnosed with nerve damage, and for the first three years of my life, no one knew I was deaf. It wasn’t until I went through a full series of evaluations that the truth became clear, and by then, doctors told my family I had no chance of developing speech.
Fast forward. My journey hasn’t been easy. As someone who is Hard of Hearing, I’ve faced barriers in school, in healthcare, and even in the workplace, including being unexpectedly placed on an unpaid medical leave of absence and experiencing discrimination that left me feeling unheard and unsupported. Those moments changed me. They showed me how many people in our community face the same struggles with no help, no access, and no voice. I started Hear You Rise to turn that pain into purpose, to make sure no one else has to navigate those challenges alone.
Empowerment Through Advocacy
My advocacy work has been shaped by lived experience — and strengthened through years of speaking, writing, and educating others about accessibility and communication. I’ve had the privilege of sharing my story and insights through national and local platforms, helping people understand the real challenges faced by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Our Leadership
Hear You Rise is a Deaf and Hard of Hearing-led organization committed to building a future where accessibility and inclusion are the standard, not the exception.
