signedink.org is now live! For those that don’t know, for years I’ve been searching for D/deaf/hard of hearing writers and illustrators to join me on an amazing mission. After lots of searching I created the group Signed Ink. This is our group mission statement:
We are D/deaf/hard of hearing creatives, authors and illustrators who write and/or illustrate books for children, teens, and adult audiences. We champion imagination and support all diverse forms of deaf-gain. We believe that there is no wrong way to be D/deaf or hard of hearing (HOH). Each individual has a unique and colorful journey and we champion each one. We believe it is a D/deaf person’s right to choose which tools they use to communicate with the world—be it a signed-language (like ASL), hearing aids, cochlear implants (CI’s), Signed English, or their voice(s) in written or oral form, etc. We advocate the importance of providing D/deaf children with a full language that is accessible to them, one that prevents language deprivation, encourages literacy, and provides equal access to language and communication. We champion diverse D/deaf/HOH voices and culture(s) in literature and strive to educate the hearing and KidLit community about D/deaf/HOH experiences across the deaf gain spectrum. Through storytelling (words, illustrations, and signs) and advocacy, we stand to unite the gap between the hearing and the D/deaf and aim to provide resources for parents, librarians, and educators who aid in helping others understand the D/deaf experiences and promote D/deaf literacy and learning. We wholeheartedly believe that D/deaf children deserve to see themselves in the pages of books—reinforcing how much they matter—that they are valuable, and that they are understood.
The School Library Journal (SLJ) published an article I wrote introducing our author’s and illustator’s. You can find it here! I’m extremely proud of this article as it showcases D/deaf and hard of hearing authors and illustrators with a conversation about imagination and creativity. If you are a D/deaf or hard of hearing author or illustrator wishing to join us, please contact us at: info (at) signedink (dot) org. A logo,Twitter account, Facebook page (and possibly and Instagram account) are in the works so keep your eyes peeled for more, including regular website posts that support our mission statement in relation to deaf representation in books.
A Pen In Neverland 