HEARD

Today is #GivingTuesday!

Each December, HEARD supports deaf/disabled incarcerated community members with commissary funds.

Commissary is a lifeline for incarcerated deaf/disabled people.

Donate directly to our Commissary Fund today to help us reach our goal of $5K: bit.ly/heard-holidayfund25

[Image Description: an off-white background with blue organic shape decal in the top-right corner. The text, “Lunch Time Learning:” is in white with a dark purple background. Centered on the page is the text, “Prison and Mental Health for Deaf/Disabled Communities" in black. Underneath is a white text box with a black border and black text that reads, “Date: November 17th. Time: 12:30 ET//9:30am PT. Cost: $25-100”. In black the text reads, "Funds from the event help HEARD and MDT provide culturally competent mental health services to formerly incarcerated deaf/disabled people."The text, “Register today:” is in black and underneath and centered on the page is the text, “bit.ly/heard-reentry25" in black with an orange background. Underneath is HEARD’s logo in black and My Deaf Therapy’s logo in blue.]

Join us for Lunch Time Learning: Prison and Mental Health for Deaf/Disabled Communities on November 17th at 12:30pm ET.

HEARD and My Deaf Therapy are collaborating on an event you won't want to miss!

Link to register: bit.ly/heard-reentry25

Portraits and Portals: Preview Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

🎥 The Portraits & Portals trailer is here! qrco.de/P-Ptrailer

A glimpse into the creativity + resilience of disabled artists and disaster survivors of color.

Premiere: Aug 27, 2PM ET
Register: tinyurl.com/portraitspor...
Event includes ASL, Spanish & French interpretation
#PortraitsAndPortals 💜

Instead of investing in teaching police ASL and providing “deaf/disability sensitivity” training, we call for resources to be redirected to support deaf/disabled communities directly and for our community members to stop participating in + endorsing such trainings.

Join us: #StopASLCopaganda

The true function of “deaf sensitivity” training programs + community initiatives is to make police appear “better”. In reality, these programs have very little impact on reducing violence, all while spending money that could be invested into resources for our communities.
#StopASLCopaganda

The fact remains that, in an interaction where police have the power to arrest, injure, or kill with impunity in addition to the ability to control the narrative – no amount of language access can neutralize this dangerous power dynamic. A signing cop is still a cop.

#StopASLCopaganda

“Copaganda” leads to a dangerous sense of safety with police. When deaf/disabled signers encounter a signing police officer, they may feel a false sense of trust due to shared language. It often discourages them from requesting the accommodations needed to preserve their rights.
#StopASLCopaganda

[Image Description: a light purple background with thin teal organic lines in the bottom-left corner and [at]behearddc in black is in the bottom-right corner. At the top is “DEADLINE EXTENDED!” in white text with a black background. In the middle is a white text box with the following text in black: “If you're interested in joining HEARD’s Board of Directors, please submit your application by June 30, 2025, at 11:59pm ET!”]

Guess what? It is not too late to apply for HEARD's Board of Directors!

If you are interested in applying to join our Board, please submit your application by June 30, 2025, at 11:59pm ET.

"We are in an era of unprecedented investment in policing, including police training. Increased training does not change police behavior or stop police violence, including police violence against disabled communities."

- Excerpt from HEARD's recent statement
#StopASLCopaganda
#DisabilitySolidarity

ID: Black background with the text in white, “Signing Cops Will Not Save Us, Community Power Will.” There is a purple divider in the center. Underneath is the text in thin white font, “Community Statement on Police Department ASL Initiatives and Deaf “Sensitivity” Trainings”. HEARD logo in white is on the centered at the bottom.

Just Released: “Signing Cops Will Not Save Us, Community Power Will: Community Statement on Police Department ASL Initiatives and Deaf 'Sensitivity' Trainings”.

ASL: bit.ly/stop-ASL-copaganda
English: bit.ly/stop-asl-copaganda-eng
Spanish: bit.ly/basta-asl-copaganda

#StopASLCopaganda

Light blue-green background with a white text box in the middle and orange lines in the bottom-left corner. “HEARD IS HIRING! Prison Correspondence Assistant” is in white above the text box. “Start Date: July 2025, Location: Washington D.C., Apply By: June 1, 2025” is listed in black inside the white text box accented with dark blue. Underneath the text box, “Swipe for the position description!” and “Apply at: bit.ly/heard-pca-application” is in white. [at]behearddc is at the bottom center of the page.

Light blue background with a white text box in the middle. “POSITION DESCRIPTION: Prison Correspondence Assistant” and “ASL VERSION: bit.ly/heard-pca-asl” are in white above the text box. Listed in the text box is a brief description of the position, “Contracted up to 45 hours, over 3 months; Visit HEARD's P.O. box once a week; Scan, file, and summarize incoming mail; and more! Full Position Description: bit.ly/heard-pca”. [at]behearddc is at the bottom center of the page.

Guess what? We are hiring!

We are looking for a Prison Correspondence Assistant, starting Summer 2025. Check the linktree in our bio for more information.

Please share this post with your communities and those who you think would be a great fit!

Apply at: bit.ly/heard-pca-application

ID: A light gray laptop centered on a split background of orange at the top and dark purple at the bottom. The laptop screen shows HEARD’s logo in black, "QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2025" below, a line-art floral illustration, and "Option: Plain Text Version", on an off-white background. "NEWSLETTER COMING SOON!" is at the top in white over a black rounded rectangle at the top, while "SIGN UP TODAY AT:" and "www.behearddc.org" in white are at the bottom. A light pink abstract swirl is in the bottom left corner.

HEARD’s newsletter will be coming into your inbox soon! Subscribe for organizational updates, insights, and more.

Our first newsletter of the year will be shared on our 14th HEARDiversary, February 18th!

Sign up today by visiting our website www.behearddc.org + scroll down to “Stay Connected!”

Did you know that deaf/disabled incarcerated people often experience language attrition, or the loss of the ability to express themselves as fully as they were, prior to incarceration?

Prisons are isolating + sustained sign language communication is rare.

Image description: Black background with white text and snowflakes. The text reads: "People in prison are charged extra for essentials. HEARD'S Commissary Fund alleviates this burden on deaf/disabled incarcerated folks & their loved ones. Donate today at bit.ly/heard-holiday24" . The HEARD logo is on the bottom-right corner

The holidays can be isolating for deaf/disabled people in prison.

HEARD’s Commissary Fund supports them to get the essentials they need like food, hygiene items, stamps and more.

Bring connection and care this season: bit.ly/heard-holiday24