“Nothing About us without us”

“Nothing about us without us” is a phrase that has been adopted by the Deaf and Disabled community to express the idea that decisions about Deaf people should not be made without their active participation and input. This phrase reflects the belief that Deaf individuals are the best experts on their own experiences and needs, and that their perspectives and opinions should be valued and taken into account in any decision-making process that affects them.

The phrase “Nothing about us without us” highlights the importance of including Deaf individuals in discussions and decision-making processes that relate to their lives. This can involve seeking out Deaf individuals for their opinions and expertise, as well as creating spaces where Deaf individuals feel heard and valued.

To respect the principle of “Nothing about us without us,” it is important to take the following steps:

1. Involve Deaf individuals in discussions and decision-making processes that relate to their lives.
2. Ensure that Deaf individuals have equal access to information and resources, such as by providing information in accessible formats, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.
3. Validate Deaf individuals’ perspectives and experiences, and avoid making assumptions about their needs or abilities.
4. Create safe and inclusive spaces where Deaf individuals feel heard and valued, and where their perspectives are taken into account.
5. Recognize and respect the value of Deaf culture and the Deaf community, and acknowledge the contributions and experiences of Deaf individuals.

By respecting the principle of “Nothing about us without us,” we can work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive society for Deaf individuals, where their voices and perspectives are valued and respected.

This text was generated by AI using the prompt, “expand in 300 words, “nothing about us without us” for the Deaf community, what does that mean?  how to respect that?”

notes to add: The term “nothing about us without us” goes beyond the Deaf community, it has a long standing history with other marginalized communities. In the 1990’s, the phrase was used by disability activists.