Change is in the air, and with a new administration comes a wave of policy shifts that have already impacted language access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. One of the biggest conversations happening right now is around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). While DEI initiatives are often discussed in terms of race, gender, and disability, there’s one critical factor that is too often overlooked—language access.
For those who rely on sign language to communicate, language access is not a luxury. It’s not an extra accommodation. It is a fundamental civil right. As policies evolve under new leadership, one question stands at the forefront: Will DEI efforts truly include language access, or will sign language continue to fight for a seat at the table?
DEI Without Language Access? Not an Option.
The heart of DEI is ensuring that everyone—regardless of identity, background, or ability—has equal opportunities and barrier-free access to education, healthcare, employment, and civic participation. But too often, the needs of the Deaf community are left out of the conversation.
Imagine attending a doctor’s appointment and being handed a consent form you can’t read (regardless of the language). Imagine trying to participate in a workplace meeting where no interpreter is provided. Imagine calling 911 in an emergency, only to face communication roadblocks. These are daily realities for many individuals when language access is not prioritized.
DEI is not just about checking boxes. If a policy claims to be inclusive but fails to ensure interpreters, captioning, and Deaf-friendly communication, it is incomplete. True equity means recognizing language access as a cornerstone of accessibility.
The New Administration’s DEI Approach: What to Watch
With the administration’s focus on weakening DEI measures, we need to watch closely how this translates into actual policy changes. Will these efforts include language access? Will funding be allocated to interpreting services, Deaf education, and communication technology? Here are some key areas that need attention:
- Workplace Equity
- The push for workplace inclusivity must include access to qualified ASL interpreters, captioning services, and Deaf awareness training.
- Remote work has opened new opportunities, but video platforms need better real-time captioning and interpreter integration.
- Healthcare Access
- Language access in medical settings remains a crisis. The new administration must enforce and expand policies requiring on-demand ASL interpreters in hospitals and telehealth platforms.
- Individuals who sign need better access to mental health resources with providers fluent in sign language.
- Education and Early Language Development
- Deaf children have a right to language from birth. This means investing in bilingual education (ASL and English) and ensuring all Deaf students receive qualified interpreters and specialized support.
- DEI policies must prioritize early childhood language acquisition so that Deaf children do not experience language deprivation.
- Government Services and Civic Engagement
- Access to government information, voting, and public services must be provided in ASL. This means requiring all government agencies to provide interpreters, captioning, and Deaf-accessible digital platforms.
The DEI Rollbacks: A Threat to Language Access
While some DEI initiatives are expanding, we are also seeing efforts to scale them back in certain sectors. Some states and organizations are reducing funding for DEI programs, often arguing that these initiatives are “no longer necessary.” This is dangerous—not just for historically marginalized groups but specifically for the Deaf community, which already faces significant communication barriers.
When DEI programs are cut, language access is often one of the first things to go. The ASL interpretations on the White House website have been removed and many interpreting services have already stopped. Interpreting services, captioning programs, and Deaf-friendly policies can be seen as “extra costs” instead of essential services. This puts the Deaf community members at risk of even greater exclusion.
The fight is far from over. Advocacy is critical to ensuring that language access remains a priority in DEI policies nationwide.
What Can We Do?
Advocacy doesn’t stop just because a new administration takes over. Here’s how we can push for real, lasting change:
- Hold policy makers accountable. Demand that DEI initiatives include clear policies on language access.
- Support organizations that advocate for Deaf rights. Groups like the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Gateway, and local Deaf advocacy organizations are on the frontlines of this fight.
- Educate businesses and institutions. Employers, schools, and healthcare providers must understand that language access is not optional—it is a legal and ethical obligation.
- Speak up about policy rollbacks. If funding cuts threaten needed services, we need to mobilize and advocate for their reinstatement.
Gateway’s Role in Ensuring Language Access
At Gateway, we don’t just talk about equity—we fight for it. Every day, we work to bridge communication gaps and ensure that Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals have full access to education, healthcare, and employment.
- We provide high-quality ASL interpreting services to ensure equitable communication.
- We offer ASL classes to promote language access and Deaf awareness in the community.
- We advocate for policy changes that prioritize language access in all DEI efforts.
Gateway is committed to making sure no one is left behind. Because DEI without language access is not true equity—it’s exclusion by another name.
Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
The new administration has an opportunity to make real strides in equity and inclusion. But progress isn’t guaranteed. The Deaf community cannot afford to be an afterthought in DEI policies. Language is power. Communication is a right. Access is non-negotiable.
It’s up to all of us—advocates, allies, and organizations like Gateway—to ensure that DEI isn’t just a buzzword. It must be a movement that includes everyone—and that starts with language access for all.
Let’s make sure this conversation doesn’t stop here. Because when we talk about inclusion, we must mean it.
by Dave Coyne
Learn More About Gateway
Gateway connects people to their worlds and aids individuals in their ability to understand and to be understood. Gateway has grown into an organization that serves more than 4,000 children and adults every year, helping them communicate more effectively. With programming both on our Baltimore campus and through community-based programming, we provide education, access, and medical support to anyone who needs it.
We envision a society where everyone can understand and be understood and where everyone is treated with integrity, compassion, and equity.
