Helen Keller Services once again passed over qualified DeafBlind candidates and chose a hearing-sighted person to be the next Executive Director of the Helen Keller National Center. Imagine a women’s college that’s never placed a woman at the helm, and you may begin to understand the fury sweeping the DeafBlind community. We call for Deafblind Leadership NOW!
Q: Isn’t it better to have the most qualified leader regardless of whether they are DeafBlind?
A: We want the Executive Director position to go to the most qualified person. A core part of that role involves representing the DeafBlind community and speaking for the DeafBlind community. The role requires a deep understanding of DeafBlind culture such as Braille, American Sign Language, Protactile, screen readers, canes, guide dogs, and more. Hearing-sighted people have the privilege of choosing how and when to engage with the community. By contrast, DeafBlind people live this every minute. When the clock strikes five, we’re still DeafBlind. When we go on vacation, we’re still DeafBlind and often encounter accessibility barriers that require us to keep advocating even while on vacation. So, when comparing qualifications, the lived experience of DeafBlind candidates deserves more weight.
Q: But there is no way a DeafBlind person could lead a large agency.
A: Yes, we can! DeafBlind people around the world hold a variety of leadership positions in the corporate, nonprofit, and government spheres. Many become entrepreneurs, leveraging the problem-solving skills they develop fighting ableism. More to the point, hearing-sighted Executive Directors depend on teams to help them. Nondisabled independence is a myth, and strong leaders excel at interdependence.
Q: I have a hearing-sighted friend and they’re really nice. Why are you picking on hearing-sighted people?
A: Many hearing-sighted people are phenomenal allies who know the difference between helping versus controlling. Remember, ableism is a systemic problem. If HKNC passed over a DeafBlind person for the Executive Director role once, I’d assume the hearing-sighted person earned the position solely on merit. Twice, I’d wonder if it was a coincidence. But more than half a century of deciding DeafBlind people can’t serve as the Executive Director is a pattern. Many kind and caring people work at HKNC, and it’s my hope they can help stop the cycle of ableism. Please share this post. Consider writing or creating videos in solidarity. Use the hashtag #DeafBlindLeadershipNow.
Thank you!
Haben Girma
