Questions are bound to come up during a movement and we will try our best to answer them!
How did DBLN start?
DeafBlind Leadership NOW (DBLN) started on July 22, 2024, when the DeafBlind community learned that a hearing-sighted candidate had been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), once again passing over qualified DeafBlind candidates. Frustration and disappointment quickly spread throughout the DeafBlind community and the community called for change.
In response, John Lee Clark, a longtime DeafBlind leader, circulated a DeafBlind-only petition. Over the course of ten days, the petition gathered 262 signatures from various DeafBlind communities. The signatures included five current DeafBlind HKNC employees requesting anonymity and René Pellerin, who is the sole DeafBlind member of the Helen Keller Services (HKS) Board of Trustees.
The petition called for DeafBlind leadership NOW at HKNC and made four demands:
1. A DeafBlind person be appointed executive director of HKNC.
2. HKNC be separated from Helen Keller Services (for the Blind), so that HKNC becomes its own, autonomous entity.
3. HKNC's newly created Board of Trustees be made up of 70 percent or more DeafBlind members.
4. HKS and all of its subsidiaries not retaliate against any HKS or HKNC employee, family member, or student for any civil action related to the selection process or related issues.
The petition was delivered to the HKS Board of Trustees and the Department of Education on August 6, 2024. The deadline for complying with the first demand and starting the process of separating HKNC from HKS was August 9, 2024.
As of August 29, 2024, HKS has not responded to DBLN's demands, and DBLN is continuing the fight for DeafBlind leadership NOW.
Read the petition here: https://deafblindleadershipnow.org/petition.html
Shouldn't an organization appoint whomever it thinks is the most qualified?
In an ideal world, yes. The problem is that HKS' idea of "most qualified" has never included DeafBlind candidates.
Talented and qualified DeafBlind individuals have applied to or expressed interest in the top position since at least 1956, when HKNC was known as the federally funded Ann Sullivan Macy pilot program. Despite the availability and interest of such candidates, HKNC has never had an Executive Director that represents and shares the experiences of the community it serves.
Moreover, HKNC has made unspoken but clear promises in recent years to elevate a DeafBlind individual as Executive Director when the position opened up. Despite multiple opportunities to fill the position with a talented and qualified DeafBlind candidate, the "next time" never happened.
HKNC's mission is to serve the DeafBlind community, and yet it resists DeafBlind leadership.
What is the "unspoken but clear promises," and why does it matter?
In Bryen M. Yunashko's letter dated August 1, 2024, he describes the 2014 HKNC Executive Director search committee and the plan formed during its final days.
One of the frontrunners was a popular and experienced DeafBlind candidate, and the community held out hope that the glass ceiling would be shattered and HKNC would have its first DeafBlind Executive Director. When the committee ultimately chose a hearing-sighted candidate, a plan was formed. The DeafBlind frontrunner was appointed a position created for him, Associate Executive Director, for him to gain experience.
The expectation was that a DeafBlind person would be promoted to the top position once it became vacant. Except it never happened.
In the last 10 years, three new HKNC Executive Directors have been hired.1 2 3 Each time, a hearing-sighted candidate was chosen over a qualified DeafBlind candidate.
The repeated failure to fulfill an unspoken but clear promise is a breach of trust between an organization and the community it serves.
The letter is part of the petition and published on our website: https://deafblindleadershipnow.org/files/bryen-m-yunashko-letter.html
Have there been qualified DeafBlind candidates who applied to the position?
Yes. Qualified DeafBlind candidates were available, expressed interest in, and/or applied to the Executive Director position in 2014, 2021, and 2024. This pattern of DeafBlind interest and qualification extends back to 1956, when HKNC was known as the federally funded Ann Sullivan Macy pilot program. Since then, talented and qualified DeafBlind individuals have consistently expressed interest in or applied for HKNC's top leadership position.
Was there really no response from HKS to the petition? What about the Aug 5, 2024 press release?
DBLN delivered its petition to HKS and the Department of Education on Aug 6, 2024. Since then, HKS has not complied with the demands or communicated with DBLN in any way. Therefore, HKS has not directly responded to the petition.
On Aug 5, 2024, before the petition was delivered, HKS CEO Sue Ruzenski issued a press release acknowledging the discontent in the community and the calls for a DeafBlind Executive Director.4 The press release also announced a working group to address concerns and issues with the DeafBlind community. However, Ms. Ruzenski did not communicate directly with DBLN.
While we appreciate Ms. Ruzenski's efforts to foster dialogue with the community, DBLN has concerns about this working group:
1. It does not directly address the historical pattern of passing over DeafBlind candidates or the systematic barriers in HKS' organizational structure.
2. Since HKNC controls the working group, it's unlikely to attract and cultivate diverse and contrary opinions.
3. The working group is an advisory committee with no power to effect real change.
DBLN believes it is time to stop talking and start changing the status quo.
Why was the petition limited to DeafBlind signatories, and why did it list their credentials?
The petition was limited to DeafBlind signatories to ensure it represents the wishes of the DeafBlind community. It captures a rare moment of solidarity in a diverse and geographically dispersed community. 262 DeafBlind individuals, ranging from students to professionals, and spanning several countries, came together to demand DeafBlind leadership NOW.
The petition also showcases the credentials of the signatories to demonstrate the wide range of talents and skills within the DeafBlind community. The signatories include award-winning authors, lawyers, individuals with doctoral degrees, community organizers, small business owners, parents, and devoted family members. By listing these credentials, the petition shows that HKS has a pool of qualified DeafBlind candidates to choose from, challenging any potential excuses for passing over DeafBlind candidates for leadership positions.
Why is it important to separate HKNC from HKS?
Separating HKNC from HKS is essential due to HKS' corporate structure and its impact on DeafBlind representation in decision-making. HKS is the parent organization of two divisions: HKNC and Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB). While HKNC focuses on services for the DeafBlind community, HKSB is a smaller division that provides services for the blind. Crucially, the HKS board has high-level authority over critical financial, strategic, and hiring decisions for both HKNC and HKSB.
Currently, the HKS board has only one DeafBlind member out of 20, meaning DeafBlind individuals have just 5% representation on a Board that makes major decisions affecting their community.5
DBLN believes in real change that goes beyond tokenism. A deeper form of DeafBlind leadership requires a structural shift. A truly DeafBlind-led organization is only possible with an autonomous HKNC, governed by a majority DeafBlind Board of Trustees and led by a DeafBlind Executive Director.
Separating HKNC from HKS would allow for this necessary restructuring and ensure that decisions affecting the DeafBlind community are made primarily by DeafBlind individuals.
Is HKNC a school? What kind of services does it offer to the DeafBlind community?
No, HKNC is not a school. HKNC is the only national program providing comprehensive rehabilitation services for the DeafBlind in the United States.
HKNC services include a residential rehabilitation and vocational training facility in Sands Point, New York, and 11 regional field offices and programs providing assessment and referral services.
As the sole nationwide provider of these specialized services, HKNC plays a major role in supporting the DeafBlind community.
Is DBLN a 501(c) organization? Has it filed taxes yet?
DBLN is a grassroots movement, not an organization. Therefore, it is not a 501(c) organization and has not filed for taxes. As the movement evolves, we will reassess our organizational and legal status. For now, we are just a group of volunteers effecting real change.
A core team of seven DeafBlind individuals coordinates the DBLN efforts and operates the website. We do all of the above in our free time and as volunteers because we believe in DeafBlind leadership NOW. But the movement ultimately belongs to the community itself.
If you have any questions about the core team, please email us at dbln@deafblindleadershipnow.org.
What is DBLN Alliance, and who is it for?
The DeafBlind Alliance is an email and web-based listserv for discussion and updates on the growing movement. DeafBlind and non-DeafBlind supporters are welcome!
To join, email dbln@deafblindleadershipnow.org.
What is DBLN's mission?
DBLN's mission is to recognize DeafBlind talent, remove barriers to DeafBlind leadership, and promote qualified DeafBlind individuals to leadership positions.
How can I help DBLN?
Thank you so much for your support! There are many ways you can help:
• Contact Congress to tell them about DBLN and the petition. Find out more here: https://deafblindleadershipnow.org/advocacy.html
• Donate so we can keep going and do more. Find out more here: https://deafblindleadershipnow.org/donate.html
• Volunteer! We can always use an extra hand. Email us at dbln@deafblindleadershipnow.org to find out our current volunteer needs.
• Tell others about DBLN and encourage them to learn more!
