NOVA Community Members Discuss Deaf Awareness

“Deafness doesn’t have one look!” says NOVA student Kyndall Evans. “Like any culture, Deaf Culture is one filled with people who have different perspectives, are from different lived experiences and use the beauty and artistry of American Sign Language (ASL) in different ways.”

First celebrated in 1958 by the World Federation of the Deaf, Deaf Awareness Month (September) was established to highlight, educate and bring awareness to deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) culture. In order to practice inclusive excellence and a feeling of belonging, the Office of DEI and Accommodations and Accessibility Services collaborated to relay the story about a deaf faculty member, a HOH student and the staff who serve them.

Did you know that NOVA currently has several full-time teaching faculty and even more adjuncts and staff who are deaf/HOH? Did you know that each semester NOVA has several deaf/HOH students enrolled across our campuses?

I sat down with my colleague from Accommodations and Accessibility, Dr. Katie Koeppen, to interview NOVA faculty member, Fatimah Aziz, and NOVA student, Kyndall Evans. Both Fatimah and Kyndall self-identify as members of the Deaf/HOH community. We were joined by ASL interpreters Jac and Amanda who helped translate their insightful answers and honest feedback to remind all of us that “deafness doesn’t have one look.”

How long have you been part of the NOVA Community?
Fatimah: I started working as an adjunct professor in 2019, teaching ASL, then NOVA hired me full time in 2022. I also teach ASL at George Mason University (GMU)!
Kyndall: I enrolled at NOVA in fall 2021. My major area is in Health Sciences.

Best part about what you do/being a student at NOVA?
Fatimah:  Many things. Before NOVA, I worked at Gallaudet University, which has a completely different culture. I taught math at the School for the Deaf in Md.. Working here at NOVA, I really feel the students appreciate me as a teacher; there is a community vibe. When students are motivated, they motivate me. There are different challenges, but what I like best about NOVA is the sense of community and seeing the growth in the students; seeing how they improve their language skills. I’ve had students progress with me from ASL-1 to ASL-5. I love to have students ask and learn about Deaf Culture, and I love being able to teach them about our way of life.
Kyndall: Diversity for sure, meeting people from so many backgrounds.

Not so best part? Barriers faced?
Fatimah:  Sometimes people/students will have preconceptions or misconceptions of what deaf people are like. People may make assumptions, and they may have a negative attitude toward deaf people. Some people think that they know what’s best for deaf people. Assumptions and misunderstandings can make me feel a little lonely. Communication is a barrier. I was the only deaf person on staff last year. That barrier makes it hard to show my true self, so that’s one downside. Even though people have wonderful intentions, and there’s a great support system here, it would just be nice to have an interpreter with me all day.
Kyndall:  Sometimes it can be the people, since for many people I am the very first deaf person they’ve ever met. They see me as a deaf person only. I am so much more than that! A whole person who can do the same things as others. The only thing I really can’t do (what I do differently) is hear.

How can awareness help remove barriers?
Fatimah:  In a perfect world, I would like to have hearing people understand Deaf Culture, be patient and truly understand the culture of deafness to reduce judgements. I would make ASL a requirement. I know that’s not (possible) but making an effort to learn ASL would help me feel included. ASL courses are FREE for NOVA faculty and staff! If they could take advantage of the free courses and take ASL 1 to know some basic signs, it could go from there. That would be really nice. I’ve never seen deaf students here on campus. The ASL Club would be great to have again, involving both hearing and deaf students!
Kyndall:  Saying a simple “hello”; putting closed-captioning on videos/movies that we watch in class.

Do you feel a sense of belonging? If yes, how? If not, why?
Fatimah:  In my classroom, while I’m teaching the students and they’re motivated to learn and they’re asking questions, I feel that sense of belonging when people show interest in the classroom, they’re learning sign language. On an administration level, I feel there should be more effort focused on learning more/providing more information about ASL/Deaf Culture.
Kyndall:  Yeah, I actually do feel a sense of belonging, because when I come into the classroom and people know I’m deaf, they actually try to work harder to include me. Simply by providing a transcript, if something doesn’t have captions, to read instead, or just making sure when we’re in groups that I have their full attention and they have mine. It’s the little things that matter. Outside the classroom? I did know about the ASL Club at NOVA, sort of! I’m aware of other deaf students on campus.

Anything else you want to highlight or discuss about deaf awareness?
Fatimah:  Have you ever heard of the Tripod Program? (Rochester Institute of  Technology – Tripod) That program was to get deaf and hearing students in the same class. Any children of deaf adults (CODAs), people with deaf family members and anyone who knew sign language all together. It was my best year, being able to communicate with everybody deaf and hearing. It was a really welcoming environment. I would wish that for this campus, too.
Kyndall:  I speak, I sign, so deafness can be a multitude of things; it’s not one spectrum. I think accessibility in general can have many, many different looks. For example, I have a light in my room that connects to my Amazon, you know Alexa, and that is what I use to wake up in the morning when the light turns on. I wear my Apple Watch, which will vibrate if I get any calls or texts, and we have a video camera. A lot of people don’t think about this, but my dogs are used to living with deaf people. My dogs know that barking does not always work, they must come nudge or swat us to get our attention, and I think that’s something hearing people don’t think about.

Dr. Koeppen and I ended the interview thanking Fatimah and Kyndall for sharing their stories and thoughts. What a wonderful way to celebrate and highlight the importance of Deaf Awareness Month!

Enjoy this Instagram Reel created by our social media team and one of our dynamic Annandale Campus ASL classes as they promoted Deaf Awareness Month! 

Do you want to learn more about NOVA’s Interpreter Services Office? Consider meeting with staff interpreters Cynthia Ragen and Jamie Karlinchak, and Interpreter Coordinator Dr. Katie Koeppen for help to:

• Schedule interpreters or captions for your class or event.
• Provide tips for working with sign language interpreters in the classroom.
• Educate others about working with deaf/HOH people.

Take a look at the Interpreter Services website to browse the FAQ section. Visit the NOVAnet Accommodations and Accessibility Services page for resources about working with interpreters, adding captions to videos and accessing The Daily Flyer articles related to accommodations. Also, learn about NOVA’s American Sign Language degree program.

Do you or anyone you know require accommodation or face an accessibility barrier? To ask questions or make a request:

• Faculty and staff should email ada@nvcc.edu
• Students, visitors and members of the public should email interpreters@nvcc.edu
• Report An Accessibility Barrier

Submitted by: 
Dr. Mia Harper, Associate Director of DEI and Dr. Katie Koeppen, Interpreter Services Coordinator