
Building Bridges
Providing inclusive and accessible services, education, and advocacy while engaging the broader community.
Providing inclusive and accessible services, education, and advocacy while engaging the broader community.
Please go to https://forms.gle/ntAyhVdMPbHnEvU86 to register!
Registration closes February 5 for this round of classes.
There are ten choices for day/time.
(must have a minimum enrollment of 3 per class for each to be offered)
Classes start the week of February 10 and go for 6 weeks.
(Please note that if you do this on a smartphone or tablet, you may see "Donate" on the GiveButter button for payment - it's ok! Click that and it will take you to the right place for payment!)
Check out this great video from our board member Demarcus!
Endless Sea Coffee, located in Storm Lake, IA, is hosting a fundraiser for Deaf Dome through the end of December (may be extended into 2025). Click the link above to purchase DeafDome Roast, Building Bridges Blend, or one of Endless Sea's other blends! If you use the fundraising link above, a percentage of each sale will be donated directly to Deaf Dome.
Deaf Dome was incorporated in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaf Dome was declared a 510(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service in 2023. Deaf Dome was founded and is operated by members of the DHH+ community and their allies in Iowa. We provide education and advocacy in support of our communities.
Deaf Dome's vision is to see a united DHH+ community, where we recognize our people’s needs and bridges are built across lines of difference. This is a world where authentic relationships lead to a new culture of trust and a just, equitable and inclusive community.
Telina McKenna-Quintana
Amanda Miller
Gretchen Brown-Waech
Amber Tucker
Kensie Channon
Holly Shannon
Sylvia Townsend
Emily Fawcett
Demarcus Thomas
Carly Armour
Our mission is to improve the lives of the DHH+ Community by providing inclusive and accessible services, education, and advocacy while engaging the broader community.
These are our guiding principles that we work from. Everything Deaf Dome does should grow from these roots.
Deaf Dome strives to:
Our actions have an impact on others. Our intent matters; the way our actions impact others matters more.
When questions are asked in good faith, we answer if we can. We share all relevant information so others can make informed decisions. We encourage each other to ask questions instead of making assumptions.
People are complex. Understanding that we are all human, all make mistakes, and all deserve grace allows us to avoid categorizing people as "good" or "bad".
We center the experiences of people with disabilities because we recognize that when we acknowledge that all bodies have strengths and needs that must be met, we begin to understand that none should be valued over others.
A desire to provide equitable support leads us to see that not everyone accesses and processes information the same way. Being able to adapt the way we do things in the moment means we include and involve more people.
We see that no one can be "competent" in anyone else's culture. We operate from a place of curiosity, asking questions rather than making assumptions. We work to uproot our assumptions about the "right" way to do things, and look for wisdom in unexpected places.
We see that all oppressions are connected. When we highlight different systems of oppression, identify where we may have power or privilege (as well as where we experience oppression), and work to balance our approach - everyone benefits.
We work towards a space where everyone can use the language they are most comfortable with, de-centering the language that is imposed on us.
Respect is highly individual. It is important to ask people how they want to be treated, rather than treat others how you wish to be treated. As a parallel value, being able to set boundaries for ourselves models respect for self. We recognize that each person has many roles and responsibilities in their lives, and we support each other in establishing boundaries that allow for health, wellness, and balance.
In supporting each other in establishing boundaries, we prioritize self-care over achievement, affirmation over judgment, and restorative practice over punishment.
Harm reduction refers to a framwork that honors people's autonomy and the value of their lived experience. It requires that we suspend judgment and care for the human in front of us. This means not applying our own values -or society's - to others. Autonomy is the foundation of advocacy; we cannot effectively advocate alongside people whose choices we have taken away. Integrating harm reduction principles also requires that, if harm is done, any outcomes must not be punitive or revenge-based. Instead, the focus must be on repairing/restoring the relationship in whatever way best fits. This allows space for transformation and healing for individuals and communities.
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