“There are a lot of hearing Santas out there,” Graves said through an ASL translator. “And for that child to be able to look up to somebody who’s like them… that’s why I do this.”

ASL interpreting changed Billy Sanders’ life. Now he’s providing language accessibility at D.C. demonstrations.

The new norms of the coronavirus era have made life more difficult for deaf Washingtonians, and exposed inequities in local health and government systems.

Legislation to create an office for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing is moving through the D.C. Council.

The founders say it’s a way to create employment opportunities for members of the District’s Deaf community.