REGISTER TODAY FOR “Unlearning Audism” with guest panelist R. M. Horrell, J.D., M.L.S., (they, them), CEO of Mozzeria Inc. and Big Bully Roasters; President of the Board of Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County, and a distinguished Professor of Law.
Join Lindsey and R. M. on this transformative journey as they challenge preconceived notions about the deaf experience, deaf excellence, why a values-based business model matters, and what it means to create conscious working environments.
R. M.’s insights will underscore the belief that creating safe and equitable and accessible spaces for deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and deaf-disabled people benefits everyone through a universal design approach.
what to expect during Unlearning Audism
Audism – Audism is not so much a personal discriminatory act but a system in which privilege is given to hearingness and proximity thereto — a spectrum of privilege that elevates English speech, lip reading , the use of implants and aids. If we look at is like a pectrum from hearing to hard of hearing to deaf to deafhood we get farther and farther from that privilege where access to information is obstaclized not so much by “need of visual information” but a refusal to provide visual information by those in power.”
ALLYSHIP – I prefer the term “allyship” (as opposed “being an ally”) because we should be “working toward greater allyship.” This word choice is important because it indicates humility and integrity as one cannot ever be complete in their work toward being more just. And using terms with finality like “ally” creates a sense of finishedness and worse is often weaponized by people who are doing harm but then saying “I’m an ally” etc. “Allyship – Mozzeria’s success story is rooted in a single shift in its business model, unlocking the potential of our all-deaf team.
Values-Based Culture – Mozzeria’s success story is rooted in a single shift in its business model, unlocking the potential of our all-deaf team. R. M.’s call-to-action is that we move beyond merely performative or numerical Diversity–move beyond checking a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) box.
Get to know r. m. Horrell
R. M. is the CEO of Mozzeria, Inc., in Washington, DC, and San Francisco, California, one of the most successful, Deaf-Owned and Deaf-Operated restaurant chains in the world. Prior to this role, R.M. was Senior Program Manager for CSD Social Venture Fund managing contracts, programs, and projects for Investment Partners. R.M. serves as president of the Community Action Partnership of Sonoma board of directors and has since 2020. R.M. has more than 15 years of teaching experience having been a Deaf Education Teacher and a School Principal. Beyond this, they also are the CEO and co-founder of a boutique coffee roasting company, Big Bully Roasters based in Sonoma County, California. When not working, R.M. enjoys science fiction, tooling around in the garden, and spending time with family.
Links to learn more about R. M. & the organizations they lead.
Mozzeria, Inc
Big Bully Roasters – (Named after R.M.’s French bulldogs) boutique fair trade coffee roaster
Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County doing anti-poverty work that not only supports people through a whole family approach, but addresses systems that cause and create and perpetuate poverty including racism, ableism, corporate exploitation, unethical landlord housing practices, to name a few.
LinkedIn
Webinar: Understanding the unique experience of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Customers.
R. M. with Michelle Banks (amazing artist, producer director) and Rosa Lee Timm (one of the most amazing humans. Artist, performer, philosopher, writer, and business person). Both Deaf
“I want to remove barriers and cut through some toxic workplace bullshit, such that I can, and help to somehow create a sense of belonging. The goal is a workplace culture where the intent to create and curate belonging is central.”
R. M. with Elyse Myers (mental health advocate, neurodivergent activist and humorist, hearing ) and Dr. Christina Hopewell-Albert (researcher, business person, teacher, and fashion icon in the deaf community)
Learn more about audism
Links
A directory of deaf owned businesses – https://csdsvf.com/directory/
Apps for Learning ASL ASDC suggestions to support family learning of ASL.
The ASL App (ASL for the People), Teaching conversational ASL. It includes over 1,000 signs and phrases for adults as well as ASL with Care Bears for kids.
Four ASL apps Four apps to learn ASL: iASL, ASL Pro, Sign 4 Me, and ASL Dictionary
VL2 Storybook Apps – Visual Language Visual Learning Center (VL2) at Gallaudet, providing interactive stories in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English.
ASL Connect – Resource for learning American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.
ASL Deafined – Subscription-based website provides ASL video lessons.
Start ASL – Deaf Culture
Wired Magazine – How to learn sign language free
LEAD-K – https://www.lead-k.org
Gallaudet University – https://gallaudet.edu
NTID at Rochester – https://www.rit.edu/ntid/
The Daily Moth – https://www.dailymoth.com/blog
