"Silenced and Dismissed: The Impact of Phonocentrism, Ableism and Audism"

Oppression against Deaf caregivers and their children is sustained by a lack of knowledge and acceptance of Deaf transgender children and youth. Because we are members of a marginalized community, we encounter prejudice resulting from audism, ableism, and phonocentrism, which invalidate our experiences and prevent us from accessing necessary resources. Because spoken communication is valued so highly in society, signed languages are overlooked and have a unique identity. This reinforces negative preconceptions and limits chances for our community.

Additionally, these oppressive factors directly affect our transgender children, who may internalize negative self-perceptions or encounter prejudice as a result of their caregivers' intersecting identities as Deaf, Black, Brown, or POC. It is unacceptable if our love, wisdom, and opinions are ignored because of our distinctive communication style alone.
It is our responsibility as activist caretakers to oppose these deeply ingrained oppressive structures and fight for the acceptance of the many viewpoints and realities that exist within the Deaf community. We have an unwavering responsibility to fight for the representation and equal rights of our transgender children, making sure that their views are heard when making choices that will affect their lives. Society needs to accept and respect all forms of communication while also getting rid of systemic biases against the Deaf community. We will no longer stand for being ignored and suppressed. By working together, we can create a society in which our kids' unique individuality is valued rather than suppressed.