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Who We Are

The Journey Begins

Signed Ink, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to foster public appreciation of deaf representation in literature and to support the community of deaf people who create and promote them.

Thanks for joining us! This is a collection of our adventures of the written word—any curious writings—and our not-so-silent-shenanigans in the world of publishing. There is no secret handshake for entry here, only signs and wonders of the written word (illustrated or otherwise). Whimsical words and pictures will always suffice.

Coming soon. . . blog posts! Meanwhile, I’ll be brainstorming and writing in the garden. I hope you all have your own peaceful place to create and bring magic to the page. Here’s my slice of heaven, where I create and am inspired (share yours in the comments):

What do we believe:

We are D/deaf/hard of hearing creatives, authors and illustrators who write and/or illustrate books for children, teens, and adult audiences. We champion imagination and support all diverse forms of deaf-gain. We believe that there is no wrong way to be D/deaf or hard of hearing (HOH). Each individual has a unique and colorful journey and we champion each one. We believe it is a D/deaf person’s right to choose which tools they use to communicate with the world—be it a signed-language (like ASL), hearing aids, cochlear implants (CI’s), Signed English, or their voice(s) in written or oral form, etc. We advocate the importance of providing D/deaf children with a full language that is accessible to them, one that prevents language deprivation, encourages literacy, and provides equal access to language and communication. We champion diverse D/deaf/HOH voices and culture(s) in literature and strive to educate the hearing and KidLit community about D/deaf/HOH experiences across the deaf gain spectrum. Through storytelling (words, illustrations, and signs) and advocacy, we stand to unite the gap between the hearing and the D/deaf and aim to provide resources for parents, librarians, and educators who aid in helping others understand the D/deaf experiences and promote D/deaf literacy and learning. We wholeheartedly believe that D/deaf children deserve to see themselves in the pages of books—reinforcing how much they matter—that they are valuable, and that they are understood.