Supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Inclusion, Access, and Empowerment

Germaine Graham, an advocate and educator passionate about supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community joins us on this episode. She explores what true inclusion looks like — from early intervention and communication access to building environments where DHH individuals are seen, heard, and valued.

Explore Conversation

Supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Inclusion, Access, and Empowerment

Germaine shares insights from both a personal and professional lens, offering guidance for educators, therapists, and families seeking to better understand how to support communication diversity, accessibility, and self-advocacy. This episode encourages listeners to move beyond awareness toward meaningful, everyday inclusion.

Topics covered:
🔹 Breaking Barriers: Understanding the social and educational challenges faced by DHH individuals.
🔹 Communication Access: Why inclusion requires more than amplification — it requires understanding and adaptation.
🔹 Representation Matters: The power of diverse role models and authentic visibility in education and media.
🔹 Creating Inclusive Spaces: How schools and clinicians can foster belonging through language choice, visual supports, and advocacy.
🔹 Family Empowerment: Supporting caregivers in navigating systems, resources, and identity development.
🔹 The Role of Professionals: What SLPs, teachers, and service providers can do to make a meaningful impact.
🔹 From Awareness to Action: Practical ways to promote equity and cultural responsiveness in everyday practice.

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Guests

  • Germaine Graham

    M.S., CCC-SLP

    Germaine Graham, M.S., CCC-SLP is a nationally certified bilingual speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and passionate advocate for language access and equity. With more than 15 years of experience, Germaine specializes in providing family-centered, culturally responsive, bilingual (American Sign Language (ASL)/English) speech and language services to Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafPlus, and hard-of-hearing children from birth through high school.

    As the founder of Deafinitely Communicating, a mobile speech-language therapy practice based in Mesa, Arizona, Germaine partners with families, schools, and professionals to promote early language access, support bilingual development, and ensure communication equity for Deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. Her work is rooted in the belief that every child has the right to rich, accessible language experiences from birth.

    Germaine’s clinical expertise includes auditory training, articulation, expressive and receptive language development, parent coaching, and collaborative service delivery models. Her approach integrates evidence-based practice with deep respect for Deaf culture and identity.

    Germaine is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast guest, workshop facilitator, and university lecturer. She has presented at several conferences, including state-level Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, and has shared her insights with interpreter networks, early intervention teams, and graduate programs across the country. Her recent talks explore themes such as bilingual language acquisition, family empowerment, culturally responsive care, and presuming competence in Deaf education.

    Beyond her clinical and speaking work, Germaine serves on the advisory boards for Arizona Hands & Voices, Deaf Kids Connect, and the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She is also a proud member of the National Black Deaf Advocates.

    Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and raised in Virginia, Germaine was cultivated in Mississippi and now lives in Arizona with her husband and five children. Whether she’s working with families, teaching future clinicians, or advocating for systemic change, Germaine remains committed to amplifying the voices of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families.

Learning Objectives

Identify common barriers to inclusion for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in educational and clinical settings.
Describe strategies to promote equitable communication access and representation in practice.
Apply inclusive principles to better support students, clients, and families within the DHH community.

Agenda

Agenda

10 minutesBarriers for deaf and hard of hearing individuals
10 minutesBilingual language acquisition and family empowerment
10 minutesCulturally responsive care and presuming competence in deaf education

Disclosures

Disclosures

Financial:Germaine Graham has no financial relationships to disclose.
Non-Financial:Germaine Graham has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Content:Germaine has no additional content information to disclose.

ASHA

ASHA

This course is offered for .05 ASHA CEUs, Introductory Level, Professional Area

To earn ASHA CEUs you must complete the courses by viewing them, provide course feedback, pass the exams with a score of 80 or more, provide your ASHA credentials, and confirm submission.

Customer Reviews

Supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Inclusion, Access, and Empowerment
$7.00
Germaine Graham, an advocate and educator passionate about supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community joins us on this episode. She explores what true inclusion looks like — from early intervention and communication access to building environments where DHH individuals are seen, heard, and valued. Includes access to the recorded episode and optional ASHA reporting.

Add-ons

Using Curriculum to Support School-Age Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
$29.00
This course focuses on supporting Deaf and hard-of-hearing children in learning academic concepts through functional communication and language development. Participants will explore strategies and engage in hands-on practice to effectively use academic curriculum to boost literacy and language skills, leaving with practical tools to apply immediately. Includes access to the recorded course and optional ASHA reporting.