Mid-South organization empowers deaf, hard-of-hearing community

Corie Ventura
·2 min read

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Every Tuesday, as part of our Greater Memphis on a Mission series, we highlight organizations making Memphis better. This week, we sat down with a group that ensures our deaf community is heard

Deaf Connect of the Mid-South is a nonprofit organization that helps empower deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and their families. They want to make sure every deaf person can experience full communication no matter where they are.

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Natasha Parks is the CEO. “[We] educate businesses and the community about the importance of making sure that the deaf population can understand what is going on in the public setting.”

Amanda Miller is one of the deaf or hard-of-hearing residents in Shelby County. Her interpreter of three years is Dequita Crockett.

“If we didn’t have interpreters, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. We need interpreters to communicate in sign language,” said Amanda. “Deaf Connect is very important to make sure the interpreters are there to make sure we have equal access.”

That’s why they teamed up with the Overton Park Shell for their concert series.

“There are sign language interpreters at concerts,” said the CEO. “People think that the hard-of-hearing don’t want to go but they do. They want to be involved in every entertainment experience that we want to be involved in.”

They also provide interpreters to facilitate communication when it comes to doctor appointments, parent-teacher conferences and more.

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Plus, they offer sign language classes in the spring and fall for family members as well as for community members who want to learn.

For Amanda and her family, all they want is “Equality all around. You want equal accessibility.”

That is why Brown Missionary Baptist Church donated $1,000 to Deaf Connect of the Mid-South because even if you use a different language to communicate, you should still have a seat at the table.

For more information about Deaf Connect, click here.

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