Inclusive Support for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community during Pregnancy and Postpartum
Written by: Postpartum Doula Rebekah Martinez
One of the things I love most about New Life Birth Services is its dedication to inclusion. Our team members spend so much of their time working with very diverse populations from different races and ethnicities to a variety of sizes, cultural backgrounds, and differently-abled individuals and families. We are passionate about making sure that every family receives support that is catered to them, their experiences, and their needs.
I am so proud to be a part of an effort to bring more inclusive efforts toward supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community here in New Mexico. This year, when a member of our team was asked about DHH resources, it jump-started an initiative for our organization to reach families in our community that may not be receiving adequate support during such an intimate and precious time in their lives. We teamed up with a member of the New Mexico Commission for Deaf & Hard of Hearing (thanks Trevor!) to develop a resource list as a step toward making sure DHH community members are properly supported through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
Personally, I was exposed early on as a child to the DHH community and have had a long-standing passion to communicate and connect. In the first grade, one of my closest friends was the only child of deaf parents. While she was hearing-abled and interpreted for us, I was always enthralled with her communication with her parents and as a child, I really wanted to learn so I could talk to them, too.
A few short years later, my family’s small-town church began welcoming DHH community members to our services. A few hearing members of the congregation took sign language courses so that they could interpret the worship songs and sermons. One of these new interpreters would end up being my mom. We even had a DHH member who taught weekly classes at our church for anyone who wanted to learn ASL. I would excitedly tag along with my mom to her classes and get as much out of it as I could. By the 6th grade, I was proficient enough to have meaningful conversations. It was a skill that I still believe is incredibly valuable.
Although I haven’t practiced much in recent years and have found myself forgetting the majority of what I had learned - you know what they say, “use it or lose it” - this skill has been important in communicating with a community that does not receive a lot of headline attention for inclusivity. During my years in retail, I was able to help individuals here and there with their needs. It saddened me that someone with my embarrassingly low skill level was often the only alternative to helping customers get what they needed without having to communicate through writing. It was during my years at a local Target that I found Trevor, who has now become an invaluable support to me and to New Life Birth Services in providing the resources needed by DHH birthing families and by providing access to the same supports that many of our diverse clients seek out. He has also been key in encouraging me to re-educate myself in ASL.
I will be brushing up on my ASL over the next year and hope to be able to provide direct postpartum doula support for DHH community members. I will also encourage and support any of my peers, present and future, in doing the same. I am looking forward to this bright future with New Life, the new opportunities that it will bring for supporting the DHH community, and the steps toward inclusivity for all. If you or someone you know is having a baby and is a part of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, please reach out to us. We are an ally in your community and want to make sure you receive the support you want and deserve.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Resources in New Mexico
NEW MEXICO COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF & HARD OF HEARING FACT SHEETS
The resources we've provided below are not exhaustive. If you are aware of any Deaf & Hard of Hearing professionals relating to birth, postpartum, or family support, please let us know! We would love to feature them here.
Mental Health Therapists and Psychiatrists: These resources have training in deafness & mental health, and in how to use a signed language interpreter in counseling sessions.
OBGYN’s, infertility doctors, clinics, or other resources:
The NMCDHH does not recommend any specific doctors or clinics. However, both Presbyterian Health Services and the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) have staff signed language interpreters.
Doulas:
The NMCDHH and New Life Birth Services are unaware of any local resources. However, the agency Hand Waves Birth Services located in Maryland offers out-of-state doula services, and the company was founded by two Deaf women. They are happy to share their knowledge and can be reached at doulas@handwavesbirth.com.
Resources for breastfeeding/chestfeeding/nursing:
One resource available for all state residents is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Regarding yoga instructors:
There are some local Deaf Yoga instructors. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, class schedules may be affected. For more information, you can contact Ryan Simka at yogiryan19@gmail.com.
The Commission offers some videos created by their staff. Although they do not specifically pertain to perinatal health, they contain information regarding COVID-19, fire safety, and other topics that may be of interest to new parents.
Regarding CODA/KODA parent resources:
One resource the NMCDHH recommends is KODAheart. KODAheart was created to respond to frequent requests from Deaf community members for more support and resources for hearing kids of deaf adults and their families.
Regarding BIPOC parent resources:
Unfortunately, at this time the NMCDHH and New Life Birth Services are unaware of any resources regarding BIPOC parenting known to be easily accessible for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.
Regarding DeafBlind Resources:
Please see NMCDHH’s fact sheet “Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & DeafBlind Organizations in New Mexico”.
New Mexico Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing direct contact information:
Albuquerque | 505 Marquette NW, Suite 1550 | Albuquerque, NM 87102
V: 505.383.6530 | VP: 505.435.9319 | Fax: 505.383.6533
Las Cruces | 2407 W. Picacho, Suite A-100 | Las Cruces, NM 88007
Voice: 575.525.1036 VP: 575.541.3400
Toll-Free: 1.800.489.8536 | Website: www.cdhh.state.nm.us