Deaf-Owned DOBEs Spotlight: Celebrating International Week of the Deaf

In honor of International Week of the Deaf, Disability:IN is proud to highlight the profound impacts of Deaf business leaders and the pivotal role they play in increasing #DisabilityRepresentation, inclusion, and global economic growth. As we continue celebrating #InternationalWeekOfTheDeaf, we invite you to join us in commemorating these exceptional entrepreneurs and their remarkable journeys within our vibrant #DisabilityOwned (#DOBE) community.

#DeafOwned Business Leaders are #ProudToBeDOBE

Access Vine

Amanda Tuite is the Co-Founder & CEO of Access Vine. At Access Vine, Amanda's mission is rooted in the Golden Rule, promoting diversity and inclusion through her advocacy and education efforts within the Deaf community. Through interactive workshops and daily conversations, her company aims to challenge perceptions and teach us all to do better work, emphasizing the importance of valuing, respecting, and fully including deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the workforce.

"Having faced adversity as a Deaf Woman-owned business, it is incredibly fulfilling to create more job opportunities and contribute to the economic growth of the deaf community. Our training program has proven to be a huge win for both our business and the Deaf community when a Deaf person gets hired on the job. We are proud to serve our customers in both American Sign Language and English, and to promote and support many disability-owned businesses. Being DOBE certified has helped us to gain more visibility and credibility in the business world. It has opened doors to new opportunities and collaborations and has given us access to valuable resources and business support. Disability:IN has been an incredible partner in our journey, and we are grateful for their continued support in promoting disability inclusion in the workplace." – Amanda Tuite

deaffriendly CONSULTING

Melissa "echo" Greenlee (deaf) is the Founder, CEO & Principal Consultant at DeafFriendly CONSULTING, which was born from four years of aggregating the true lived experiences of thousands of Deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers, consequently channeling it into tried-and-true turnkey services. Melissa's journey began at age 8 when she started losing her hearing, ultimately leading her to launch deaffriendly.com in 2012, a game-changing consumer review website for the Deaf community. Through DeafFriendly CONSULTING, she provides essential training to U.S. businesses striving for inclusivity - filling a gap in deaf and hard-of-hearing consumer needs.

"Born hearing and becoming deaf later in life has given me a unique perspective on how to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing worlds. Having spent my childhood learning to be hearing-friendly, now I can teach the world to be deaf-friendly.?I’m proud to be part of Disability:IN, linking me with businesses committed to fostering inclusion. Together, we aim to harness the immense $9 billion purchasing power of the Deaf community." – Melissa echo Greenlee

DeafNation

In addition to being an adventurer and #Deaf advocate, Joel Barish is also the Co-Founder of DeafNation, the world’s premier business serving the Deaf community via his popular social media programs.?No Barriers with Joel Barish?is an inspiring, adventurous travelogue in Sign Language that brings viewers along Joel’s travels to explore unique cuisine, Deaf business owners, and the significance of landmarks along the journey. His talk show,?Coffee with Joel Barish,?interviews notable Deaf people on a variety of topics that are interesting and relevant to the Deaf and signing community.

“My disability has been an asset to me and I am proud to be Deaf using American Sign Language and know many different sign languages around the world plus International Sign. It brings me to next level working with many Deaf people and educate hearing clients with my knowledge. Travel 100+ nations filming Deaf people. Being DOBE certified?gives me the opportunity to have a credible certificate from Disability:IN and be able to work with different companies.” – Joel Barish

dozanü innovations

Meet Katherine Lees, a globe-trotting enthusiast who's turned her passion for travel into a mission for promoting diversity and #Accessibility. Katherine's journey has taken her through 35 states and 19 countries, igniting her passion for cultural diversity. She's a public speaker, an advocate for accessibility, and a budding serial entrepreneur. Along with Michelle Lapides, they are the driving force behind dozanü innovations, a marketing company dedicated to diversity and inclusion, with a team of Deaf and Disabled experts offering unique insights into today's digital landscape, revolutionizing marketing one inclusive campaign at a time.

“As it stands, each member of our team at dozanü innovations is a part of the disability community, and our disabilities have been a unique asset in the work we do daily. It has been proven that our experiences provide a different perspective and understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in marketing. Through our personal experiences, we’ve gained insights into the challenges and barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing products, services, and information. This firsthand knowledge has allowed us to develop marketing strategies that are not only inclusive but also resonate authentically with diverse audiences, fostering genuine relatability. Attending the Disability:IN conference as a first-timer in Orlando, was a defining moment for our marketing company and team. As we returned to our team with the knowledge, connections, and inspiration from this transformative event, we emerged with a renewed purpose: not only to reach audiences, but to genuinely connect with the corporations behind the campaigns, bridging gaps from multiple directions, and making the world a more inclusive place, one campaign at a time.” – Katherine Lees