When Service Coordinator, Wendi Ely started supporting Deaf individuals, she quickly realized how common the “just write it down” approach was. Many assumed that passing notes or relying on lip reading was enough. But over time, she saw the limits.
“People nod and smile,” Wendi says, “but that doesn’t mean they understand. Real communication doesn’t happen when someone is just trying to keep up.”
American Sign Language (ASL) is a full, natural language, and English isn’t the native language for many Deaf individuals. Lip reading only captures a part of the conversation, leaving important points behind. “It can be exhausting and one-sided,” Wendi explains. “It doesn’t give people the chance to fully express themselves.”
Wendi believes true person-centered care means using the communication method that works best for the person, often ASL or a mix of strategies. “It’s not about what’s easiest for the service provider,” she says. “It’s about creating space for real understanding.”
For Wendi, this is about dignity, equity, and inclusion. “Everyone deserves to be heard in their own language,” she reminds us. “That’s what person-centered care really means.”