Embracing a Community Code of Kindness

By Janet DesGeorges, Executive Director H&V Headquarters

In March of 2022, the FL3 Center brought together a small, select group of U.S. organizations that provide direct support to families as part of their mission, and have had systemic influence in the development of EHDI Systems from the parent perspective over many years. These groups included A.G. Bell, American Society for Deaf Children, Family Voices, Hearing First, the National Cued Speech Association, and the National Center on Deaf-Blindness. The FL3 Center/Hands & Voices hosted this Partnership Summit that kicked off a two-year collaboration resulting in a Community Code of Kindness Position Statement.

The purpose of the FL3 Partnership Summit was to develop and build upon existing organizational partnerships to create opportunities for systemic improvement through policy and promising practices discussions and identify areas of needed change to critical infrastructures of the 1-3-6 EHDI system. The group also had the opportunity to review and share individual organizational history and contributions to the EHDI system, discuss current gaps and recommendations for improvement, and develop an action plan to move forward together on.

The subsequent meetings over a two-year time span created a space for national family-based organizations to discuss needed improvements from the family engagement lens of EHDI. The group created a list of suggested ideas to address some gaps, and committed to working together. A joint project ensued, resulting in the Community Code of Kindness Position Statement.

Why a Code of Kindness?

The organizations represented have deep and historical roots. While all are bound together to support the needs of families of children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, each organization has differing philosophies, areas of focus, and unique characteristics. Each organization is committed to ensuring that families have the opportunity for informed decision making, and have addressed inequities in the system from their own lens throughout the years. As the group came together, it became clear that no one wanted to live by the philosophy of “getting to the family first” in terms of swaying a family’s decisions, or to compete with one another for the hearts/minds of families in their communication/language decisions. Are we committed to working together?  Yes, and is there a code by which we will commit to in order to do that?  The answer was a resounding yes.

The following is the position statement in its entirety:

Community Code of Kindness

Our collaborative position statement:

The following organizations helped to create and adopt the following collaborative interactions for our national partnerships. We take individual and organizational responsibility for adding value and contributing to the ethical success of this grassroots kindness movement. We accept the personal and organizational commitment to advocate for these agreements by engaging in activities that enhance and spread kindness and compassion.

• Alexander Graham Bell Association
• Hearing First
• American Society for Deaf Children
• National Cued Speech Association
• Family Voices
• Hands & Voices
• National Center on Deaf-Blindness

OUR COMMITMENTS

We will be kind and respectful to anyone with lived experiences as families with children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf /Hard of Hearing Plus, and Deaf-Blind. We will do this by carefully listening and talking to many people and communities because we want to understand.

We will be honest about anything we don’t know enough about concerning the experiences, resources, and topics related to children and adults who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, Deaf Plus, and Deaf-Blind to avoid providing misinformation.

We will recognize the resources other organizations provide, refer, and share appropriately.

OUR AGREEMENTS

We agree to:

• Respect families’ decision-making processes.
• Give one another kindness.
• Try to understand others and help them understand us.
• Not question or doubt the lived experiences of others.
• Welcome different perspectives, opinions, and experiences.
• Pay attention to how our words impact others and how we define what others say.
• Interact in a friendly, respectful, and professional manner.
• Ask questions and listen to the responses.
• Make space for everyone to contribute.
• Listen deeply.
• Challenge ideas and opinions respectfully.
• Respect requests for confidentiality.
• Recognize that a variety of perspectives can exist on the same issue.
• Be kind and respectful always.

We invite all organizations to adopt this code of kindness.   ~

Ed.note: Seeking information about having your organization sign on to the position statement? Contact janet@handsandvoices.org.  Share the Code of Kindness as a downloadable document here: https://www.handsandvoices.org/fl3/resources/toolbox.html#code