“Since the beginning of time, across all civilizations, it has been necessary for people who are deaf to take an active role as advocates. For this historically marginalized group, fighting for their rights (and the rights of others) has always been a matter of survival. There are times when the only person who can really understand a deaf individual is another person who is deaf. This is true when it comes to language skills (since not everyone uses formal American Sign Language), and it is also true when it comes to recognizing and navigating instances of institutional oppression….”   -Lydia Callis