Darius L. Branner
4/9/2008
Business and Entrepreneurship in the Deaf Culture
Money is something that everyone wishes they had more of but
knows that getting more is going to be difficult. After the Great
Depression of the 1930’s and 1940’s, People began to realize that in
case of another similar situation, they needed to have some money
put away for a rainy day. It was noticed that the very few that did
survive through the Great Depression financially, were the business
owners of the time. Through this experience entrepreneurship was
born. People began going into business for themselves and seeing
money in a whole new way. Ethnic communities, gender based
communities, and so on began to come together and carve out their
space in the business world. Like every other community, the deaf
community too began trying to increase their presence in he the
business world. Today there are many aides for deaf and hard of
hearing people who wish to successfully make their mark in the world
of entrepreneurship and business ownership.
A major factor in the launching of deaf entrepreneurs into the
business world is the NDBI (National Deaf Business Institute.) Their
mission “is to advance entrepreneurship by the deaf through
education, research and outreach. Through its programs, NDBI aims to
help empower the deaf community by increasing the number of
deaf-owned businesses and deaf professionals.” In trying to produce
deaf business leaders, the NDBI provides the skills to start,
manage, and grow a successful business or organization. They wish to
even the playing field by “break the barriers down that society
imposed” by giving their future business leaders the proper tools
and aides to succeed. They serve people of all ages: youth, college
students, and professionals. Not only do they instill a high
entrepreneurial spirit, the instill confidence, independence, and
communication skills through their program and by providing great
role models who are already succeeding in their professions.
Another important factor in promoting deaf entrepreneurship is
the business program at Gallaudet University. They offer courses in
business management, business building, and entrepreneurship as well
as a host of other classes related to these sub-topics. Entrepreneur
classes usually go over the proper steps in building a successful
business plan, while business building covers the steps needed to
get ones business up and running properly, and business management
provides the skills needed to keep the business going. In addition
to Gallaudet University’s Business Program, they have formed an
alliance with the National Deaf Business Institute to form the
Merrill Lynch Entrepreneur Leadership Program to create another
resource for inspiring deaf entrepreneurs.
Also, those interested in deaf entrepreneurship can promote their
business and increase their networking power through a variety of
trades, expos, and conventions. A very well known business
convention in the deaf community is the World Federation of the Deaf
Convention held 14 times a year. In 2007 there was a special
interest group for deaf business ownership along with two
presentations (“Microcredit Program for Deaf Women in Developing
Countries: A Bottom Up Model” and “Delivering a Quality Deaf
Employment Service”.) In addition to the conventions there are
trading expos where vendors can come in and promote and advertise
their business. This also increases networking among deaf business
owners.
There are many resources out there for inspiring deaf entrepreneurs,
as well as institutes to provide education in communication friendly
environments. There are also networking opportunities like business
trading expos that help build deaf business ownership. Institutes,
conventions, and education providers are all sharing the same common
goal of increases deaf business ownership and the deaf community’s
purchasing power.
Sources for this article:
National Deaf Business Institute: www.ndbi.org
http://deafness.about.com/cs/deafhohproducts/a/deafhohbusiness.htm
www.deafnation.com