Project Description

Deaf Youth USA is committed to social justice through media and activism. Deaf Youth USA (DYUSA) is a new and "emerging" organization exclusively for deaf youth in America, between the ages of 18 - 30. DYUSA strives to empower, educate, and inspire deaf youth in making a difference in their own communities, through giving tools. We aim to have our first event this summer, which will be a 4-day camp, with forums, discussions, and workshops.

There are 47,000 deaf youth in the 18 - 30 age group and there is no advocacy, activism, or at least an organization to address their needs, visions, and ideas. This summer, it's going to change. Deaf youth will finally have an organized voice and tools.

Today's deaf youth are an intelligent, vibrant, ambitious group, yet we still face prejudices. Deaf youth face different kinds of issues - accessibility, respect, equality, and chances for opportunities in our every day lives. There are a lot of ignorance out there or a lot of people who feel "being deaf" is a sad or a bad thing. It isn't! All that should change, but who is to change it? Deaf youth! As advocates of human rights, DYUSA aims to educate, support, and have a hand in social change, all for social justice.

In light of today's youth - internet and media are powerful tools - and DYUSA aims to educate deaf youth, from a grassroots level to the college-educated level, on how we can create our own media, our own voice, and make it accessible for all.

The core philosophy of DYUSA is: ABOUT deaf youth, BY deaf youth, and FOR deaf youth!