161. Combatting Disconnection Among Seniors with D’yann Crosby

Education Evolution

English - May 09, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MB
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Previous Episode: 160. Creating Clear Outcomes & Wraparound Support for Students

Next Episode: 162. Early Childhood Experiences from Birth with Cynthia Jackson

We focus a lot on the education of our youth, but people at the other end of their life need resources and education too. Many people lose their hearing as they age, making communication difficult and connection even more challenging. Seniors face isolation, which leads to anxiety, depression, and elevated symptoms of dementia.

What can help combat this is more family and community connections and learning something new. This week on the podcast, guest D’yann Crosby shares her solution to this challenge. And it’s ingenious.

As an educator, D'yann has immersed herself in the deaf community, learning and understanding their needs and finding solutions to fill a need for a community that is underserved and marginalized. She emphasizes the importance of providing exercises for everyone, from hitting the beginning of language learning to senior citizens, and looking at the next generation.

About D’yann Crosby:

Dr. D’yann Elaine is a leading American Sign Language (ASL) educator, interpreter, consultant, author, producer, and the founder of Sign with Me, Inc. She is an expert in connecting the hearing and Deaf communities and blazing new trails in this field.

Dr. D’yann holds a Doctorate in Divinity, two Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from prestigious universities. With a passion for social equity and inclusion, Dr. D’yann’s goal is to help people expand their perspectives and focus on their abilities instead of their limitations.

With over two decades of experience, Dr. D’yann has dedicated her life to teaching others. She is the executive producer of the ASL Emergency Preparedness DVD Series and Unheard Voices Talk Show, as well as the author of the “Seniors Sign, Too!” book series. Her vision is to inspire a new generation of signers and make a positive impact by unifying communities through language. She has been featured in iDominate (April 2022 and February 2023) and Voyage LA (2022) and on various On-demand and podcast platforms including Power of Praise Network and Unshakeable Woman and Radio Theatre For Your Soul.

Jump in the Conversation:

[1:40] - Learning is lifelong

[2:00] - Where the desire for impact started for D’yann

[4:05] - Equal communication access for those who are deaf and hard of hearing

[6:15] - 1 in 3 people over age 65 suffer hearing loss

[11:52] - Creating cross-generational and cross-cultural activities

[12:50] - ASL belongs to the deaf community

[13:57] - Family signing together and learning something new makes it more fun

[14:52] - Filling a need for a community that are underserved and marginalized

[18:01] - Serving those in the beginning stages of language learning on up to senior citizens

[19:19] - How to ease into learning ASL for parents and aging population

[23:19] - Goal is to raise awareness of ASL and continue to be lifelong learners, even as we age