OFF-THE-GRID MISSIONS

Off-The-Grid Missions (OTG) is a Disaster Response Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in the United States, operating on an international level to provide humanitarian aid to Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled (DHHDBDD) individuals around the world. OTG also serves CODAs (children of deaf parents, a cultural identity). It’s crucial to note that there are over 1.5 billion people worldwide with hearing loss*, and among Disaster Response NGOs, OTG is the sole organization dedicated to DHHDBDD individuals.

OFF-THE-GRID MISSIONS – CHANGE AGENTS IN DISASTER RESPONSE

Before a disaster strikes, individuals with hearing loss are the first to lose access to crucial information, such as evacuation protocols. Amidst the chaos of rapidly changing information where seconds are a matter of life and death, DHHDBDD people face the unique challenge of sign language interpreters not being on screen during evacuation alerts and there is an extreme lack of interpreters, especially qualified ones, and information delivered via text is not in sign language. Spoken languages (such as English and Spanish) and signed languages (such as American or Puerto Rican Sign Language) are distinct languages. Therefore, DHHDBDD individuals are left uninformed of what is happening, as well as where, when, or how to evacuate. Furthermore, a significant portion of the DHHDBDD population (at least 70% of children**) experience language deprivation syndrome, and this is worse for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). Also, elders who experience hearing loss later in life may not readily identify as “Deaf” or “Hard-of-Hearing” and often underestimate the importance of accessibility during crises. This includes the prevalence of hearing loss amongst Veterans**** and individuals who have experienced blast injuries.

In the aftermath of a disaster, when the electrical grid is down, DHHDBDD people are the last to receive vital assistance as communications are limited to word-of-mouth and inaccessible audio-based tools such as hotline numbers, loudspeakers, and crank radios. Safety masks covering the mouth and nose, often used to prevent inhaling smoke and toxic debris from disasters, viruses, and warfare, create even greater communication barriers. DHHDBDD who are bedridden or reliant on mobility aids are left stranded when terrain is destroyed.

OTG is a small, yet mighty powerhouse that operates at a grassroots level to gather disaster-related intel which is then used to kick-off their highly effective Disaster Response operations to facilitate immediate and long-term recovery efforts. Identifying historical disadvantages within BIPOC DHHDBDD communities is key to applying tangible solutions that support a greater population and this helps to forge a more inclusive and equitable path toward long-term recovery. OTG achieves this by identifying DHHDBDD individuals at ground-zero who can effectively communicate using their region’s sign language and International Sign***. These individuals are not just translators; they are respected members of the DHHDBDD community with an intimate knowledge of the area, including the locations of DHHDBDD households and the terrain. This component is essential for ensuring that OTG’s resources directly reach DHHDBDD individuals/families and evolve into continued support in the long-term recovery efforts.

OTG's Frontlines (individuals who operate the ground response) are 100% DHHDBDD. This deliberate measure ensures that regardless of where OTG is operating, the principles of equality and representation remain at the forefront of its cause, empowering diverse voices to shape the organization’s initiatives and advocacy efforts. Not only does OTG reflect the leadership of those most affected, but 100% of the team on the Frontlines began their journey with the organization at ground-zero. In simpler terms, they first became part of the team either as victims/survivors or as local volunteers in the region where OTG was once responding. They may have been DHHDBDD leaders who helped navigate the terrain, or DHHDBDD victims/survivors who received OTG's humanitarian aid, forging connections amidst those challenging circumstances. In a sense, OTG's cause serves as therapy for DHHDBDD crisis survivors turned team members, allowing them to connect, heal, and channel their experiences into a purposedriven mission by aiding other DHHDBDD individuals in their region or neighboring countries.

OTG's anti-ableist framework challenges the narrow perspective that one-size-fits-all approaches are sufficient in disaster response, as well as the normative assumption that verbal-based communication suffices in emergencies. By prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility, OTG actively dismantles ableist barriers, ensuring that individuals, regardless of their abilities, receive the necessary support during crises.

The significance of “Deaf culture” and disability inclusion in OTG’s recovery efforts cannot be overstated. OTG’s team isn’t Deaf-led solely for communication access; rather, Deaf-led teams play a central role in establishing a crucial foundation of linguistic, cultural competency and trust in highly challenging, vulnerable, and, frankly, frightening situations. For example, during rescue operations in areas affected by shelling/gunfire, DHHDBDD individuals may hesitate to accompany non-Deaf or non-signing rescue teams if they are ever approached (many are just disregarded and left behind if they do not respond to verbal cues). Imagine being unable to hear while hiding in a bunker, cut-off from information. The arrival of a non-Deaf, non-signing individual may evoke hesitation due to fears of separation, detention, and stigmas associated with DHHDBDD/PWDs. In contrast, a DHHDBDD individual fluent in sign language can establish an immediate connection, effectively communicating evacuation procedures. This immediate and intimate connection with OTG’s Deaf-led team creates a level of trust and understanding that ensures the safe evacuation of victims, particularly in situations where people risk being sent to camps, separated from loved ones, detained, or worse. This is just one of many examples that aims to drive collective change while igniting shifts worldwide. The same level of care and attention is not only fundamental in the approach to evacuations, but also essential during medical procedures when advocating for DHHDBDD victims who oftentimes face neglect and inadequate or improper medical treatment stemming from communication barriers. The ability to effectively communicate and efficiently assess and respond to the evolving needs of DHHDBDD communities before and in the aftermath of various disasters/crises ensures that the aid OTG provides is both timely and of the highest priority, especially in regions where DHHDBDD individuals are most oppressed.

This is just one of many examples for how OTG aims to drive collective change while igniting shifts worldwide. The same level of care and attention is not only fundamental in the approach to evacuations, but also essential during medical procedures when advocating for DHHDBDD victims who oftentimes face neglect and inadequate or improper medical treatment stemming from communication barriers. The ability to effectively communicate and efficiently assess and respond to the evolving needs of DHHDBDD communities before and in the aftermath of various disasters/crises ensures that the aid OTG provides is both timely and of the highest priority, especially in regions where DHHDBDD individuals are most oppressed.

A well-resourced OTG is necessary for the future of DHHDBDD communities in regions susceptible to disasters and humanitarian crises.

Every OTG mission is especially challenging because, unlike other Disaster Response NGOs who also navigate the chaos that comes with a crisis, OTG faces added challenges in navigating communication barriers with government sanctions, the transporting of humanitarian aid, unforeseen delays, rapidly changing information, regulations surrounding lithium batteries in solar lights,customs, border crossings, gang barricades, political unrest, and societal barriers and stigmas against DHHDBDD people.

Furthermore, there is an unprecedented worry unfolding across humanitarian organizations whose mission is to provide life-saving aid. The world is currently marked by increased division, inflation, heightened separation and internal focus, resulting in fragmentation and reduced global unity. An escalating number of DHHDBDD families are forced to flee their home and endure displacement due to conflict, violence, wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, andfloods. Maui August 8th, Israel October 7th, Brazil May 2nd, Haiti last week, Syria last night, Gaza today, Lebanon tomorrow, and in less than a week we are back in hurricane season on standby for the United States and the Caribbean. OTG is increasingly tasked with picking up the pieces in various parts of the world and attempting to sustain them for longer durations. Often, they are expected to do this

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SOURCES

*Hearing Loss Statistics: https://www.forbes.com/health/hearing-aids/deafness-statistics/

**Language Deprivation: https://www.nad.org/language-deprivation/

***International Sign consists of agreed-upon gestures within the global deaf community to navigate communication barriers. It is not a fully developed sign language, and it does not allow for as in-depth conversations as regional sign languages do. There are over 300 sign languages worldwide. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sign-language/

****Forms of Hearing Loss, e.g. Elders, Veterans: https://www.research.va.gov/topics/hearing.cfm

*****Audism is an attitude based on pathological thinking that results in a negative stigma toward anyone who does not hear; like racism or sexism, audism judges, labels, and limits individuals on the basis of whether a person hears and speaks (Humphrey & Alcorn, 1995: 85). https://vawnet.org/sc/audism-oppression-lives-deaf-individuals