Groundwork: Mission Critical
Never needing help to be understood, to move through a building or to communicate with the world is a privilege, an invisible advantage most of us rarely think about. That privilege shapes how we see need and even how we give.
When choosing where to give, many of us naturally support organizations that enhance our lives like arts programs, environmental causes or civic groups that make the world more beautiful, informed and connected. Yet for many others, nonprofits are not about enrichment; they are about access, inclusion and survival.
There are different kinds of nonprofits. The large, familiar ones like the American Cancer Society, United Way and the NAACP tackle broad issues that touch many lives and define the public face of charity. Then there are quieter, more personal ones, often unseen, that work to make daily life possible. These targeted-impact nonprofits ensure access and inclusion for people with special needs by providing services that secure equal footing in society.
At first mention, accessibility might mean automatic doors, ramps and elevators. But equity in access and inclusion covers much more. For the more than 100,000 people in the Memphis area who have hearing loss, it means “hearing” without sound — being included in conversations and receiving information despite the inability to hear or hear fully.
At city meetings, you might notice sign-language interpreters standing to the side, hands moving in rhythm with spoken words. They are there because DeafConnect of the Mid-South fights for equal access to civic life.
“We connect deaf individuals with the hearing world by providing ASL interpreting,” said Natasha Parks, CEO. “We advocate to businesses, educational institutions, medical services, legal services and other important agencies to encourage them to schedule ASL interpreters for the deaf community.”
In her work, Parks said accessibility means “ensuring every deaf individual has a full communicative experience in every public setting.”
That advocacy represents something larger than communication. It represents belonging. Yet despite their essential role, organizations that provide inclusion services rarely have the same funding opportunities as other nonprofits.
As Parks explained, “Traditional grants and funding from foundations can be difficult to get approved because disability can be seen as a niche issue and may appear to be hard to understand.”
People who don’t need special services rarely think about what it’s like to be among those who do. That gap in awareness can lead to stereotypes. When it comes to hearing loss, one of the biggest misconceptions is the belief that those who are deaf can’t live regular, capable lives, said Kate Gray, DeafConnect senior manager of operations and community engagement. Those mistaken ideas are often fueled by the privilege of not needing.
This is where targeted-impact nonprofits like DeafConnect come in. In addition to providing direct assistance, they dispel myths and train ambassadors to advocate for the populations they serve.
To help others understand, Gray challenges us to test what navigating the world is like for those with special needs. “Walk in their shoes for just ten minutes … close off all sounds; go to the store and ask for help and see first-hand how others respond.”
Imagine extending that challenge beyond deafness to living with a developmental delay, blindness or limited mobility.
What if every transaction, classroom experience or conversation depended on someone else’s willingness to include you?
The privilege of not needing help might make us view supporting these organizations as charity. But what if we saw that support differently — not as charity but as shared responsibility? What if it became a commitment to ensuring every citizen has the privilege of a full and functional life?
As Memphis faces tightening budgets and health care costs rise nationwide, we must remember the quieter battles fought by nonprofits serving people with special needs. They are the ones safeguarding access and dignity every day. Targeted-impact organizations like DeafConnect are on the front line, making society whole, not just fair.
Those of us who can hear, see, move and speak without barriers can help ensure that as tides shift and uncertainty sets in, nonprofits providing special assistance have the resources to continue fully serving the communities that depend on them.
This kind of support is about gratitude for the privilege of not needing. It’s about using that privilege not just to notice need but to close the gap for those who live with it every day.
