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Erica D'Eramo 0:05
Hello and welcome to the Two Piers podcast. I'm your host, Erica D' Eramo, and today we have Maria Gallucci joining us. Maria is a multi award winning Colorado Real Estate Broker, author and lifelong advocate for inclusive communication and accessible housing, with over 30 years of experience, Maria specializes in working with the deaf, hard of hearing and LGBTQ, plus communities as well as builders, investors and families across Colorado and nationwide. As a CODA child of deaf adults, Maria learned American Sign Language, or ASL, before learning English. At just 12 years old, she helped her parents purchase their first home serving as an unofficial interpreter. This pivotal experience shaped her mission to ensure that clients from underrepresented communities are seen, heard and respected, especially in the home buying and selling process. Maria is here to talk to us today about how and why we should be engaging with people who take us out of our comfort zone and the power of love resilience and learning and bridging the gap between deaf and hard of hearing communities and the hearing community.
Erica D'Eramo 1:23
Maria, so good to have you on the podcast. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Maria Gallucci 1:28
Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to talk with you and share my story.
Erica D'Eramo 1:34
Yeah, so what I mean I gave like a little blurb, a little clip of your story, but tell me from your from your own words, kind of what was, what was your origin story? This is such a rich story with so much detail, I'm sure I didn't even do it justice in that little blurb. So tell me what brought you here.
Maria Gallucci 1:56
So I wrote the book Raised in Silence, and I feel like it's about family, love and communication across all differences, and it's just a personal story, part like cultural guide, part motivational book, and like you'll read about funny, hard and beautiful moments of growing up with deaf parents, like when we had to interpret at the doctor's appointment as a kid, or like our chaotic family dinners and spaghetti dinners and things like that.
Erica D'Eramo 2:26
Yeah, well, can you, can you just give me, like, a little snippet of the like from, from the get go, you know, like your origin story? What was your, what's your, what was your trajectory? How did you get to be the Maria in front of us today.
Maria Gallucci 2:42
So there was six of us kids, and we're all hearing, and both of our parents were deaf, so we were raised in the Deaf culture and then the deaf community. And so I always when we always interpreted for my parents, and I always saw them struggling with like being involved or being accepted. And so I just, I remember seeing one day when they're struggling with other people accepting them. I thought, You know what? I'm never, ever going to make anybody feel that way. And so I just made it my, like lifelong mission to make sure everybody felt accepted and everyone felt loved and felt unique in their own way. Yeah.
Erica D'Eramo 3:19
I mean, that was probably a very powerful experience to witness as a child, and it sounds like you really stepped up and became a go between to enable some of that access that maybe your parents were not were not experiencing. What was that like? What what did you learn as you were being that unofficial interpreter?
Maria Gallucci 3:40
I think I learned to have empathy and communicate in a different way because it's the same language. So I'm bilingual, basically because I know ASL, which was my first language, and then I also know English. And so I just wanted to bridge the gap between the Deaf and Hard of Hearing world and the the hearing world and all all different languages, because they all they want to feel is just to be accepted and not feel like they're an outcast, and so I just made it my mission to not have anybody feel like that.
Erica D'Eramo 4:10
Yeah, so there's a really interesting framework that for folks working in the accessibility realm and in the disability realm, they will be very familiar with the social framework of disability, right? And I think that one of the most powerful examples that was given to me as I was learning about this was how we define disability, and if we if I attended a conference where everyone was communicating with ASL, and I was the only person that didn't know ASL, because I was the only hearing person in that situation. I am actually the one that is disabled by the environment, because I don't have access to ASL and I can't communicate and I can't hear and that really like flip flips the script on this being an individual issue versus it being an accessibility issue. So let me just pause and just and just get your your thoughts on kind of how we frame this.
Maria Gallucci 5:15
No, I agree with that, and it's funny, because ASL is my first language, so when I go to parties, like, if I bring my friends and they're hearing and you you forget that it is two different worlds. And so they they'll be they feel left out, like the hearing people feel left out when I'm in like a Deaf community. And so it is by vice versa. It's that the Deaf world. And there's things you could do as a hearing person, which I have in the book to just show tips and everything, because you can text to the deaf person or hard of hearing. You can use, there's apps to communicate, there's writing, but I feel like people feel like they don't need to try because it's out of their comfort zone. And I think that's where everything comes in and that that's where, like the just the unity of that, just everybody just tries, everybody can communicate and they would be happy. Well, in a sense.
Erica D'Eramo 6:14
Yeah, the just try piece. I do think that in some cases, people are maybe worried about their own lack of ability, right? We're not all bilingual. We don't all, we don't all. I mean, actually, this is an interesting anecdote my sister. My sister, has some support needs, and has been lucky to have advocates in her realm that made sure that she had access to some of those support mechanisms, but very early, I think probably because of some of that empathy that she felt she learned ASL very when we were very young. And that is in spite of some fine motor skills challenges, some like for, in fact, some verbal challenges, but it was very powerful for her to actually be able to communicate in different ways that were was accessible to other people. So I don't know why I just raised that, but it was just
Maria Gallucci 7:16
yeah, just like, yeah.
Erica D'Eramo 7:18
Me, really, what excuse do I have to not have learned different ways to communicate? It is feasible, but that just try piece right, like we can put ourselves outside of our comfort zone.
Maria Gallucci 7:28
We can exactly and we can put put ourselves out there to make somebody feel more included or not so self conscious. We're teaching my granddaughter sign language too, because babies even communicate better in sign than they do like speaking, because it takes them a while to speak. And so we're teaching Nova like to sign first, and she does. She's and she signs and she the only 10% of parents who have deaf or hard of hearing children actually learn sign language. It's a very small percentage, and so I think that's what I want to put awareness out there, that they do feel isolated. And I think that's the most important thing, is not to have anybody feel isolated, because in that like, if you were a hearing person with the deaf community, they would feel isolated as well. So it goes, it goes back and forth,
Erica D'Eramo 8:22
Right And I think that sometimes people lose some of the purpose, like it can be both to help make people people feel included. I mean, that is a genuine good for the world, to help make people feel included. But ultimately, like I do believe it kind of goes beyond that, even in that we have so much brilliance out there in the world and so much human potential out there in the world. And if something as simple as using technology, using written forms of communication, could give us more connectivity and access to some of the brilliant ideas and potential out there, then what a waste not to.
Maria Gallucci 9:10
Yeah, I agree. And connection isn't about I don't feel like it's about words. It's about presence. And I think that's where, like, a lot of the gap is. It's like, it's not about you being to be able to communicate that they just want to see, like they just want to feel seen and heard and their own language, you know?
Erica D'Eramo 9:30
Yeah, I mean there. I think there's an interesting element here too, that when you mentioned some of these different methods that you, that you talk about in your book, around how we can communicate with people, how we can make that more accessible. The concept of universal design, it doesn't just help folks. It doesn't help like one subset of people, right? It kind of the we talk about, the rising tide lifts all boats, just like putting in ramps for. You know,
Maria Gallucci 10:00
Yeah, exactly.
Erica D'Eramo 10:02
Instead of stairs was maybe intended to help folks who are using wheelchairs. It also helps people who have strollers, or people who are carrying, you know, like who have a Rollie bag, who need to get up the stairs. Like, now, when I visit places and there's not a ramp, I'm usually like, come on!
Maria Gallucci 10:19
I know that I thought about that the other day, actually, because I was thinking, but because I had actually a bag and there was no ramp. I'm like, How is there not a ramp here?
Erica D'Eramo 10:31
Some of I We, we were traveling recently, and I was, I was commenting on how, in some ways, we are quite lucky with having had the ADA in the US. And, you know, the Americans with Disabilities Act in the US, that some of these elements, we take them for granted, until we travel and maybe visit other places where they don't have ramps, or they don't have, you know, where there are curbs everywhere, and you can't just, you know, these little things that we don't think about, the beeping for the, you know, when we can cross the beeping. But I, I think that as some as a neurodivergent person, or a person with various elements of neurodiversity, which I guess everybody has neurodiversity. But for me, having things in both written form and audio form is so so valuable, because I I struggle with dyslexia and dyscalculia, dyscalculia, and so being able to like read the words as I'm listening to them really changes how my brain absorbs them. And so it's not it's it again, It's not just about like, one group. It's good for that group in and of itself. It's enough, and also it's good for everybody.
Maria Gallucci 11:54
Yeah, I agree. And I have that as well. Actually have a learning disability, and so I have to do like and then I think that when you're deaf or hard of hearing, all your other centuries are like, they're like you can you do it by expressions, you do by seeing. And I think with me, being in that world made me communicate a little bit like more, because I did know both of the worlds. Because you do use all of your your your senses, because you have to overcome compensate for something that you lost. So I couldn't even imagine, like, when, before we had all the ADA laws and for because I advocated to have interpreters at closing, because before long time to know they didn't have those there, and so they would have no idea what they're signing and like, and if you are, like dyslexic or have a learning disability, even if you're reading it, you can still miss, misinterpret it. And so, like I, I fought for a long time to make sure that there was inter interpreters at the clip the closing table. Even though I'm fluent, we have interpreters there. And so they so they can understand fully what they're signing.
Erica D'Eramo 13:05
Well, that's another interesting point too, because while being fluent in ASL is valuable in and of itself, that's actually quite different than the role of interpreting, because, as you mentioned, there's a lot more that gets conveyed, right than just simply using your hands to convey like it's a full body.
Maria Gallucci 13:32
Oh, yeah,
Erica D'Eramo 13:33
There's expression...
Maria Gallucci 13:34
Expression, movement. Yeah, that's a whole thing. And and we are, you have to be certified to be an interpreter, and then and so. But I always find myself, even though I'm not an interpreter, like, while the interpreters in the closing I will, like, try to jump in and try to sign. So she's like, Maria, stop doing that. So I have to, like, sit on my hands. I wouldn't be tempted to, like, take over and sign.
Erica D'Eramo 14:00
It's like trying not to answer in a language when you can understand the conversation and you want to...
Maria Gallucci 14:07
Exactly!
Erica D'Eramo 14:09
Yeah, jump in and join the conversation, yeah. I mean, I think that that's why, when I do see folks that are interpreting at conferences, even music, like music, yeah, like, it's so powerful to see because it it really does convey that there's so much more than just the letters or the words being conveyed. There's like feeling that thing we I think sometimes we take for granted what signals we are actually receiving from sound. And there's tone of voice, right? There's cases of our voice. There's so much more that goes into it that is being put into a visual realm with an interpreter. And yeah, I don't think people. Really understand the full
Maria Gallucci 15:02
I don't think so either. I think now, like recently, they've been adding more and more interpreters for, like, the Super Bowl, or which they didn't have long time time ago. And now, like, they're finally, like, aware, and I think that the the community appreciates that so much the deaf and hard, hard of hearing, because it makes them feel valued. Like, look now, finally, they're having someone who can speak our language, and it just makes such a big difference if you can see them sign while they're singing, and then because they can feel like the music and everything, but to actually see what they're singing, I mean, that's amazing now. And they can do that with all the expressions,
Erica D'Eramo 15:39
Yeah, with the expressions, I think one thing that I've been advocating for at conferences is live subtitles, or, like, live closed captioning, which is possible. Yeah, I still think, like an interpreter is even better. But if you can't, if you don't have the budget for that, if you can't make it happen, if you can, if you don't have the resources, we still have other options to at least make things more accessible. And
Maria Gallucci 16:08
Yeah, exactly.
Erica D'Eramo 16:09
And I notice it now so much, because I find myself reading the subtitles when they are there, like, I use those, even though I don't need them, like, I still use them. So I notice so much more now when they are not accessible.
Maria Gallucci 16:24
Yeah, I actually watched a movie last night in subtitles. I can watch a movie like, with it off, like, I don't even have to have, like, the sound on, and I'll just read the closed captioning. Yeah, I've done that forever, and sometimes I don't even realize that the sound is off, because that's just what I've always seen and known growing up.
Erica D'Eramo 16:48
Yeah, that is fascinating. I have to have subtitles on, I think because I have, like, it's funny, sometimes I have, like, audio processing delays and it's, yeah, it's not always consistent, but I find I can just, like with listening, and if it's an audio book, like, if I can listen and read at the same time, I get so much more out of it than just reading or just listening. And the same with watching any sort of television like I always want, I always want the subtitles on. It helps if there's any sort of accent. But even in my it's funny. My husband and I joke. When he I'll say, Can you wait? I didn't catch that. What did you say? And he'll, like, rephrase what he was saying. And I'm like, no, no, literally, I don't need you to explain it to me. I just need you to literally repeat the words one more time for me. So I've stopped saying, What did you say? And I'm and I'm working on saying, Can you repeat that? It's not,
Maria Gallucci 17:53
Yeah, different. Yeah,
Erica D'Eramo 17:55
understand is that I literally the it didn't get from my ear to my brain. It just didn't work that way.
Maria Gallucci 18:01
Yeah, you know, that's funny. And I had, like, I stutter when I talk, and I had to go to counseling when I was a child, and I still stutter to to this day on different stuff, but, and I think because my they always said, because my brain was processing more than I could vocalize, but I don't stutter when I sign. I'm perfectly like, fine when I sign, but it's just like when I talk, because my brain is just thinking too quickly.
Erica D'Eramo 18:25
Oh, that's so fascinating. I mean, self observation. This is why when I say like, oh, I'm neurodivergent, and I am trying to get away from using that terminology, because it makes it seem as though there's like, one form that is not divergent, and then everybody else, and then there's only like, those of us that are different are divergent from the norm. And yet, the reality is we are all so so different. And that's great, right? There is no when people say, like, Oh, these days everybody is neurodivergent, as if it's some like dismissal, and it's like everybody is neurodivergent. That is, we are all de we all have different if you say, like, how many people are the average height, weight and hair color and eye color and skin color, they were all hair length, very few people are the average across all of those measures, right? That's like,
Maria Gallucci 19:18
Yeah.
Erica D'Eramo 19:18
We are all Yeah. So when we start taking in all these different ways that our brains and our bodies can be different than, yeah, we're all divergent.
Maria Gallucci 19:27
Yep, exactly,
Erica D'Eramo 19:28
yeah. We all just rarities...
Maria Gallucci 19:30
Yeah, exactly!
Erica D'Eramo 19:31
the norm, right? So, so in um, what are like? What are some of the biggest myths that you wish people understood that we can maybe debunk today.
Maria Gallucci 19:45
I think that people so I can lip read, and so we were taught to lip read, but not all deaf and hard of hearing people know how to lip read at all, and I think that that's a really big misconception. And. And so if and you have to look at them when they're talking, and it's really hard to talk, talk to people with sunglasses, because we are very expression based and so and so, I think that's a big misconception, misconception, because they think that you can, that they can lip read, and you could just turn it either talk louder or talk clearer. But not all of them can can lip read.
Erica D'Eramo 20:23
Yeah, wow, that is and that's interesting, too. Just in terms of, I know, during the masking with Covid, there was a lot of challenge with not just being able to see people's mouths, but I think a lot of us realize, like, wait, I can't hear you. And yeah, it wasn't just that we couldn't hear it was that we were probably absorbing so much more information by seeing the full facial expression and by seeing the full or, like, even seeing people's mouths move.
Maria Gallucci 20:58
Yeah!
Erica D'Eramo 20:58
But, we didn't even realize how much of our sensory input was non auditory.
Maria Gallucci 21:05
Yeah, No, I agree.
Erica D'Eramo 21:09
Yeah, yeah. It's one of the reasons that for the Two Piers podcast, we have the full transcript available, and we also have a summary that we put together for folks for each and every episode, because I recognize that people might need to absorb the information in a multitude of different ways. But...
Maria Gallucci 21:26
Yeah, I love that, it's true everybody processes in different ways, no matter if you're hearing, deaf, hard of hearing, like we all process everything differently.
Erica D'Eramo 21:38
So for the folks who are listening and thinking like, okay, but now what like for for an individual out there who maybe doesn't know anyone in the deaf or hard of hearing community, what are some steps that you think people could take in order to bridge some of those gaps?
Maria Gallucci 21:59
I think choose curiosity over judgment, like little gestures, even learning thank you or even saying hi, can make somebody feel seen and valued. And I think that goes for a lot of people. I think that what our end goal is for all of us would be that we just want to feel understood and seen.
Erica D'Eramo 22:20
Yeah, I think, I mean, you're preaching to the choir here, because in coaching, that's what we talk about all the time, is just retaining curiosity instead of judgment. Yeah, that and even having it on the radar, right? Even being aware, because I think it was a couple of weeks ago maybe, but in Costco, I was in Costco. I'm gonna give Costco a shout out. And someone there was someone who was, like, trying to find a different size shirt or something like that, and the person who is folding clothes and putting them away, they were trying to get their attention, and they were getting frustrated because they couldn't get the Costco person's attention. And then they kind of, like, got in their face, and then it became clear they could see they had a badge that said, like, I, I'm, I'm deaf or I or hard of hearing. And I could tell that the person who was trying to get the attention and who was feeling frustrated or flustered felt pretty embarrassed by the way they like handled it once, like, oh, I can't I literally can't hear you, and they found that the Costco person found somebody else that could help the customer. But just like realizing that we might not know what's going on people, and I'm guessing too that, and this is the interesting thing about disability is one of the few it's one of the few experiences that almost all of us will at some point in our life, have to deal with, right that like what, what society caters to as normal from our physical bodies. Right changes, like our physical bodies will change over time. We will have illness, we will have injury, and suddenly we will find ourselves needing some of these support mechanisms. I suddenly had to start wearing glasses in my 40s.
Maria Gallucci 24:11
I might have to start wearing glasses soon.
Erica D'Eramo 24:12
My hearing. My hearing has changed. My husband's hearing has changed quite a bit over over time. My knees have changed. And so to say at this point in my life, like, Oh, these accommodations don't affect me, or I don't need them. At some point, most of us will need them.
Maria Gallucci 24:32
Eventually need them, yeah, and we'll need some resources. And in that case, because I happened to my mom a lot when we were at the stores, and then people would get frustrated because they think that she's ignoring them, but she can't hear them. So I would have to tell everybody she can't hear like she can't hear you and but they would be mean about it. I think that a lot of people don't realize what's going on in other people's world. They take it personal, or they take it on on themselves, and like in that case, I would have. Well, I would have signed, but I would have suggested to, like my daughter, my son, to pull out their phone and just just write it on there, on the notes, like here, do you have a size medium and that means so much to them because somebody just tried to communicate with them instead of making them isolated?
Erica D'Eramo 25:20
Yes. Yeah. Oh, and these days, I mean, technology is both scary and wonderful, but these days, especially with like, voice to text, there are so many opportunities. Like, I'm working with somebody who is learning English right now, and we leverage voice to text and translation all the time, and we can communicate really well together, and, like, learn each, you know, learn each other's languages. Um, but it doesn't, you know, I even if my eyes are starting to feel tired, I don't need to be like, texting it on a phone. I can still, there's so many ways now, yeah, to switch mediums. Yeah, yeah.
Maria Gallucci 26:01
I had one of my agents, she was showing she does not sign, but she knows the deaf culture, so she and I had her show someone who was deaf houses, and she the deaf person was so appreciated of her, because she would communicate with her. There was an app, I think it was called Cardzilla, or something like that. I'm not sure the app's name, but it was on the phone, so she would talk on the phone, it would read it out to the client, and the client would see it, and they would literally have a conversation back and forth with their phones just doing that. And it's so easy to try to do stuff, but I think that people don't know what to do, and people so I think that's what the takeaway of the book, that why I wrote it, is to give people tips, give people things, to make people feel inclusive, even in no matter what community you're in.
Erica D'Eramo 26:54
Yeah. So that is a great segue to, where can people learn more? Where can they find your book?
Maria Gallucci 27:01
So my book is on all platforms, Amazon, Apple, Google, and I also have a website called raisedinsilence.com and that will have the links in there to purchase it as well. And then if anybody needs any real estate needs, it's galluccihomes.com
Erica D'Eramo 27:18
Awesome. I were I'm in Maine, but it did that this conversation has prompted me to to chat with some of my real estate agent friends and just see how they support folks from the the deaf and hard of hearing communities before we close out, though, I did want to just ask follow up on one thing that you mentioned, which was culture. And that's where I don't think people necessarily realize that there is a culture, right? This is and this is a piece, so this might be another myth, like, can you help explain a little bit about how what that means the deaf and hard of hearing community and culture.
Maria Gallucci 28:03
So I think that it is, I think that for the community, they feel they're a lot closer, I think, and so like the community is a very tight community, and there's a lot around in nationwide, it's a bigger community than a lot of people realize. And I feel like they feel like they're by themselves. So everybody, like, kind of like, connects with one another. So it is a totally deaf culture, because the way we talk, the way we sign, the parties that that we go to, we know how each other is being in that community now. So I think that that's where, and I feel like that's how it is with, like, the Spanish speaking or the the LGBTQ, plus they they feel like they're each other, and they feel like they have each other.
Erica D'Eramo 28:55
Yeah, there's a book called um against techno ableism, and it talks about like the concept of curing deafness, and how there's a lot of debate, right? Because, on the one hand, sure, in this society that might make things easier for individuals, and if given the chance, maybe somebody could have an easier life in this current version of society, if they have access to hearing and also, there are people who do not want that, because it's a part of their identity and a part of their community and a part of their culture that would then be erased. And this is, this is how they relate to the world. And so one is not necessarily better than the other. It is, again, a measure of like, ease of navigating the world. And we can't like, judge people's choices around one or the other if they do want to be part of the hearing community, and they do want to, you know, like, either have surgery or or pursue. Some of those different methodologies, but if they don't, then that's okay too.
Maria Gallucci 30:03
Then that's okay. Yeah, 100% I think we all, we all try to go into our own heads, I think, and then, but not think about other people. So I think if we just try to have like, compassion and empathy, it will go a long way to make people feel secure and loved.
Erica D'Eramo 30:26
Yeah, I think it's a big conversation right now, especially in the autism community. You know, these concepts of curing things that are different quickly kind of goes down a path where we all end up being the same, and that's not actually better for everyone exactly. So instead of trying to change all the humans so they are the same and have the same abilities and the same sensory input, we can adapt the environment to make it more welcoming and more um accessible to everyone. So
Maria Gallucci 30:58
Yes, I agree 100%!
Erica D'Eramo 31:00
Yeah. Well, we, we definitely have the links to your website, to your websites, plural, to your to your book, in the show notes and on our website. And I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your experiences and how folks can can start building some bridges. And I appreciate you being a bridge builder.
Maria Gallucci 31:22
Yeah, thank you so much. I enjoyed it. I love being on the show,
Erica D'Eramo 31:26
yeah, thanks for the folks listening. Please do head over to the show notes the website, if you want a summary or if you want the transcript. And we appreciate you listening, and we will see you next episode.
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Building Bridges Through Communication: A Conversation with Maria Gallucci
On this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo sits down with Maria Gallucci, a multi-award-winning Colorado Real Estate Broker, author, and lifelong advocate for inclusive communication and accessible housing. Maria shares her personal journey of growing up with deaf parents, the lessons she learned about empathy and connection, and her mission to bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities.
Maria Gallucci’s Story and Mission
Maria grew up in a household where sign language was the norm. With two deaf parents, she often found herself in the role of interpreter—an experience that shaped her deep commitment to inclusivity and communication across differences.
Her book, Raised in Silence, explores themes of family, love, and communication, offering both practical tips and heartfelt stories about what it means to build understanding in a world that too often overlooks accessibility.
Communication, Empathy, and Everyday Challenges
Erica and Maria dive into the social framework of disability, exploring how context can include—or exclude—people. Maria describes what it feels like to be left out of conversations, and why effort, even imperfect, matters so much.
Erica adds a personal story about her sister learning ASL despite motor skills challenges, underscoring the importance of choosing connection over comfort. Maria echoes this point with her experience teaching her granddaughter sign language, noting that too few hearing parents take the step of learning to communicate with their deaf or hard-of-hearing children.
Universal Design and Accessibility
The conversation also touches on universal design, the idea that making environments more accessible benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities.
From real estate closings where interpreters make critical information clear, to providing both written and audio formats of communication, Maria explains how intentional design creates dignity and equity.
Technology as a Tool for Connection
Modern tools from apps, to voice-to-text software have created new ways for communities to connect. Maria shares a story about an agent using an app during a house showing with a deaf client, while Erica reflects on her own use of translation tools to bridge language gaps.
These examples highlight how technology, when used with intention, can be a powerful equalizer.
Breaking Down Myths and Misconceptions
Maria is candid about the myths that persist around the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. One of the most common? That all deaf individuals can lip-read. In reality, this isn’t true—and during the pandemic, when masks blocked visual cues, communication became even more challenging.
The takeaway is simple but profound: don’t assume. Instead, ask, stay curious, and be willing to adapt.
Practical Steps Toward Inclusivity
Both Erica and Maria stress the small, everyday actions that make a big difference. Whether it’s making eye contact, learning a few signs, or simply choosing curiosity over judgment, inclusivity starts with awareness and intention.
Maria reminds us that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community is close-knit and deeply supportive, and that compassion and empathy go a long way toward building bridges.
Respecting Culture and Identity
The conversation also delves into the cultural dimensions of deafness. Maria explains that Deaf culture is rich and unique, with its own traditions, values, and modes of communication.
Rather than focusing on “fixing” deafness, she emphasizes respecting the diverse identities and choices of individuals. True inclusivity, she notes, comes from compassion and acceptance.
Resources and Next Steps
Maria’s book, Raised in Silence, is available across major platforms and offers practical tools for anyone looking to improve communication and inclusivity in their own lives.
To connect with Maria, you can visit her websites:
raisedinsilence.com for her book and advocacy work
gallucchihomes.com for her real estate practice
Erica closes the episode by thanking Maria for her insights and reminding listeners that inclusivity is everyone’s responsibility—one small choice at a time.
👉 Listen to the full conversation on the Two Piers Podcast for more stories, insights, and practical ways to foster inclusion.