HEARD

10/08/2026

In prison, communication “preferences” are often not deaf/disabled incarcerated people's first choices, they are forced adaptations. Our findings show that deaf/disabled people use a wide range of communication methods in prisons. While many reported preferring speaking, lipreading, and writing, their ”preference” likely reflects what is actually available to them within carceral facilities.

Many of these communication practices are ineffective and can have harmful consequences, including misunderstandings and being denied access to critical information. Deaf/disabled people should not be forced to give up access to language, communication, or autonomy to accommodate an inaccessible prison system.

10/02/2026

October 1st, we celebrate Felix Garcia’s birthday. Felix is a deaf/disabled Latino man, talented artist, and advocate for deaf/disabled people. He has been incarcerated for over 40 years for a crime he didn't commit. He wrote to HEARD in 2012:

Swipe to read handwritten letter from Felix and watch ASL translation of the letter.

10/01/2026

Even though we have federal disability rights laws that require access BUT for many deaf/disabled people incarcerated people, this basic human right, is denied. Communication barriers in prisons can have serious consequences. Without accessible communication, deaf/disabled incarcerated people are isolated from their communities, unable to access services, and left without the tools they need to advocate for themselves.

This is why HEARD actively advocates for accessible communication in prisons and jails. No one should be cut off from their loved ones or be unable to get the services they need simply because they are deaf/disabled.

09/29/2026

Our previous post is now up on YouTube as one full video! 🎥

Watch the full video to learn more about who we surveyed and the context behind the demographics and numbers we shared. Stay tuned for more from us!

We surveyed 143 deaf/disabled people from 92 prisons across 28 stat...

09/22/2026

We surveyed 143 deaf/disabled people across 92 prisons in 28 states. Swipe to learn more about who is represented in the data and the context behind these numbers. Government data often fails to capture the intersections represented in our survey. HEARD is helping bring these overlooked experiences to light through community-led data collection. Every story matters.

These findings are more than demographics. They show how disability, education, race, gender, and sexuality intersect and how structural inequities shape experiences before, during, and after incarceration. Dismantling these systems of oppression requires listening to impacted communities, challenging discriminatory policies, and investing in care, access, and healing.

09/03/2026

John Wilson Freedom Week is a time to celebrate John’s life and birthday, HEARD’s history and our commitment to freeing people, and our reentry support for our deaf/disabled community.

John, a Black deafdisabled ancestor, spent 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. For more than a decade, HEARD fought alongside John to bring him home. He was finally released in March 2019, but tragically passed away just 6 months later. His story is the foundation of HEARD’s mission, and we carry his legacy forward.

We invite you to reflect on what it means to truly invest in our communities, and why dismantling policing and carceral systems is necessary for our collective liberation.

08/20/2026

This quote by Talila A. Lewis reminds us that gaps in data and recognition reflect deeper systemic inequities. When experiences of deaf/disabled incarcerated people aren’t documented, they are easier to ignore and dismiss. Collecting information from incarcerated people is difficult because communication in prisons is often restricted and inaccessible.

HEARD aims to help fill these research gaps by collecting data from our communities across the country. While our data only represents a small portion of deaf/disabled incarcerated people, it adds to our community’s broader knowledge and offers a more complete picture of the experiences of deaf/disabled people in prison.

08/06/2026

We still can’t answer a basic question: How many deaf/disabled people are incarcerated? The answer isn’t unknown because they aren’t there. It’s unknown because disability data is not collected accurately or consistently across prison systems. Disability data is scarce, but it doesn’t have to be.

Our new report shares the data we were able to collect but it does not capture the true scope of disability in prisons. With more data, it gets easier to build better systems of care and resources for deaf/disabled incarcerated people.

07/27/2026

Stay with us as we share why our work matters, new data and insights we’ve collected, and the rights and access we continue to fight for in carceral institutions.

This year also marks 36 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. While the ADA was a landmark step forward, deaf/disabled people in carceral institutions continue to face barriers to access, communication, and justice. Our work is far from over. Our community remains at the heart of everything we do.

Visit our website to learn more about our work, explore our resources, and discover ways to support us!

07/15/2026

15 years of HEARD! 🎊🎉🎊

What started as a grassroots effort to improve access to justice has grown into the only U.S. nonprofit dedicated solely to supporting deaf/disabled people at every stage of the criminal legal system.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are excited to share new data, stories, and insights from deaf/disabled incarcerated and criminalized people who help shape this work. Their experiences continue to guide our vision of liberation, dignity, and freedom.

Thank you to everyone who has supported HEARD over the years.

Stay tuned for upcoming reports, content, and events as we reflect on 15 years and look toward what’s next. Want to support this work? Please donate through the link here or via our website!

https://behearddc.org/get-involved/donate/