At CSD, we’re not just a deaf organization – we’re a people organization. Our goal is to improve people’s lives. Since our very first beginnings in a broom closet office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, our goal has been to connect people so that they can thrive, together. In this spirit, we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure equity for everyone.

We are unwavering in our resolve to build an equitable world and see people thrive in the context of their varied identities across race, disability, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience.

We’re doing our best to get it right, even though we know we may get it wrong at times. We’re out to transform ourselves, our community, and our world, even though we know lasting change takes time.

Read on to learn how we’re doing the work. We invite you to join us on our journey.

The CSD Board of Directors has an Equity Committee that oversees our overall equity efforts. Our Internal and External Working Groups, which are made up of diverse CSD team members, help guide our priorities and work. Our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Employee Resource Groups for both ASL and non-ASL users, are a safe place for our BIPOC employees.

The social systems we live in actively marginalize and oppress Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals. We’re educating ourselves on how we contribute to these systems, and how we can change for the better.

Far too many deaf and hard of hearing individuals go through life with limited access to language and communication. It’s time to make sure that ALL individuals have the language foundation and communication tools needed to succeed.

More than ever, we learn, socialize, and look for work online. Yet many households still do not have reliable internet access or enough devices for everyone. We’re getting people connected.