About Haben

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So far Haben has created 94 blog entries.

Avoid AccessiBe & other companies claiming quick & easy AI accessibility

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 20th, and throughout the month accessibility advocates will be introducing more people to inclusive design. If you are new to digital accessibility, beware of companies claiming to provide quick and easy automated accessibility “solutions.” An alarming number of companies, nonprofits, and government agencies have fallen for this. Millions of […]

2021-05-15T23:33:38-07:00May 5th, 2021|

Oscar-nominated Feeling Through has a Deafblind Character. It also has Ableist and Racist Messages.

I normally don’t follow the Oscars, but this year’s nominations include a short film with a Deafblind character. Depictions of underrepresented groups in movies influence how the mainstream public treats us. Feeling Through features a Black teen taking advantage of a Deafblind man, perpetuating the dangerous “Black criminals” stereotype.

The portrayal of deafblindness also advances […]

2021-04-25T13:54:22-07:00April 20th, 2021|

Haben is featured in Levi’s Beauty of Becoming campaign

I was born Deafblind, but I wasn’t born an advocate. Resisting ableism, racism and other forms of oppression is exhausting, ongoing work. We all face the choice to accept oppression or advocate for justice.

Video created and directed by Oge Egbuonu. Music by Phantogram. Portrait photography by Shaniqwa Jarvis. Campaign by Levi’s. #LevisBecoming

2021-05-17T18:19:52-07:00February 28th, 2021|

Deafblind Students at Gallaudet University Protesting Injustice

Gallaudet University, based in Washington, D.C., describes itself as “the only university in the world designed to be barrier-free for Deaf and hard of hearing students.” I first learned about Gallaudet from the guidance counselor at my high school who told me it would be perfect for students like me. I ultimately attended Lewis & […]

2021-02-27T23:29:28-08:00August 26th, 2020|

Talking with TIME 100 and Walking with Autonomous Robots

TIME Magazine celebrated my disability justice work by including me in TIME 100 Talks, a video series spotlighting influential people. I was surprised and honored. My excitement turned to disappointment when I checked the video — no captions, no audio descriptions, and no transcript. The TIME 100 video featuring me was not accessible to me.

The […]

2020-09-27T00:27:21-07:00August 18th, 2020|