About This Website
Deaf Refugee Rights Advocates was created to ensure that Deaf and hard-of-hearing refugees in the United States have clear, accessible information about their legal rights.
Our Mission
Navigating the U.S. legal system is challenging for anyone. For Deaf and hard-of-hearing refugees — many of whom are adjusting to a new country, a new language, and an unfamiliar legal landscape — the barriers can feel insurmountable. This website exists to lower those barriers.
We provide plain-language, accessible information about the rights that protect Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the United States, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Our goal is to help people understand what they are entitled to, how to ask for it, and where to turn when those rights are not respected.
About the Creator
Anna Peterson
Founder & Creator
My name is Anna Peterson, and I created this website out of a deep commitment to accessibility, equity, and the Deaf community. I have studied Deaf culture and Deaf studies for three years at the University of Kansas, and I have been learning and practicing American Sign Language for seven years. That academic foundation has given me a strong understanding of the communication barriers and systemic challenges that Deaf individuals face every day.
The inspiration for this website came directly from my volunteer work at Deaf International in Olathe, Kansas. Through that experience, I witnessed firsthand the challenges that Deaf refugees encounter when trying to access services, understand their rights, and communicate with institutions that are often unprepared to accommodate them. I saw a clear need for a reliable, accessible resource — and this website is my effort to help fill that gap.
About Deaf International — Olathe
Deaf International is a nonprofit organization based in Olathe, Kansas, dedicated to serving Deaf refugees and immigrants. The organization provides essential resources including food, hygiene supplies, and other practical support to help Deaf refugees establish stability and dignity in their new home.
Deaf International's work reflects a recognition that Deaf refugees face a unique combination of challenges — navigating immigration systems, accessing healthcare and legal services, and communicating in environments that are rarely designed with them in mind. The organization's compassionate, community-centered approach has been a direct inspiration for the mission of this website.
To learn more about Deaf International and their work, or to support their mission, visit their organization directly.
A Note on This Resource
This website is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with any government agency, law firm, or legal aid organization. The information provided here is intended to inform and empower — not to substitute for professional legal advice. If you need help with a specific legal situation, please visit our Get Help page for a directory of organizations that can assist you.
If you have questions, feedback, or would like to get in touch, please use our Contact page. Thank you for visiting, and I hope this resource is genuinely useful to you.
Ready to learn about your rights?