Webinar sales funnels are everywhere! A free training, a few helpful tips, and then an invitation to buy a course, blueprint, or study guide.
Of course, I’m curious. I enjoy learning and finding new ways to build my skills. But as a Deaf person whose first language is ASL, I also look for something else: Can I access what you’re offering? Can I participate and get support?
From my experience, only a few have made that easy.
I reached out to several to see whether I would hear back. ContentCreator.com, where I came across Nick Miller’s content, was one that responded, and I was impressed. Taking the time to respond matters. Others I contacted didn’t reply, leaving my questions unanswered.
Then there’s the community part.
I joined a Facebook group run by Jonathan Mast. I submitted a couple of posts looking for other ASL users to connect with. I wanted peers I could discuss the lessons with, share what we tried, and learn from each other in our language.
My posts were declined.
My jaw dropped. I was trying to find people to learn alongside. Why was that a problem?
I don’t know why the posts were declined, but it left me feeling unwelcome. When you join a learning community, you hope there’s room to connect with people who share your language, too.
I also explored what Alicia Lyttle had to offer. I enjoyed her webinar and felt her “blueprint” could give me some direction. I was able to get support from her team. They’re busy, yet they found time to respond. I appreciated that.
A response doesn’t answer every accessibility question, but it opens a conversation. It gives me a chance to explain what I need and find out whether the program will work for me.
What I would like to see next is these entrepreneurs hiring Deaf professionals and native ASL users as part of their teams. People who can help shape the learning experience, support participants, and make space for conversations in ASL.
Captions matter. So does being able to ask questions, understand the answers, and connect with other learners. Deaf and hard of hearing people have different access needs. Having people on your team who understand those experiences can help you serve your community better.
You’ve put time into getting our attention. Put that same care into making sure we can participate.
We’re here. We want to learn, too.
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