“Empowering Communication, Building Futures.”
Community Access and Empowerment (CAE) was founded in November 2023 with the mission of empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Individuals to thrive in communication, career, and life. Recognizing the critical need for services that provide educational, career, and life skills support in American Sign Language (ASL), CAE was established to bridge gaps and create pathways to success. The organization is driven by a team of experienced educators, community leaders, and industry partners dedicated to fostering independence and positive outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
The Challenge: Barriers Facing Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Individuals
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals face systemic barriers in education, employment, and social inclusion that prevent them from achieving long-term independence.
Employment Gap: Only 48% of DHH adults are employed, significantly lower than the 72% employment rate for hearing adults.
Language Deprivation: Approximately 90-95% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents. This often results in a lack of early exposure to American Sign Language (ASL), leading to critical language acquisition delays and cognitive/social challenges that hinder success in school and career.
Lack of Life Skills: Many DHH individuals lack access to essential life skills training in areas like financial literacy and career readiness, making it difficult to navigate adult responsibilities, secure stable housing, and build a sustainable career.
These interconnected challenges exacerbate economic disparities and limit access to the resources needed for self-sufficiency.
History and Founding
The founders of CAE, Carly Davis and Katherine Reyes, have extensive experience in Deaf education and advocacy. Over the past 15 years, Carly Davis has worked directly with DHH students, using a bilingual (ASL and English) education model to address language deprivation and provide access to academic and social opportunities. She has also been instrumental in parent education and professional development, ensuring that families and educators alike have the tools to support DHH individuals. Katherine Reyes, who brings additional expertise in education and community leadership, has been equally committed to advocating for the Deaf community, particularly in ensuring access to essential services. Together, they founded CAE with the belief that all individuals, regardless of their hearing status or background, deserve the opportunity to succeed.
Meet the Co-Founders
Katherine Reyes
Co-Founder
Katherine Reyes is a Deaf educator who started off in Disability Studies, which led to more than 15 years of teaching experience with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students ranging from infants to adults. As Teach for America’s first Deaf intern, Katherine identified the cause of why so many within the DHH population fall into the lower socioeconomic class: the lack of an accessible, excellent education.
Katherine has experience working as an itinerant teacher as well as upper elementary, middle, high school, and post-secondary. Katherine comes to every table with high expectations and the goal that all students will strive for excellence in whatever pursuit they aspire.
Katherine utilizes strategies and resources that are accessible and effective for the DHH learner, which she attributes to the success of her students. Katherine teaches high school students, a free community ASL class geared towards parents of the Deaf and consults with post-secondary young DHH adults.
Carly Davis
Co-Founder
Carly Davis has over 15 years of teaching DHH students from birth through post-secondary ages, Carly has been a steadfast advocate for DHH students and their families as they navigate their educational journeys and achieve their full potential.
Carly holds a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teaching Credential in California and a Preliminary Administrative Credential. She has earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and an American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) Rating of 4+ through Gallaudet University. Carly conducted research and wrote her master’s thesis on the impact of bilingual education as it relates to ASL and written English development within an upper-elementary age DHH classroom.
Carly’s deep commitment to the Deaf community is rooted in her belief that every student, given language access and a culturally competent support system, can thrive in life and a career of choice.