The Coda Counselor

08/10/2026

Hello, we are looking for vendors for our upcoming festival in stayton oregon on Sept 4 and 5. are you able to share information with wour community or CONSIDER a booth YOURSELF? VENDORS WANTED — CODAFEST 2026
CodaFest is seeking local, Indigenous-owned, Deaf-owned, Coda-owned, family-owned, and community-centered vendors for our September 3–6 gathering at Camp Taloali in Stayton, Oregon.
CodaFest is a first-of-its-kind, Coda-led event bringing together Deaf parents, Codas, hearing family members, youth, friends, and allies for workshops, storytelling, cultural celebration, family activities, and community connection.
We welcome applications from:
• Artists, makers, and craftspeople
• Indigenous-owned businesses
• Deaf- and Coda-owned businesses
• Food and beverage vendors
• Authors and educators
• Apparel and jewelry businesses
• Wellness and family-service providers
• Local farms and specialty-food producers
• Community organizations and nonprofits
Our goal is to create an accessible and respectful vendor experience that supports small businesses while introducing attendees from across the Pacific Northwest to local and regional products, services, and community resources.
Interested vendors may email [email protected] for the vendor packet, schedule, booth information, accessibility arrangements, and application details.
CodaFest 2026
September 3–6, 2026
Camp Taloali — Stayton, Oregon
www.codafest.org
Please tag or share this with a vendor who would be a good fit.

04/17/2026

If anyone needs a kick start or boost for their signing skills, this is the place for you!

ASL Arizona Total Immersion (AZTI) program happening June 27–July 1, 2026.

This 5-day, voice-off immersion experience is designed to accelerate ASL skill development through direct instruction from highly respected Deaf professionals.

Participants will:

Engage in full ASL communication in a supportive environment
Learn from expert Deaf educators
Experience community living with lodging and meals included
Build both language skills and cultural competence

Hosted at the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center, this program offers a unique combination of intensive learning and restorative space.

04/17/2026

Hello all,
I’m honored to be teaming up with CodaFest to support healthy Deaf families—creating space for awareness, compassion, and connection between Deaf parents and their Coda children.

Registration is open! September 3-6, 2026 Camp Taloali Oregon.
CodaFest.org for more information!

04/17/2026

Wow. Thank you for sharing your story Sharon!

03/23/2026

Recently, I partnered with Codas of Color to offer this workshop on language deprivation, examining how development, identity, and relationships evolve over time. We also delved into the often overlooked impacts on Codas. Watch the video to learn more:

Watch:

Language deprivation is often misunderstood as simply “missing words.”In reality, it is a preventable developmental disruption that can affect how a person t...

12/22/2025

When Children Become the Bridge: What Language-Brokering Research Reveals About Codas

For decades, researchers have studied child language brokering—the phenomenon where children translate adult conversations, documents, and decisions for their families. Most of this research focuses on immigrant households, where children translate for parents navigating systems in a new language. But there is a population hiding in plain sight. Codas—Children of Deaf Adults—have been doing this work all along. The difference is not whether Codas broker language.The difference is that Codas do it because systems fail to provide access, not because families are new to a country....

For decades, researchers have studied child language brokering—the phenomenon where children translate adult conversations, documents, and decisions for their families. Most of this research focuse…