#WEAREDEAFWEAREALLDEAFTOGETHER
Revolutionizing Deaf Education
I Deaf-Initely Can
Karlie Waldrip
We are proud to introduce our next featured author: Karlie Waldrip, author of I Deaf-Initely Can and We Deaf-Initely Can with Rhett the Heeler.
Inspired by her lived experiences and passion for advocacy, Karlie’s books celebrate a powerful message: Deaf children can do anything. Through empowering storytelling and inclusive representation, I Deaf-Initely Can and We Deaf-Initely Can highlight confidence, capability, and the importance of community.
With engaging narratives and meaningful connection, Karlie invites readers into a world where Deaf identity is celebrated and every child is encouraged to embrace who they are and what they can achieve.
We honor the author's chosen mode of communication; this author's mode of communication is SimCom.
View the interview below!
📘 Teacher Companion Resource: Extending I Deaf-initely Can Into Empowered Learning
To support educators in bringing the message of I Deafinitely Can and We Deafinitely Can into classrooms and learning spaces, we’ve created a Teacher Companion Resource designed to extend the heart of these stories into intentional, language-rich practice. This guide offers practical, flexible ideas for using the books as a springboard for language development, self-advocacy, and confidence-building. Whether you’re working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, mixed-ability classrooms, or family learning environments, the resource helps transform a shared reading experience into opportunities for growth, connection, and empowerment.
At its core, the Teacher Companion Resource reinforces a powerful message woven throughout Karlie Waldrip’s stories: Deaf individuals are capable, communicative, and deserving of full access to language and learning. This guide supports educators in fostering environments where students can build language, develop independence, and see their identities reflected and celebrated.
✨ Use the Teacher Companion Resource alongside the interview and books to deepen understanding, spark meaningful dialogue, and empower every student to recognize what they deafinitely can do. Don’t forget to download the worksheets!