“Maryland continues to lead the way in ensuring our Deaf community has access to important cultural resources, programs and information,” said Maryland State Librarian Morgan Lehr Miller. “The launch of this collective gives everyone a seat at the table and clears a path for communities to discover and collaborate with the many talented and knowledgeable Deaf content creators out there today.”
Deaf creators face unique systemic hurdles in the digital landscape. These creators often carry an additional burden of time and resources to produce accessible content such as self-captioning and voiceover to achieve the same visibility as their non-disabled peers. Researchers in 2025 referred to the added workload as "The Deaf Multimedia Authoring Tax.”
The Deaf Creator Collective directly addresses these barriers by providing a centralized, searchable catalog where libraries, organizations and event planners can connect directly with Deaf storytellers, educators and artists. It also serves as the centerpiece of DCDL's “Find Deaf Creators” campaign.
The platform is free for creators and organizations; DCDL does not charge fees or take a percentage of bookings. Organizations can contact experts directly for programs, consultations and creative collaborations. In addition, DCDL is a State-funded resource established by the Maryland General Assembly, which allows the Collective to provide a stable, long-term platform for creator discovery.
Maryland public libraries are already using the resource to diversify their programming. Recent collaborations include American Sign Language storytimes and cultural performances at the Anne Arundel County Public Library and the Aspen Hill branch of Montgomery County Public Libraries.
DCDL invites all Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Deaf-Disabled, Hard-of-Hearing, late-deafened and Children of Deaf Adult creators to join the Collective and encourages organizations to use the catalog for their upcoming programming and expert needs.
For more information, to browse the catalog, or to apply for the Collective, visit https://www.marylanddcdl.org/deaf-content-creators/
