Nora Groce’s Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language unveils a remarkable chapter in American history—one where deafness was not a barrier but a shared experience that shaped an entire community. When community speaks inclusion, it mirrors the story on Martha’s Vineyard, where hereditary deafness was so prevalent from the 17th to early 20th century that both deaf and hearing residents used a local sign language fluently. This wasn’t mere accommodation, it was full integration. Deaf individuals were farmers, business owners, and civic leaders, participating in every facet of island life without stigma or exclusion. Everyone lived with the same level of opportunity, prosperity, and respect.
The power of Groce’s work lies in how it re-frames disability. Rather than viewing deafness as a deficit, the Vineyard community treated it as a natural variation—imagine how transformed our world could be if this were the universal norm, where every individual, regardless of ability, identity, or mode of expression, was fully embraced as part of the whole.
Because sign language was a common tongue, communication barriers dissolved. Groce’s anthropological lens reveals how societal norms can shift when inclusion is built into the very fabric of daily life. Her research challenges the assumption that disability must isolate or marginalize, showing instead that community attitudes and shared language can foster belonging and equality.
What’s especially striking is how this story contrasts with the broader societal treatment of deaf individuals. In most places, deafness (or any difference) often leads to exclusion. But on Martha’s Vineyard, it was simply part of the landscape. Groce’s book doesn’t just document a historical anomaly—it offers a vision of what’s possible when accessibility is embraced not as an afterthought, but as a cultural standard. It’s a testament to the transformative power of language, empathy, and intentional community design.
How Community Inclusion Can Transform Our World
Groce’s exploration of Martha’s Vineyard presents a bold alternative to the conventional narrative surrounding disability—a model where accessibility wasn’t patched in, but foundational. If global communities embraced total integration, the impact on social cohesion and individual empowerment would be profound. In such a world, variation wouldn’t prompt isolation or pity, but curiosity, inclusion, and respect. The concept of “special help” would no longer signal separation—it would reflect a shared, proactive responsibility built into every system: education, public services, employment, and human relationships.
It would become second nature—from our youngest children onward—to include everyone naturally in play, friendship, partnership, employment, and beyond. Inclusion wouldn’t require explanation; it would be the norm. If everyone adopted this philosophy, children would grow up valuing variation as a strength, not an obstacle. They would instinctively practice belonging—from playgrounds to classrooms, careers to family life—just as this story shows.
Imagine
Imagine societies where children grow up fluent in multiple forms of communication and warmly embrace every human variation, whether in how we learn, move, connect, or express ourselves. When society values these variations as strengths, the ripple effect touches every part of life. Daily living becomes richer when everyone can participate fully and authentically, without barriers or apologies. Inclusion fosters psychological safety by empowering people to contribute, thrive, and belong because of their uniqueness.
In such a world, relationships deepen, communities flourish, and innovation accelerates. People feel seen, valued, and trusted, nurturing mental health and mutual respect. Productivity grows—not through uniformity, but through the vibrant mosaic of diverse thought, skill, and experience. From a bus ride to a boardroom, each interaction becomes an opportunity for shared understanding. That’s not just an update to infrastructure—it’s a re-imagining of humanity itself.
Reflection
This reflection was born from a sermon by Tim Keller, where he shared the story of Martha’s Vineyard as a living metaphor for the kind of friendship Jesus offers—a friendship that embraces everyone, regardless of variation or circumstance. Keller reminded us that true community doesn’t erase difference; it welcomes it, just as Jesus did. That message stirred something deeper in me, especially as someone who has taught blind students for nearly forty years. Each day, I see the transformative power of technology—not as a workaround, but as a bridge—helping students connect and grow with their peers in a world designed for collective inclusion. The heart of Christianity, and the life of Jesus, is centered on grace: an invitation extended to all, without condition. That same grace calls us to build communities where every person feels seen, valued, and welcomed—not as an exception, but as a friend.
Inclusion
When embraced as the norm and infused with grace, doesn’t just reshape systems—it redefines humanity, reminding us that every variation is not a barrier but a sacred invitation to belong. When everyone is included, due process can become a thing of the past
