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Heatwave Hacks: How to Stay Cool, Confident & Glowing with Deaf-Friendly Beauty Tips
Hey there, Donna community 💛 July is here—and it’s not playing around. Whether you’re braving 100° days, navigating summer social plans, or just trying to keep your skin from melting off, we’ve got you covered. In this post, you’ll learn: 🔥 Bonus Freebie: Want to make these habits last? Grab our free Summer Self-Care Toolkit:✔ ASL-friendly skincare visual guides✔ Printable habit tracker (use it with stickers, highlighters, or your fave app)✔ Confidence-boosting prompts in ASL & English Heatwave Hacks: How to Stay Cool, Confident & Glowing with Deaf-Friendly Beauty Tips 👉 Click here to get the toolkit + join the Donna email fam ☀️ Heatwave = Sensory Overload? Let’s Talk…
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My Summer Morning Routine as a Deaf CEO-in-Training (Behind-the-Scenes Vlog + Free Template)
Hey, friends! I’m Donna, and if you’re new here: welcome. I’m Deaf, proudly running a growing lifestyle brand built to uplift our community. Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at my summer morning routine—the real, unfiltered version. This isn’t about aesthetic perfection. It’s about structure, self-respect, and showing up as the CEO-in-training I know I am. To help you build your own grounded, energizing mornings, I made a free printable toolkit just for you. It includes: My Summer Morning Routine as a Deaf CEO-in-Training (Behind-the-Scenes Vlog + Free Template) >> Click here to grab your free printable toolkit (PDF) and start your routine your way. Why a Morning Routine…
- Accessibility & Advocacy, ASL Advocacy, Deaf Lifestyle, Donna's Diary (Main Writing Hub), Life, Reflections
You’re Not “Difficult.” You’re Being Dismissed.
Let’s cut to the chase. You’re Not “Difficult.” You’re Being Dismissed. If you’re Deaf or hard of hearing, you already know the drill. You send the email. You wait. You follow up. You wait some more. Maybe you get a voicemail you can’t hear. Maybe someone tells you to “just call.” Maybe you explain – again – that email or text is better. You repeat yourself. You clarify what you already said clearly the first time. You do the work. You’re not being “difficult.” You’re being dismissed. The Pattern You Didn’t Imagine It’s not in your head. There’s a pattern here: Delayed responses. You send a time-sensitive message and wait…
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Deaf/Hard-Of-Hearing TLO Communications
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Top Deaf Creators by Platform
Deaf creators aren’t just making noise – they’re leading conversations, breaking barriers, and racking up millions of followers across social media. From TikTok stars like Scarlet May with 4 million followers to Instagram icons like Nyle DiMarco and YouTube standouts like Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, Deaf influencers are commanding platforms and shifting culture. These creators use their visibility to entertain, educate, and advocate, blending creativity with authenticity. Whether it’s comedy, lifestyle content, activism, or music, their voices—spoken or signed are being heard loud and clear. This generation of Deaf creators isn’t just participating in the digital space. THEY ARE OWNING IT. Instagram TikTok YouTube Others to Watch
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We’ve Been Targeted: How Scammers Exploit the Deaf Community – And How We Fight Back
The Silence They Exploit I lost $1,000 to a scam I thought I saw coming. I’ve replayed it a hundred times. The red flags. The gut feeling. The voice in my head saying, “You know better.” And still, I lost. This isn’t just my story. It’s ours. Because this isn’t just about money. It’s about how scams are evolving faster than we’re warned, and how they’re targeting the people who are already fighting to be heard. Deaf creators. Queer folks. Immigrants. People living at the intersections, where visibility meets vulnerability. And while scammers sharpen their tools, platforms stay silent. Systems stay broken. The same communities that built these spaces are…
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ASL on the Go: 7 Everyday Moments to Practice Sign Language This Summer
Summer is made for movement—pool days, backyard BBQs, road trips, slow walks with iced coffee in hand. If you’re learning American Sign Language (ASL), these warm-weather routines are also perfect for weaving signs into your daily life without needing to block off extra time or energy. No fancy apps. No pressure to be perfect. Just consistent, real-life practice that helps ASL become second nature. And to make it even easier, we created a free printable ASL Summer Toolkit—complete with: 👉 [Get your free ASL Summer Toolkit here] and start building your signing routine today. ASL on the Go: 7 Everyday Moments to Practice Sign Language This Summer Why “On-the-Go” ASL…
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Deaf/Hard-Of-Hearing TLO Communications
👀 COMING SOON !!! 🛠️ This page is currently in progress — but I promise it’ll be worth the wait. As a Deaf woman and founder of The Life of Donna, I’m creating resources that make communication access clearer, easier, and more empowering for all of us. 💳 Our new TLO Communication ID Cards™ are launching soon — with support for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Mute communities. Stay tuned. It’s happening. 🫶🏼 ⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳
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You’re Not “Difficult.” You’re Being Dismissed.
- ASL Advocacy, ASL Stories, Deaf History, Deaf Lifestyle, Glow-Up + Wellness, Life, Reflections, Wellness & Self-Development
Vision or Illusion? My Wake-Up Call on MLMs and False Empowerment
The truth behind MLMs and how they sell us dreams that don’t hold. Let me be real with you: I almost didn’t share this. Vision or Illusion? My Wake-Up Call on MLMs and the Deaf Community’s False Empowerment Trap Not because I’m embarrassed, but because I know how sensitive this topic can be. MLMs are everywhere and they promise so much. But this isn’t about dragging anyone. It’s about truth, lived experience, and making sure others don’t fall into the same trap I did. I speak from experience and research. This isn’t personal – it’s advocacy. I hope we can respect each other’s journeys. – Donna Melena This post reflects…
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Turn Up the Heat: 10 Empowering Ways to Practice Deaf Self-Love This July Turn Up the Heat: 10 Empowering Ways to Practice Deaf Self-Love This July
July is here—and it’s not just about sun, fireworks, and popsicles. It’s also the perfect time to reconnect with yourself, recharge your spirit, and show up more boldly as a Deaf person in a hearing-dominated world. Whether you’re new to self-love or deep into your personal growth journey, this post is your invitation to pause, breathe, and turn up the heat on what really matters: your relationship with you. Turn Up the Heat: 10 Empowering Ways to Practice Deaf Self-Love This July 👇 Free Download: Grab our Deaf Self-Love Toolkit — includes a printable habit tracker + ASL affirmations to help you stay grounded and consistent all month long. It’s…
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Do We Have to Be Broken to Become Better?
Hi online friends! This one’s coming straight from the soul. One night, it hit me while I was sitting on a small cozy brown chair with a feeling… That weird mix of awareness, sadness, and gratitude. And I couldn’t shake this question: “Do we have to go through the bad just to become better?” The honest truth? Yeah. Sometimes, we do. Not because we’re weak. Not because we deserved the pain. But because truth reveals itself in contrast. You don’t realize how dim the room was until someone opens a window. You don’t know how heavy the silence was until you finally speak. And a lot of us, especially as…
Deaf Lifestyle Blog
