In this episode, I sit down with Maria Gallucci, a multi-award-winning real estate agent, author, and a proud Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), to uncover the hidden realities of navigating a world built for the hearing. Maria reveals to me the heavy emotional burden of acting as a childhood interpreter, the massive accessibility gaps in the housing and medical systems, and how she turned a life of feeling "othered" into a nationwide mission for radical inclusion.

Key Takeaways

The unspoken trauma of children forced to interpret complex, life-altering adult situations.
Why treating everyone "equally" is actually a massive mistake when trying to foster true inclusion.
The hidden accessibility crisis in the real estate market, and the exact steps needed to fix it.
How growing up as a CODA shaped her 30-year mission to protect Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and LGBTQ+ homebuyers.
The simple, everyday habits that accidentally isolate marginalized groups (and how we can correct them immediately).

Chapters
00:00 The Heavy Burden of Being a Child Interpreter
03:54 How We Accidentally Exclude The Deaf Community
08:02 Turning Childhood Isolation Into a Fight for Inclusion
13:02 Why True Empathy & Inclusion Starts At Home
23:06 The Real Estate Industry's Massive Accessibility Problem
31:50 Protecting an LGBTQ+ Child From Intense Bullying
38:30 Maria’s Book: Raised In Silence & ASL Realty
40:53 Dismantling Systems of Comparison and Shame

About My Guest, Maria Gallucci
Maria Gallucci is a multi-award-winning real estate agent, author, and a proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned American Sign Language before English and began interpreting for her family in complex adult situations at a young age. This unique childhood shaped her lifelong passion for inclusive communication and helping often-overlooked communities feel seen and respected.

For over 30 years, Maria has specialized in supporting homebuyers in the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and LGBTQ+ communities. She is the founder of ASL Realty, a national platform that connects clients with signing agents, and her work is dedicated to bridging communication gaps and fostering a more compassionate world.

Resources & Connect with Maria

Explore ASL Realty: https://aslrealty.com/
Work with Gallucci Homes: https://galluccihomes.com/
Read Maria's Book, Raised in Silence: raisedinsilence.com
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-gallucci-18725b9

Full episode transcript available here: Episode Transcript

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