Every April, Deaf History Month offers a meaningful opportunity to recognize the contributions and resilience of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. In business, that resilience is challenged even more. While stereotypes and assumptions persist, local Deaf business owners are breaking those barriers and making historic contributions to the broader business ecosystem. In Frederick—a city known for its strong Deaf community—several Deaf-owned businesses are redefining what inclusive entrepreneurship looks like. This month, we highlight three of those businesses that continue to lead with vision, authenticity, and impact.
T.S. Writing Services (TSW)
As a Deaf business owner, Trudy Suggs considers herself a “business owner first.” Founded in 2003, T.S. Writing Services (TSW) began in Minnesota and later relocated to Maryland to enroll her children into the Maryland School for the Deaf. What started as an Internet-based business faced early challenges. “I remember people looking at me with confusion when I told them TSW was an Internet-based business,” Trudy recounts. At the time, video relay services weren’t available – only “clunky” web interfaces that propelled ongoing hurdles in accessibility.
Like many small businesses, TSW has navigated limited resources and long hours, but being Deaf-owned adds another layer. According to the company, “attending in-person networking events or trainings is often complicated by the cost of interpreters.” While technology has improved, captioning and access still fall short in many cases.
In 2013, Savory Words Publishing was launched as a Deaf-centric publishing space and now operates under the TSW umbrella. “Our goal has always been to expand the literary landscape through a Deaf lens—to reframe narratives, not just translate them.” Today, six new titles are in progress including a children’s book series created entirely by Deaf women in Frederick. Most production, from editing to design, is handled in-house by Deaf professionals.
Despite the progress, marketing remains a challenge. “We’ve made multiple attempts to partner with local shops…but we haven’t received responses yet.” Still, TSW remains committed to growth and community connection. As Trudy asserts, “Awareness must be followed by action, and sustained community support is essential for meaningful change.” She believes that to better support Deaf-owned businesses, “communities and governments can prioritize accessibility” and “Deaf-created products and services are recognized and uplifted.”
Keystone Interpreting Solutions
KIS Team
Keystone Interpreting Solutions, a Deaf-owned, women-led business, approaches marketing, branding, and community engagement through the lens of lived experience. With over 90% of its team being Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Keystone doesn’t just provide interpreting services, it “bridges cultural gaps and creates spaces where communication is respected, understood, and valued.” Being Deaf-owned allows them to “authentically connect with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community,” building trust through relatability and representation.
Keystone offers one-stop solutions: from ASL-English and DeafBlind interpreting to video remote, spoken foreign language, CART, and media/translation services across legal, medical, educational, and community settings. For hearing clients, they emphasize that that compliance shouldn’t be the sole motivator in seeking services. At Keystone, it’s “about building real relationships with the Deaf community through culturally competent, high-quality access.”
With a brand grounded in “shared values, community trust, and authentic leadership,” Keystone lives its motto: Locally Owned. Deaf-Led. Community Driven. They aim to reflect and serve the full spectrum of their community, “one communication success at a time.”
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FIA Interpreting
Ethan Kramer, Owner of FIA Interpreting
Founded in 2017, FIA Interpreting began with just a simple website and a passion for elevating accessibility in Frederick. “In the early days, I would personally visit buildings and offices to give elevator pitches about our services,” Ethan Kramer recalls. As a Deaf business founder and owner with limited resources, these efforts came with significant challenges such as the added cost and logistics of hiring interpreters for face-to-face interactions.
Those early obstacles helped shape FIA’s long-term strategy. “That challenge ultimately reshaped my approach,” Ethan explained. By shifting focus to digital marketing through investing in SEO, email campaigns, and online lead generation, FIA was able to achieve substantial growth. Today, the company has expanded to a team that includes five full-time interpreters, two schedulers, two part-time assistants, and two executives. “It has been a journey of learning, adaptation, and building a brand that connects with both Deaf and hearing communities through inclusive and accessible communication.”
When asked how local governments can better support Deaf-owned businesses, FIA’s founder was quick to praise their home city: “Frederick has done an incredible job… I truly couldn’t ask for a better place to live and grow a business as a Deaf person.” Continued support, Ethan notes, means actively listening to marginalized communities and ensuring that city services and opportunities remain universally accessible including interpreters and those who need them.
The stories of these Deaf-owned business owners highlight the impact of lived experience in business and community that shows how inclusive businesses can create a better ecosystem for us all. As we celebrate Deaf History Month, it’s a great reminder to support and uplift Deaf entrepreneurs not just this month, but all year long.