Karin Desalu is a Deaf advocate, educator, and community leader who joined ShaLeigh Dance Works in 2023 as a Creative Expert for enVISION: The Next Chapter. Drawing on her lived experience and professional expertise, Karin has helped shape the project’s exploration of Deaf culture, communication, accessibility, and perception.
Karin serves as a Deaf Service Specialist with the Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing at the Wilson Regional Center and is the Eastern Regional Representative for the North Carolina Association of the Deaf. She holds degrees in General Education and Human Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and has dedicated her career to supporting and empowering Deaf communities across North Carolina.
As a member of the enVISION creative team, Karin brings valuable insight, perspective, and advocacy to the artistic process, helping ensure that Deaf experiences are authentically represented and meaningfully integrated into the work. Her contributions continue to deepen the project’s commitment to disability-led collaboration and accessibility as artistic practice.
“Me being deaf isn’t the problem. There is nothing wrong with being deaf; it’s society that is the problem.” – Rose Ayling-Ellis