Application of the truth and reconciliation model to meaningfully engage deaf sign language users in the research process

Abstract

Objectives: One of the most underrepresented public health populations is the U.S. Deaf community-a minority group of 500,000 + individuals who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). Research on Deaf health outcomes is significantly lacking due to inaccessible research procedures and mistrust of researchers that stems from historical mistreatment of Deaf people (i.e., Audism).

Methods: Following the Truth and Reconciliation Model, we hosted three Deaf community forums between October and November 2016 across New England. We invited attendees to share their experiences in the research world and make recommendations about how researchers can better include Deaf people in their studies. A select group of hearing researchers served as representatives of the research community and to issue a formal apology on behalf of this community.

Results: Forum attendees (n = 22; 5% racial/ethnic minority; 59% female) emphasized the following themes: Research conducted within general population samples is not an activity in which Deaf people can or will be included; a general mistrust of hearing people, including hearing researchers; researchers' frequent failure to communicate study results back to the Deaf community or the community-at-large; and a tendency of researchers to directly benefit from data provided by Deaf participants, without making any subsequent efforts to return to the community to give back or provide useful intervention.

Conclusions: Many injustices and forms of mistreatment are still ongoing; therefore, we recognize that our team's efforts to foster an open dialogue between the research community and the Deaf community must be an ongoing, iterative practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).