Deaf people are significantly underrepresented in global health research, excluding them from public resources that would allow them to thrive. Deaf Community Research: Ecuador is the first deployment of the Global Deaf Research Institute's international deaf-led needs assessment project changing lives with data combined with community action. Our team of deaf researchers partners with local deaf organizations to collect robust data and use it to create positive change for the deaf community.
Globally, health research overlooks deaf populations. Published data on deaf populations disaggregated from general disability data are almost non-existent, depriving deaf communities worldwide of full access to healthcare, support from their governments, and the ability to thrive as autonomous individuals. Such data are crucial for advocacy efforts, policy changes, and securing funding for local organizations dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by deaf individuals.
Our needs assessment in Ecuador, designed in close partnership with the local community, will create the FIRST published research data specifically on deaf people performed BY deaf scientists... ever! Our goal is to document the needs of the Ecuadorian deaf community so that these needs can begin to be met. Once the data is collected, we will train local deaf leaders, educators, and advocates to use it to put pressure on policy makers, creating lasting positive change for the deaf community.
This work extends internationally, offering a blueprint for addressing similar challenges in another countries. By unifying data and advocating for policy change and funding, we create a powerful global effort with far-reaching impact. We will maintain partnerships and forge connections between deaf organizations worldwide, fostering an international network. As this community grows, so will its reach and ability to positively affect the lives of deaf people everywhere.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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