Lived Experiences of Deaf People

The image depicts five people casually engaging in conversation in a well-lit indoor setting. On the left, a person with curly hair gestures with their hands while seated on a ledge. Next, a person in a red jacket and glasses smiles, facing the group. The third individual, wearing a gray hoodie and red beanie, is holding a smartphone and making a conversational gesture. Beside them, a person in a black hoodie laughs, wearing a backpack. On the far right, another person with curly hair touches their ear, wearing a denim jacket over a red shirt.
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Module Description:

This self-paced module introduces the wide range of deaf identities, including deaf, deafblind, deafdisabled, hard of hearing, and late-deafened people, through a strength-based, systems-change lens.

Participants will explore how identity, language, communication, and access intersect in real-world settings. Using real-life scenarios and reflection-based learning, the module supports professionals in identifying barriers in existing systems and developing strategies to improve their programs.

Learning objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the wide range of identities and lived experiences across deaf communities, including people who are deafblind, deafdisabled, hard of hearing, and late-deafened. 

  • Identify how language, communication strategies, and access tools vary across individuals and environments. 

  • Examine how systems and institutional practices can create or remove barriers for deaf people. 

  • Reflect on how assumptions and default practices affect the ability of deaf people to participate fully.

Badge information: Module content category – Deaf Awareness

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Continuing Education Credit: This module is pre-approved for 1 NDC Continuing Professional Education Clock Hour and 1 CRCC Clock Hour

Course Category: Deaf Awareness
Useful For: Higher Education Administrators, Audiologists, Disability Services Professionals, Employers, Families, Interpreters, Speech-to-Text Provider, Students, Teachers, Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals

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National Deaf Center