Discrimination experiences and empowerment of the deaf community

In Türkiye, where the estimated number of individuals with hearing impairment is approximately 3.5 million, a significant portion of the Deaf or hard of hearing community does not utilize Turkish Sign Language for communication. While some individuals can hear with the aid of devices or Cochlear Implants, others experience hearing loss due to age-related health issues. The distinguishing factor between Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and those with other forms of hearing loss lies in the shared communication language and other elements that unify the Deaf community. To comprehend the visibility of the Deaf community's characteristics and its presence in Türkiye, an understanding of these elements becomes imperative. The community, referred to as the Deaf community, is composed of individuals with hearing loss who communicate using a common language, share life experiences, possess a sense of belonging to a shared culture, and facilitate the transmission of this collective culture. This community encompasses individuals with hearing loss who employ sign language for communication, along with facilitators, advocates, family members, and other connections. Deaf individuals often encounter societal labeling as disabled due to their distinct communication methods, leading to negative attitudes and discrimination in various aspects of daily life. Limited research exists within both institutional and personal domains regarding the forms of oppression faced by the Deaf community. This study examines power dynamics among Deaf individuals, perception of society on Deaf culture's perspective, and the establishment of societal norms that exclude the Deaf community within the framework of an anti-discrimination and empowerment approach in the field of social work. The study adopts a qualitative research design, employing phenomenological research methodology. Twenty-one Deaf individuals participated in semi-structured interviews conducted in Turkish Sign Language, and their responses were analyzed using thematic analysis facilitated by MAXQDA 2020 software. The findings shed light on the discrimination experiences of the Deaf community, the communication methods employed by Deaf individuals, the components of Turkish Deaf culture, and the expectations of this community. Accordingly, Deaf individuals endure injustices related to Sign Language and the interpreting system, facing challenges in both employment and educational settings. They also encounter indirect discrimination from the hearing society through suspicious behavior and a life dependent on others. This study elucidates ways for the Deaf community to adapt to hearing society and underscores essential components of Turkish Deaf culture, highlighting the roles of Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) and interpreters, as well as the significance attributed to Deaf identity. Based on the findings, key recommendations for empowering the Deaf community are presented, along with a proposed model.