Deafness in northern Indigenous communities: Parent perspectives on supports and services
Principal Investigator: Castleden, Heather (1)
Licence Number: 13083
Organization: University of Alberta
Licensed Year(s): 1999
Issued: Oct 07, 1999
Project Team: self

Objective(s): This project is intended to serve a multitude of people living in the NWT who are linked to one another by a singular issue - deafness. It will involve residents in the NWT through addressing issues fundamental to raising a child who is deaf. This will involve meeting with parents of deaf children, individuals who are deaf, community leaders, Elders, and professionals in the field of deafness to discuss the educational issues that a family and community experience regarding deafness. I have spent several years working in the deaf community and I am aware of the issues present in southern Canada. I am also aware that many of the supports and services are only available in the south thus the impact on Northern Indigenous families is significant. An analysis of the results and a set of recommendations will be developed in consultation with the research participants regarding the needs northern Indigenous families and communities have for accessing resources concerning deafness.

Project Description: The study will examine the extent of availability, accessibility, quality and distribution of educational resources on deafness and level of user satisfaction, within the Aboriginal population in the North. This research is a community-based project, developed with input provided by pertinent stakeholders. A qualitative approach using critical ethnography and situated responses will be used. Data will be collected through personal, in-depth interviews using culturally appropriate interviewing techniques. The interviews will be audiotaped or videotaped. All confidential information will be kept in a locked case during the study and destroyed once the study is complete. Participants identity will be kept confidential in this study and no names of people and places will be used. Names will only be used with written permission. The outcomes and recommendations of this project will create linkages between families and communities where there are deaf individuals and health care practitioners, educator, social services personnel and local, territorial and federal governments.