College
College of Health Professions
Date of Last Revision
2025-12-11 06:49:45
Major
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Honors Course
SLPA 496
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Fall 2025
Abstract
The catalyst for this research project stems from the rollback of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives under the current presidential administration. Executive Orders from the presidential office have caused budget cuts and pauses in federal programs that affect all types of communities across the United States. For the Deaf community, funding for federal and state programs aimed at training ASL interpreters, helping Deaf individuals find jobs, and other communicative tools used by native signers has been paused. Despite the urgency of this issue, few studies have looked at the intersection of Deaf accessibility and the decline of DEIA efforts. ASL interpreters are crucial, this was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the federal government, and some state governments did not provide ASL interpreters during emergency Covid-19 related press briefings. This left many members of the Deaf community unaware and confused of the dangerous health crisis unfolding around them. This research project examines the vital role of interpreters in the Deaf community and the evolution of their role throughout history. As well as reveals how DEIA program and funding cuts are impacting accessibility for Deaf individuals in various environments like education, employment, healthcare, and civic settings. Finally, this project proposes actions that can be done to support the Deaf community in an era of diminishing institutional support.
Research Sponsor
Kim Bass
First Reader
K. Todd Houston
Second Reader
Erin Miller
Honors Faculty Advisor
Waseem Al Matar
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Kovacs, Andrew, "The Vital Role of Interpreters in the Deaf Community: Navigating Accessibility Amidst Declining DEIA Initiatives" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2066.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2066