The DeafBlind Epistemology Scale: Experience, Language, and Identity

The DeafBlind Episteme Scale was used to examine the perspectives of DeafBlind individuals regarding their identities, lived experiences, and language attitudes. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to analyze the data. Findings revealed that DeafBlind individuals rely on touch to access information through tactile languages. However, barriers to this access can result in communication breakdowns and negative experiences, limiting their ability to navigate audiovisual-centered societies. These challenges shape DeafBlind individuals’ perceptions of their positionalities within society, which were identified as tactile modality, distantism, vidism, and acceptance.