Inclusive research when working with deaf communities

This reflective paper explores the principles and practices of inclusive research with deaf communities, drawing on critical reflections from a deaf-led parallel multi-methods sequential design study incorporating qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It highlights the ethical, cultural and linguistic considerations necessary to ensure research with deaf participants is not only accessible, but also affirming and empowering. Informed by a deaf anthropological perspective, this deaf-centric approach centred deaf people's voices and recognised those with lived experience as experts regarding their own experiences. Practical strategies for inclusive engagement encompassing multiple layers of language accessibility, community engagement, culturally safe practices and governance are discussed. This paper contributes to the growing field of deaf epistemologies and guides researchers committed to ethical and community-centred research with deaf participants.