Signs of Inequality: Addressing Deaf Healthcare Accessibility

Despite advancements in accessibility and accommodations, there remains a significant gap in healthcare access for the Deaf community. This paper explores some causes and effects of this gap such as miscommunication, ableism, and discrimination as key issues that are damaging to the Deaf community and lead to further health problems and stress. It also examines the difficulty of acquiring an interpreter through social, political, and economic lenses. This paper analyzes policies in action that address the rights of the Deaf community to adequate communication, and it gives recommendations to better support the Deaf community in navigating the healthcare system. Advocacy is necessary to amplify Deaf voices and ensure healthcare equity as a fundamental right.