Family–School Collaboration in Supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children with Disabilities in Canada

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Project end date: April 30, 2027

We invite parents and caregivers of Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing children with disabilities to take part in this study. The goal of this research is to better understand how families work with schools to access support and educational services for their child, including how families communicate with educators and make decisions about schooling. Parents and caregivers of school-aged (K–12) Deaf or Hard of Hearing children in Canada who have an identified or suspected disability are invited to participate. We would like to hear about your experiences through an individual interview conducted in your preferred language and in ways that respect your cultural background (for example, American Sign Language, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Arabic, or Korean). Participation includes a 50–60-minute individual interview, with the option to join a follow-up focus group discussion lasting 60–90 minutes. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for the interview and an additional $50 if they take part in the focus group. By sharing your experiences, you will help contribute to a better understanding of family–school collaboration and support more inclusive and effective practices for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.

This study examines how parents and caregivers of Deaf or Hard of Hearing children with disabilities (deaf plus, or deaf-disabled) work with schools to access support for their child. It focuses on family–school communication and decision-making related to educational services.
Participants will be parents or caregivers of school-aged (K–12) Deaf or Hard of Hearing children in Canada who have an identified or suspected disability. Participants will be interviewed about their experiences in their preferred languages and in ways that respect their cultural backgrounds (e.g., American Sign Language, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Arabic, and Korean).
Data will be collected through individual interviews (50–60 minutes) and optional follow-up focus group discussions (60–90 minutes). Participants will receive a $50 gift card for the individual interview and an additional $50 for participating in the optional focus group. By centring parent and caregiver voices, this study aims to improve understanding of family–school collaboration and inform more inclusive and effective practices in Deaf and Hard of Hearing education across Canada.