Assessment of the Quality of Life and Communication Needs of Deaf Ecuadorians
Based on interviews with 36 deaf and hearing participants across Ecuador, GDRI's all-deaf research team found that systemic exclusion from education and employment, limited access to interpreters and assistive technology, and gaps in family and institutional support shape deaf Ecuadorians' health and quality of life. The peer-reviewed study, published in the European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, argues these barriers stem from structural failures rather than deafness itself, calling for policy investment in accessible education, healthcare, and community-based support.
The National Deaf Needs Assessment: Ecuador
From the Global Disability Summit in Berlin to the United Nations Conference of State Parties, GDRI has spent the past six months deepening global partnerships and advocating for deaf inclusion at the highest levels. With the relaunch of their flagship initiative as Deaf Voices Counted and an upcoming expansion into the Dominican Republic, GDRI continues to center deaf-led, community-driven research worldwide.
The National Deaf Needs Assessment: Nigeria Pilot Results
Published by: Global Deaf Research Institute (GDRI) 2028 East Ben White Boulevard #240-7215 Austin, Texas 78741 GDRI © 2024 Abstract The Deaf Community Research initiative, flagship of the Global Deaf Research Institute, is an ambitious undertaking in data collection which will begin to fill the global gaps in disaggregated health data on deaf populations. At its core, each deployment is a Community Needs Assessment for the deaf community of a given country, aiming to create a snapshot of their quality of life at the present day. We operate on the social model of disability and the [...]
Water and food insecurity & quality of life for deaf Nigerians: A community-based cross sectional study
Authors: Alina Engelman, Saminu Ismail, Jordan Fenlon, Emily Jo Noschese, Lorne Farovitch Water Security, Volume 24, April 2025, 100188, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasec.2025.100188 Abstract Drought and flooding caused by climate change as well as regional and global conflicts mean that access to both water and food is becoming increasingly precarious worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Deaf and disabled people worldwide have historically struggled to access basic needs, including access to nutritious food, sanitation and clean, potable water. Access to clean water and food is a daily challenge for many Nigerians, particularly in the northern regions. Our first-of-its kind exploratory study of 150 deaf [...]
Deaf queers in the healthcare system
Authors: Lorne Farovitch, Leah Oakes The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Volume 30, Issue 2, April 2025, Pages 284–285, https://doi.org/10.1093/jdsade/enaf001 Introduction The Issue Deaf queer individuals face significant barriers in healthcare due to communication gaps, societal biases, and limited accessibility to sign language interpretation services. In some countries, like Ecuador, legal mandates for interpreters are absent, while in others, interpreter availability is often undermined by discrimination and inadequate training. These barriers result in miscommunication, misdiagnoses, delayed care, and low health literacy, with healthcare systems frequently failing to provide information in accessible formats. For example, the word “positive” in [...]
