Structural Vulnerability

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.