1Department of Education, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
2Regional Institute of Education (NCERT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
3Derabis College, Derabis, Kendrapara, Odisha, India
*Corresponding author email id: samirlenka2@gmail.com (ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6575-7440)
Online published on 3 March, 2025.
Persons with Deafness are belonging to minority. They have their own belief, history, language and have unique communication skill. The present research intended to explore the perspectives of persons with Deafness about Deaf culture regards sign language as a vital aspect of communication and their social and economic challenges facing in daily life. The sample of the study consisted of 90 persons with Deafness registered at the 5 Deaf associations/Organizations of Odisha. A self-developed scale on perspective of deafness on deaf culture was used to assess the perspectives of deaf people about sign language and both social and economic challenges faced by them. Social Challenges includes- fear to deal with others, involve in social activities, discrimination feelings etc. Economic challenges include- unemployment, poor income, inability to buy appliances and software, lack of financial capabilities etc. The study results indicated that the perspectives of persons with Deafness about the Deaf culture among persons with deafness of different age groups with regard to using sign language show minimal variations among different age groups. There exist no significant differences among person with deafness and deaf cultures in facing social and economic challenges with respect to gender and demographic division. On the basis of findings, the recommendations were also suggested.
⓿ Deafness is regarded as a disability and it has historically been the center point of educational and rehabilitative efforts for individual who are deaf or experiencing hearing impairment.
⓿ Deaf people communicate easily with deaf community with the help of sign language.
⓿ Deafness affects both social and economic dimensions of human life. From an economic standpoint, individuals with deafness tend to face higher rates of unemployment and lower incomes compared to their non-deaf counterparts.
⓿ Both male and female person with deafness from rural and urban areas are facing equal type of social and economic challenges in their daily life.
Perspectives, Person with deafness, Deaf culture, Socio-economic challenges
