Community-Driven Strategies for Improving Postsecondary Outcomes of Deaf People

This study relied upon the lived experiences of deaf communities to develop community-driven solutions for eliminating employment and educational attainment gaps within deaf communities. Community conversations, a community-based participatory research model, was used to engage a broad cross-section of deaf community members and stakeholders in five U.S. cities to generate strategies for improving postsecondary outcomes for deaf individuals. Analysis of the 1,148 ideas generated by community members revealed eight key strategies: (a) engage in system change strategies; (b) improve partnerships and resource sharing; (c) strengthen transition planning; (d) build communities of support for deaf youth; (e) strengthen youth skills; (f) support families; (g) improve access to programs and services; and (h) provide professional development. System change requires a commitment from all components of the system, and local communities play an important role In this work.