Young racialized deaf/hard of hearing adults' interactions with speech-language pathologists

Marginalized experiences have typically been excluded within healthcare. This critical qualitative arts-based study sought to elevate the expressions of young adults who identify as deaf/hard of hearing, and Racialized, Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color and to learn about their interactions with speech-language pathologists (SLPs). This research, grounded in Dis/ability Critical Race Theory and Crip Linguistics, used multiple case studies. Participant expressions of actual and preferred interactions were elicited and analyzed through digital collage and semi-structured interviews. This study revealed that actual interactions lacked attunement between the service user and the SLP and that the SLP did not sufficiently support service users' social connections. It also revealed preferred interactions in the form of supporting Deaf culture and providing modality options, including in minoritized languages, and supporting service user confidence. These findings have relevant implications for the SLP field related to clinical teaching, practice, research, policy, and paradigm shifts.