CODA Project

About the CODA project

 A hidden minority amongst the majority: An ethnographic study of Children of Deaf Adults and the negotiation of threatened social identities

The CODA Project is focused on an ethnographic study of Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) and the negotiation of threatened social identities. The project is funded by Research Ireland under the SFI-IRC Pathway Programme 2022. Research suggest that approximately 90% of children born to deaf parents can hear. CODAs may be exposed to certain stigmas related to their parents’ deafness. Yet, little is known about the impact of parental deafness on the family from the CODA perspective. The objective of the research is to employ the methods of ethnography, participant observation and film documentation to explore how CODAs experience ‘courtesy stigma’ (stigma-by-association) related to parental deafness in social, cultural, educational, and political contexts. The overarching aims are: 1. To offer new and critical insights into the way parental deafness stigma is experienced by children and adult children of deaf parents; 2. To pursue two main lines of inquiries: how do CODAs negotiate the courtesy stigma of their parents’ deaf identity in family, school and community contexts? In what ways do CODAs transform their lives in the face of adversity? The project will use the research findings to raise questions for how family policy and practice can begin to break down barriers to social inclusion for children affected by parental stigma. 

CODA is a four year project. Phase 1 has focused on the recruitment of a PhD student to conduct ethnographic research on gendered experiences of CODAs in family, school and community contexts. This phase also involved the organisation of a CODA Festival conference event which took place at UCC on 4-5 October 2025. Phase 2 focuses on the recruitment and interviewing of research participants and transcribing recorded interviews. Phase three and four involve data analysis and dissemination of research results.