CODA Updates
Dr Noel O'Connell and Professor Jemina Napier new paper accepted by the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Educations
I’m thrilled to announce some exciting news. A new study I co-authored with Professor Jemina Napier (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh) has been accepted for publication shed (due in August 2026) in the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. Our paper is titled "A Qualitative Literature Review of How Hearing Codas Navigate Deafness Stigma" (DOI: 10.1093/jdsade/enag051).
This paper provides an essential, evidence-based framework for family services. Historically, statutory bodies have ignored Codas by grouping them with the hearing majority. Our review highlights how systemic exclusion creates distinct intergenerational challenges:
Courtesy stigma: Codas face associative discrimination, public shaming, and bullying when signing in public.
Parentification: Deprived of public resources and incidental learning, Deaf parents frequently must rely on their children to broker complex communication.
Defensive concealment: Children often hide public mockery and personal bullying to shield their parents from emotional distress.
Crucially, our study moves beyond a deficit framework. It shows that Codas possess immense agency. When supported by their families and the Deaf community, Codas reframe their bilingualism into an asset of bicultural pride. This publication is a call to action for social policy to finally center Coda perspectives. Protecting linguistic human rights today ensures that future generations can thrive free from the shadow of associative stigma.