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Race and Ethnicity
Deaf people of color often undergo a dual socialization process. In other words, they learn the cultures, attitudes and beliefs of each group to which they belong. How an individual identifies culturally will vary from person to person. Some Deaf people of color may identify with their racial or ethnic culture first. Others may identify with Deaf culture first. And, still others may identify with both cultures equally.
Deaf people of color are a minority within a minority group. As such, they can experience discrimination in both hearing and Deaf communities in relation to education, employment, housing, social services, and social experiences. These experiences may impact the extent to which an individual participates in either community, including seeking services or other support from the community.
Barriers to Services
When working with survivors, it is particularly important to recognize the barriers to social services they may experience based on their race and ethnicity. Deaf people of color experience barriers to social services. Services that are designed for people of color, for example, often do not provide communication access for Deaf individuals or have an understanding of Deaf culture. Services that are designed for Deaf people, on the other hand, typically lack cultural competency required to meet the needs of people from diverse racial and ethnic groups. Moreover, mainstream service providers may not be equipped or understand how to address the unique needs of Deaf people of color. As a result, Deaf people of color often experience less access to social services.
