RESEARCH CONTEXT

The Deaf population represents approximately 8% of Canada’s population. Socially regarded as disabled people, Deaf people form a cultural and linguistic minority which encounters many obstacles (prejudice, discrimination, invisibility) and experiences a lower rate of social participation. While predominant medical, cultural, and social perspectives view deafness as a lack and a disability, many people who identify as Deaf are proud of their membership to one or more Deaf communities and cultures, and of signing one or more sign languages. Many are unilingual in Quebec, American or Native Sign Language and do not have full access to information and cultural offerings if these are only available in French or in English.

Deaf cultures, Deafness, and the Disabled and Deaf performing arts are fairly well documented, as are critical studies of citizenship and the social barriers faced by Deaf people. There is however a great need to develop specific knowledge about cultural citizenship of Deaf people and the cultural accessibility practices intended for them.

In the wake of the recognition by the UN of cultural rights, cultural citizenship consists of a set of practices that determine the possibility for people to feel as though they belong to a society, particularly when they come from a social minority group. Promoted by numerous conventions, charters, laws and policies protecting human and cultural rights at the international, national, provincial and municipal levels, accessibility practices (e.g. closed captioning and interpretation in sign language) and equity measures (e.g. employment and professional development opportunities, etc.) are an essential condition for cultural citizenship, rendering possible their social participation, their sense of belonging and their visibility.