Date of Award
5-14-2026
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Hayley Stokar
Second Advisor
Teresa Blankmeyer Burke
Abstract
This study focuses on shared experiences and themes of community identities within the elder Deaf community of central and coastal Massachusetts. Lived experiences and linguistic journeys shape our overall senses of belonging and identities; subsequently, they profoundly affect our relationship to our communities (Eastaugh, 2019). This research study discusses how concepts of belonging shift as individuals age within their community and how that impacts their sense of belonging and experiences with language. Communities where individuals feel a sense of belonging encourage identity development. The experiences of elders who identify as “Deaf” (due to their language preference and cultural influences) within central and coastal Massachusetts, and their lived histories, are the focus of this project. The presence of linguistic communities and leadership that often foster belonging are highlighted throughout the research. As a result of the complex connections between belonging and community identities, it is a struggle to find preexisting research on how the Deaf elders fit into the context of “community.” Preexisting research solely exemplifies the importance of how to maintain their involvement in their communities, and how their communities honor them as leaders. Therefore, this research study aims to address the following: how does community identity shift for Deaf elders?
Recommended Citation
Eaddy, Nelia, "Signs of Belonging: Community Identities of Deaf Elders in Central and Coastal Massachusetts" (2026). Undergraduate University Honors Capstones. 140.
https://ida.gallaudet.edu/honors_capstones/140
