ReQIS: Strengthening communications accessibility in LSQ and ASL through an in-depth analysis of the challenges

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The context

Since social constructs make deafness an invisible disability in the eyes of the hearing majority, many Deaf and hard of hearing people live in a society where the importance of accessible communication is chronically underestimated.

There are significant gaps in accessible communications in Canada. Although, in principle, critical communications are transmitted in writing or orally (think of public government announcements, news broadcast on television and radio, political debates for elections or even announcements for emergencies such as a health crisis or forest fires), the latter, distributed across the country, are notable for the absence of accessible communications in Quebec Sign Language (LSQ), American Sign Language (ASL) and Indigenous sign languages (ISL), despite the fact that these languages are recognized as being the sign languages most used by Deaf Canadians.

The problem

Although sign language translations in video format are becoming more frequently used in Canada and abroad thanks to technological advances, these communications remain varied and include many challenges, particularly in terms of the visual presentation of translators, their qualifications and the production of accessible content. It is not uncommon to see, for example, video content inaccessible to people with visual disabilities due to glare from unsuitable backgrounds.

Also, despite its crucial importance for Deaf and hard of hearing people, the field of accessible sign language communications has been largely understudied compared to those of linguistics, education, Deaf studies and communications. This limits the ability of institutions and organizations to develop and deploy accessible communications based on evidence and proven practices.

These problems are exacerbated by the absence of public discussions about standards of accessible communications in sign languages.

The mandate

It is in this context that the Réseau québécois pour l’inclusion sociale des personnes sourdes et malentendantes (ReQIS) undertook a major study to identify specific issues related to accessible communications for Deaf and hard of hearing people, in addition to identifying and standardizing their needs in terms of inclusion.

The Eversa team was therefore commissioned to analyze and document standards, policies and practices for accessible communications in sign language in Canada and around the world.

When this research was concluded, issues related to the accessibility of information for Deaf Canadians were identified and possible solutions were shared with ReQIS as recommendations.

In the medium term, this project aimed to remedy current shortcomings by standardizing accessible communication practices. By sharing the results with Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC), the funder of the study, and by disseminating project monitoring reports, ReQIS is contributing to advancing the cause of communication accessibility while also strengthening collective rights and participation of the Deaf community in society.

The solution

The study, which lasted two years, was conducted in collaboration with several provincial and national partner associations of the Deaf community. By sharing their vast professional and community networks with us, these associations enabled participatory, inclusive recruitment that respects the values specific to the English, French and Indigenous Deaf communities.

Eversa worked in close collaboration with the Research Group on LSQ and Deaf Bilingualism from the Department of Linguistics of the Université du Québec à Montréal when developing interview and survey outlines, analyzing data and drafting the research report.

Finally, we listed live and recorded communications to collect the necessary data before examining the training and qualifications of the translators and interpreters. At the same time, we studied issues related to accessible communications through semi-structured interviews, focus groups and surveys.

The results

Thanks to this research project, ReQIS has become one of the first organizations to contribute to the development of standards for accessible communications in Quebec and Canada, thus strengthening its role as a leader in accessibility.

This study will help advance thinking and research in this area that is still underexplored in Canada. The study report compiled and collected various points of view to assess the current state of information accessibility and compare them with national and provincial legislation. It also offered recommendations relating to the standards to be put in place, in addition to providing an overview of the means of increasing accessibility for Deaf and hard of hearing people.

Considering that 91% of Deaf Canadians use videos when they are available in sign languages and that 95% of community members want their province to establish a plan for disseminating accessible information in a crisis, the need to demonstrate why we should offer adapted measures is no longer needed.

ReQIS and Eversa are proud to be able to help provide government institutions and organizations with the data necessary to implement standards that will have a significant and lasting impact on the inclusion of the Deaf community across the country.

People involved

Study conducted by

Karine Lacroix-Beaudette, Laurence Gagnon, Marie-Pier Poulin, Daz Saunders, Amélie Voghel and Anne-Marie Parisot
Research Group on LSQ and Deaf Bilingualism
Department of Linguistics, Université du Québec à Montréal

Caroline Hould, MSc Health
Consultation Services Coordinator
Eversa