Diabetes education presented in American Sign Language for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people
Improving Access to Diabetes Information for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations
A team will build a Deaf-friendly website with American Sign Language videos and visuals to share clear diabetes information with Deaf and hard-of-hearing adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145065 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would help co-design a website called Deaf Can Together with researchers and a Deaf community advisory board so the content fits Deaf culture and ASL grammar. The site will feature ASL videos, visual graphics, storytelling, and demonstrations rather than relying on written English alone. The team will prototype the site, get feedback from Deaf and hard-of-hearing users, and refine usability and content based on that feedback. The work aims to make a trustworthy, easy-to-use online diabetes information resource for ASL users.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Deaf or hard-of-hearing adults who use American Sign Language and want accessible diabetes education or wish to help co-design the website.
Not a fit: People who do not use ASL, prefer only written or spoken materials, are young children, or lack internet access are unlikely to benefit from this online ASL-focused resource.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give Deaf and hard-of-hearing people easier, culturally appropriate access to diabetes information that supports better self-care and narrows health information gaps.
How similar studies have performed: Previous ASL-focused health education efforts have shown promise in improving knowledge, but a co-designed, dedicated diabetes website is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Litchman, Michelle L — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Litchman, Michelle L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.