Voice of the Unheard: Conversational Challenges Between Signers and Non-Signers and Design Interventions for Adaptive SLT Systems
Vimal Thomas Joseph, Mahmood Jasim · 2025
Communication barriers remain a significant challenge for the D/deaf community, affecting social interactions, access to services, and overall quality of life.Despite advancements in sign language technology, existing solutions fall short of addressing the unique needs of the D/deaf community.We explore these needs and challenges by conducting a survey with 200 signers and non-signers.Our findings reveal that while the D/deaf community utilizes technology for communication, obstacles including limited translation accuracy, higher costs, and a lack of learning options persist.Additionally, varied proficiency levels, regional dialects, and the lack of visual cues further complicate interactions.We identified key barriers and design approaches that emphasize inclusivity, adaptability, and usability.By incorporating feedback from the D/deaf community, our work provides insights for developing user-centered sign language systems.Our study highlights the importance of bridging the gap between technological innovation and real-world application, paving the way for accessible and transformative communication tools.