SEE WHAT WE’RE SAYING: STRATEGIC ACCOMMODATION IN DEAF/HARD-OF-HEARING CONTENT CREATION

Abstract

While deaf or hard-of-hearing (d/HoH) content creators are becoming increasingly visible and are often analyzed for content or platform features, their strategic agency for navigating communication as digital citizens is often overlooked. This study seeks to address this gap by applying communication accommodation theory (CAT) to investigate how Indonesian d/HoH content creators actively manage their digital interactions. The study explores current trends or phenomena in d/HoH social media content creation and how communication accommodations occur between creators and their audiences. Qualitative analysis was conducted involving observations of contents from 20 prominent Indonesian d/HoH content creators and interviews with select d/HoH creators and policy makers. Data was categorized through the lens of CAT’s constructs, focusing on speaker and listener/audience-focused accommodation strategies. Analysis reveals that d/HoH creators employ strategic convergence to bridge communication gaps with their audience whilst simultaneously utilizing divergence to assert collective identity and cultural pride. The findings challenge disability stereotypes by showcasing d/HoH agency in utilizing and subverting platform features to manage accommodation processes.