The dissertation research focuses on the perceptions and experiences of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and young people aged 13-28 using sign language (Finnish sign language/other sign language) about their media literacy, linguistic agency and participation in digital and other everyday environments. The aim is also to explore the target group's perceptions of democracy and empowerment. Accurate information on these issues will help to support young people's learning, linguistic and digital competence, well-being and inclusion. Research and development can further improve social democracy for the target group. Research data has been collected during 2022 through initial survey questionnaires and interviews. The research has also been carried out during June-August in cooperation with the SOS Children's Village child protection organisation, which has carried out a study on methods of consulting children and concepts of democracy as part of the Ministry of Justice's democracy project. In autumn 2022, the research was promoted in cooperation with YLE, with the aim of collecting data for the development of sign language and accessible programmes and news.
Information on the inclusion, media literacy and democratic attitudes of the target group is particularly relevant now, as a recent Government study (Katsui et al., 2021) has shown that deaf and sign language speakers have been discriminated. The study highlights structural injustices in the society, such as deficiencies in education, accessibility of text-based services, interpreting services and sign language media, among others, as problematic.
