Critical Ethnography of Disaster Mitigation, Deaf Leadership, Adaptation and Resilience in Viet Nam

FAIN: FT-265390-19

Audrey C. Cooper
Gallaudet University (Washington, DC 20002-3600)

An academic article (in English) and summary reports (in Vietnamese) on crisis management for deaf people in Vietnam based on summer fieldwork.

Conducting multi-sited ethnographic research into Deaf organizational decision-making processes in disaster impacted areas of Viet Nam, this project aims to generate analytic insights into Deaf people’s adaptation and resilience practices with respect to leadership in disaster preparedness and mitigation. Viet Nam demonstrates increasing incidence of weather- and climate change-related disasters and a high rate of disability per capita. Accordingly, Viet Nam is confronting the urgent need to prepare and protect its people from disaster. However, despite widespread marginalization of people with disabilities from most socioeconomic sectors in Viet Nam, preliminary evidence indicates that Deaf organizations are at the forefront of disaster preparedness and mitigation responses. Publication of research results aims to expand the ethnography of climate change and to challenge existing scholarly and mainstream characterizations of people with disabilities as vulnerable populations.

Associated Products

Deaf-led organizations and disaster communication in Việt Nam: Interdisciplinary insights for disability inclusive disaster risk reduction planning (Article)
Title: Deaf-led organizations and disaster communication in Việt Nam: Interdisciplinary insights for disability inclusive disaster risk reduction planning
Author: Audrey C Cooper
Author: Hương Thanh Thị Bùi
Author: Linh Tuấn Nguyễn
Author: Phục Khắc Nguyễn
Author: Thanh Thị Hà Nguyễn
Author: Diễm Phương Nữ Phan
Abstract: This paper examines the ways that disaster risk information and communication is received, shared, and acted upon by deaf-led organizations in Việt Nam, and the nature of deaf organizational participation in disaster risk reduction initiatives. Global indexes rank Việt Nam as the 6th highest country in exposure and vulnerability to extreme weather events. Việt Nam also demonstrates a high incidence of people with disabilities per capita, who are shown to have lower levels of participation in all social domains including public information and communication. Conducting language-centered original ethnographic research in six deaf organization sites in northern, central, and southern Việt Nam, this study engaged semi-structured interviews, group surveys, participant-generated disaster drawings and photographs, and participant observation to identify disaster communication and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) practices and challenges. Research findings identified: (i.) deaf people’s access to DRR information and communication is extremely limited leading deaf-led organizations to mobilize their own disaster action; (ii.) deaf people have little-to-no access to DRR training, and available training does not reflect deaf culture or local sign languages; (iii.) deaf organizations attribute lack of access to disaster information and resources to government inattention to deaf community needs and contributions; (iv.) deaf organizations share a strong sense of responsibility to train and protect the broader deaf community. Foregrounding recommendations by deaf organization leaders, the paper advocates for establishing sustainable mechanisms for engaging deaf-led organizations in developing disaster communication, DRR training, and in disaster management.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: http://https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420921005203?dgcid=author
Access Model: Subscription only
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

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