Accessible Meditation: culturally Inclusive Practices for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities
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(Published version)
Date
2025
Authors
Pelling, N.
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Saad, M.
Medeiros, R.
Medeiros, R.
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Book chapter
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Source details - Title: Mind-Body Practices in Healthcare, 2025 / Saad, M., Medeiros, R. (ed./s), pp.1-25
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Abstract
Meditation offers a range of psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits. However, traditional practices often rely heavily on auditory cues—such as spoken guidance, bells, or music—which can create barriers to access for Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing individuals. This chapter introduces the purposes and techniques of meditation, then explores key variations across cultural and spiritual traditions, highlighting how auditory reliance can limit participation. Foundational terminology and ethical considerations are discussed, with attention to audism, cultural safety, and the importance of respectful language. The chapter outlines specific psychological and cognitive benefits of meditation for Deaf participants, particularly when practices are adapted to accommodate visual and tactile communication. Inclusive and culturally aligned design strategies are presented, including visual anchors, signed or tactile guidance, and storytelling methods that resonate with Deaf culture. Facilitator communication techniques, co-design with Deaf community members, and long-term sustainability strategies are also explored. The role of interpreters is discussed in depth, along with recommendations for ensuring high-quality, culturally attuned communication access. By integrating ethical reflection, applied adaptations, and Deaf-led perspectives, this chapter offers a framework for culturally inclusive and sustainable meditation practice—one that affirms sensory diversity and enables long-term contemplative wellbeing.
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Copyright 2025 The author(s) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Access Condition Notes: This is an open access article