The life experiences of deaf Georgian students during the COVID-19 lockdowns: A time of quiet waiting

Abstract

ABSTRAT Deaf and hard-of-hearing students were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to communication barriers, social distancing, and difficulties with distance education. Numerous researchers have investigated the experiences of such students during the COVID-19 pandemic, but generally addressed single aspects of their lives; hence, there is a need to investigate the broader impact of the pandemic on deaf students. Notably, very few local or international studies on the experiences of deaf students in Georgia are available. To address this gap, I employed qualitative methods to frame the accounts and memories of deaf students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data for this study were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 such students attending specialised boarding schools for the deaf in Georgia. Four main themes were identified: the impact of COVID-19 on their moods, the substantial increase in screen time due to distance learning and screen-based social interactions, the dual nature of COVID-19 as a catalyst for increased interactions with family members, and its role in prompting contemplations of the future. This article describes and explores the lived experiences of deaf students and contributes to the collective memory of affected communities by highlighting the value of individual voices, particularly in a small country that is often unknown or overlooked.