Deadly silence: the (lack of) access to information by deaf Brazilians in the context of Covid-19 pandemic

Silêncio mortal: a (falta de) acesso à informação por surdos brasileiros no contexto da pandemia da Covid-19

ABSTRACT

Although Brazilian Sign Language - Libras - was legally recognized in 2002 as the national language for deaf people, their access to interpreted information (i.e., information in their own language), especially in the media, is still very precarious. In the context of the pandemic, having access to information and guidance in one’s first language can be decisive in caring for and maintaining life. With this in mind, this paper aims at pointing out the barriers experienced by deaf people in Brazil, considering the absence of Brazilian Sign Language translators and interpreters in mainstream journalism and in channels of organizations that are responsible for explanations and guidelines regarding care and prevention. We also seek to reflect about the socio-emotional effects caused by the lack of clear information, and how this may risk causing excessive concern and panic. In order to achieve that, we adopt a qualitative perspective of investigation stemming from the collection of testimonies from deaf people about their experiences in the context of the pandemic. The testimonials, collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, allowed us to point out the urgency for greater accessibility in the media context, and the risks resulting from the absence of accurate information both for deaf and hearing people.

Keywords:
Deaf accessibility; Brazilian Sign Language; Mainstream media; Pandemic