Designing tech for deaf-hearing interactions: Claudia’s report at CHI conference

This spring, Claudia attended the CHI 2026 conference in Barcelona to present her recent publication “Going Beyond the I with CI: an Interview-based Design Space”, together with co-author Robby van Delden (University of Twente). This was a fantastic opportunity to peek into one of the leading international human computer interaction conferences and see what’s happening in accessibility design research – a relevant topic for Claudia’s PhD on social inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) youth.

Key take-away of Claudia’s presentation: technology that doesn’t place the burden of adaptation solely on deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals but recognizes accessibility as shared responsibility. Accordingly, the research presents a new set of technology design guidelines promoting tech to help hearing people better understand their DHH interaction partners lived realities, and to guide their behaviour to improve communication. This could also reduce the need for repeated and exhausting DHH self-advocacy, as well as stigma and misunderstandings caused by lacking awareness around DHH topics and CIs.

“Cherry on top” was attending a deaf-led CHI event focused on Deaf Tech to explore and strengthen deaf-centered and critically informed practices and guidelines for research, design, and innovation. Led by researchers from Gallaudet University, a fully d/Deaf university in the US, the event provided grounds for interesting exchanges, valuable feedback, and a CI comic co-creation. Read more about Claudia's research and comic project here

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