The research project focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on deaf communities in Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). The aim is to use ethnographic research to explore deaf peoples lived experience of accessing health information and services during the COVID-19 health crisis. The project is funded by the Irish Research Council under the DOROTHY COFUND MSCA progamme. The objective is to answer the central research questions:

• What are the social relations that enable deaf communities to function in society?

• How do deaf people perceive their interaction with health service providers, deaf community NGOs and sign language interpreters during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• How do deaf people experience inclusion/exclusion during the global health crises?

• How are deaf people’s experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic shaped by gender, race, age, disability, language and nationality?