Date of Conferral

7-27-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health and Human Services

Advisor

Andrew Carpenter

Abstract

Deaf American Muslims in the United States face high levels of unemployment. They often experience compounded marginalization at the intersection of disability, religion, and cultural identity, which often leads to exclusion and underrepresentation in employment contexts. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences while pursuing and retaining employment in the United States of deaf Muslims in United States workplaces. In this qualitative study, a self-designed, semistructured interview protocol with open-ended questions was used to explore these experiences. The sample of 12 participants was selected based on their self-identification as deaf American Muslims with at least 30 years old, currently employed in the United States, and had been working with employers for at least 2 years. Thematic analysis was employed to code, categorize, and identify patterns related to the research question. Findings revealed that limited accommodation for communication, lack of respect for religious practices, and experiences of stereotyping and assumption of incompetence contributed to lower job retention. The results also indicated that inclusion efforts were often superficial and failed to address the intersectional needs of deaf American Muslims. Recommendations include implementing culturally and religiously responsive workplace hiring policies, training programs on intersectional inclusion, and expanding research with broader geographic and demographic representation. The implications for positive social change include promoting equitable employment practices and fostering inclusive environments that affirm both the deaf and Muslim identities of employees.

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