Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)
Department
City Planning and Real Estate Development
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. John Gaber, FAICP
Committee Member
Dr. Barry Nocks, FAICP
Committee Member
Dr. Russell Stall, AICP
Abstract
This terminal project examines communicative accessibility in public engagement meetings for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) residents, using Anderson County, South Carolina, as the primary case study. Public participation is a central principle of planning, yet participation cannot be considered meaningful when some residents are unable to fully access information, follow discussion, or contribute on equal terms. This study investigates the extent to which Anderson County’s planning-related public meetings accommodate DHH participants and identifies strategies that can improve inclusive engagement.
The study employs a qualitative case study design based primarily on non-participant observation. Public meetings in Anderson County were observed and compared with meetings in adjacent jurisdictions, including the City of Clemson, the City of Greenville, and Greenville County. A standardized observation framework was used to assess accessibility indicators such as the presence of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, live captioning, seating arrangement, audio clarity, accessibility notices, and staff preparedness to support communication access. This approach allowed the study to evaluate accessibility as practiced in real meeting settings rather than relying only on formal policy language.
Findings reveal that while Anderson County and the comparison jurisdictions generally demonstrated orderly meeting procedures, clear audio through microphone use, and some awareness of accessibility through meeting notices and website language, they fell short of providing full communicative access for DHH participants. Across the observed meetings, ASL interpreters and live captions were generally absent, seating arrangements did not intentionally support visual accessibility, and staff readiness to provide assistive support was limited. These findings suggest a gap between formal acknowledgment of accessibility and its practical implementation during public meetings.
The project concludes that accessibility in public participation must move beyond reactive compliance toward proactive inclusion. It recommends routine provision of ASL interpreters, institutionalization of live captioning and transcription, improved room layout and seating for visual access, staff training on assistive technologies, and the creation of a dedicated accessibility webpage. By centering communication equity, this project argues that public participation becomes meaningful only when all residents, including DHH community members, can access, understand, and contribute to planning processes on equal terms.
Recommended Citation
Izundu, Franklin Chukwuemeka, "Deaf Inclusion in Community Engagement: Anderson County in Perspective" (2026). All Theses. 4686.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4686
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Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons