KODA & CODA
“Adult hearing childrens’ preoccupation with their deaf parents underscores their mutual cultural heritage- a heritage emphatically linked through their parents. Although many of the issues and struggles of hearing children of deaf parents parallel those children of other ethnic and racial groups, there is one important difference. Within the Deaf community, the critical measure of cultural identity is neither degree of language proficiency nor shade of skin color nor knowledge of customs. It ultimately depends on neither declarations of allegiance nor degree of interaction. Above all, to be deaf is to not be hearing. This paradigm underscores why the emphasis on parental linkage is so crucial. Because hearing children share neither their parents’ functional hearing loss nor, in many cases, their parents’ language, the primary source of cultural identity and community entree is their connection with their parents. Only by association do these informants have access to this exclusive identity and community: mother father deaf.”
Mother Father Deaf by Paul Preston (Preston, 1994, p. 201).
What does being a KODA/CODA mean?
Kid/Child of Deaf Adults, commonly referred to as a "CODA," is an individual who has one or both parents who are deaf or hard of hearing. CODAs grow up in households where American Sign Language (ASL) or another sign language may be the primary means of communication.
Being a CODA can shape a person's life experiences and perspectives. CODAs often have a unique cultural and linguistic identity, as they navigate between the Deaf community and the hearing world. They may be bilingual, fluent in both a sign language and a spoken language, and they may play a role in bridging communication between the Deaf and hearing communities.
What is the difference between KODA & CODA?
KODA stands for Kids of Deaf Adults and represents people under the age of 18.
CODA stands for Children of Deaf Adults and represents people who are over the age of 18.
KODA Acronyms
KODA: Kids of Deaf Adults
CODA: Children of Deaf Adults
GODA: Grandchild(ren) of Deaf Adults
OHCODA: Only Hearing Child of Deaf Adults (meaning deaf parents and deaf siblings)
OCODA: Only Child of Deaf Adults
SODA: Siblings of a Deaf Adults
SpODA: Spouse of Deaf Adults
What is KODA Love?
You may hear or see counselors shouting KODA and the campers responding with LOVE. It's on the T-Shirts every year of camp. KODA Love stands for the belonging that KODAs have with each other. It's shouted around camp to not only get attention from campers, but to reenforce the idea of belonging. No where else than at KODA Camp, does everyone else just get it. They get what it is like to be in the deaf world and hearing worlds. They understand how difficult and wonderful it is to navigate both worlds. KODA Love is the essence of a beloved community. A beloved community surrounds itself in belonging, love, acceptance. KODA Camp Midwest exemplifies the idea of beloved community through the saying of KODA Love.
What is Mother Father Deaf?
Before the acronym KODA came about, Mother Father Deaf was used to describe KODAs- kids that were hearing but had deaf parents. Mother Father Deaf Day is celebrated on April 30th each year.
Questions KODAs are commonly are asked:
How did you learn to talk?
Is sign language universal?
Do your parents drive?
What's ___ swear word in sign language?
Is this a sign? (Jumbles hands)
Is your house really quiet?
Do you know sign language?
How can a deaf person listen to music?
So your parents can read lips? Can you read my lips?
How do your parents read Braille?
Why can you hear?
Can you listen to loud/inappropriate music?
Are there other KODA Camps and organizations for KODAs?
There are many different camps and different organizations that CODAs are a part of. Check out the links to see KODAs/CODAs from all over the world.
KODA Heart has curated a fantastic list of KODA orgs and community resources (Please note this list is not curated by KODA Camp Midwest):
What does big D vs little d mean for Deaf/deaf?
When people use Deaf or deaf to identify themselves, it refers to either being:
Deaf- Culturally Deaf. Identifying with being in the Deaf world and culturally Deaf.
deaf- functionally deaf, has hearing loss.
Why KODA Camp Midwest?
KODA Camp Midwest encourages a sense of belonging, life-long friends, and a way to discover a KODA's identity (operating between the hearing and Deaf worlds). KODA Camp Midwest also encourages KODA Studies in which campers learn more about their belonging through Deaf history, KODA talks, and pop culture around the Deaf/Hearing worlds.
