Deaf Research Projects
The Deaf Research Project at NDRI studies health and social issues, such as substance abuse, HIV, mental health and science education, which affect individuals who are Deaf and the Deaf community. Our research team and consultants are deaf and hearing professionals who have extensive experience working with deaf populations and conducting deaf research.
Research Team:
Marjorie F. Goldstein, MPH, PhD is a Principal Investigator in Institute for AIDS Research and the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research at NDRI. She received her MPH in Public Health Education from Johns Hopkins University and her PhD in Epidemiology from Columbia University. Her research for and about deaf individuals has involved computer based surveys in American Sign Language on drug abuse, mental health and HIV. She has also conducted intervention studies of street-recruited drug users including those who are HIV positive, aimed at improving their use of health and medical services. Dr. Goldstein who maintains a public health focus in her research, has published on these and related topics.
Elizabeth Eckhardt, LCSW, PhD is currently Principal Investigator for a Phase One Small Business Innovations Research Grant funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to develop a culturally and linguistically specific depression screener for deaf adults. Dr. Eckhardt is also Co-Investigator for an R01 funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Communicative Disorders to develop a computerized, self-administered HIV/AIDS Knowledge Survey in American Sign Language (ASL) for use with Deaf high school students and an SBIR grant funded by NIDA to adapt science of addiction curriculum for Deaf high school students. Previous related research includes the development and implementation of surveys in ASL to study substance use, tobacco use, mental health, and HIV with deaf adults. She received her doctoral degree from New York University's School of Social Work, her dissertation analyzed in-depth interviews with deaf adults conducted in ASL to study the ways that Deaf culture influences HIV-related health behaviors.
Patrice Joyner-Creamer, MA, MSW, Project Director received her Masters of Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work in 2000. Ms. Joyner-Creamer is currently Project Director for an NIDCD funded grant to develop and implement an HIV knowledge survey among deaf high school students. Ms. Joyner-Creamer is also Project Director for a NIDA funded SBIR contract to adapt NIDA’s Science of Addiction curriculum for use with deaf high school students. Ms. Joyner-Creamer has participated in all aspects of ASL translation work and has facilitated several focus groups for these projects. Ms. Joyner-Creamer is deaf herself and has extensive experience providing case management and mental health services to individuals who are deaf. She has participated on translation teams, has facilitated focus groups and in-depth interviews, and has acted as a sign model on screen for various studies.
Roberta Berry, MFA Senior Research Assistant received her MFA at the University of Virginia in 1999 and has received a Professional Certificate from LaGuardia Community College’s ASL/English Interpretation Program in Queens, NY. She is a candidate for The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Interpreter Certification Exam and a member of National Association of the Deaf, as well as, the National and Metro NYC RID organizations. Ms. Berry is currently Senior Research Assistant for an NIDCD funded grant to develop and implement a computerized self administered HIV/AIDS knowledge survey for use with deaf high school students as well as for a NIDA funded SBIR grant to adapt NIDA’s Neurobiology of Addiction curriculum for use with deaf high school students. Ms. Berry also participated on the translation team that developed an HIV survey for use with deaf adults. Furthermore, Ms. Berry has served as the ASL interpreter for focus groups and has transcribed videotaped ASL in-depth interviews.
Heather Paradise, BFA Administrative Assistant received her B.F.A. from Syracuse University in 1999 and has received a Professional Certificate from LaGauardia Community College’s ASL/English Interpretation Program in Queens, NY. Ms. Paradise is a candidate for The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf National Interpreter Certification Exam. Ms. Paradise is currently the administrative assistant for an NIDCD funded grant to develop and implement a computerized self administered HIV/AIDS knowledge survey for use with deaf high school students as well as for a NIDA funded SBIR grant to adapt NIDA’s Neurobiology of Addiction curriculum for use with deaf high school students. Ms. Paradise has assisted in facilitating the HIV/AIDS knowledge survey in Deaf and Mainstream programs and has served as the ASL interpreter for field tests and focus groups.