Pebbles in the Mainstream: How Do We Find Them?

Significant numbers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing are educated in regular education settings, often outside the structure of established programs. Locating participants for research on deaf education has therefore become increasingly difficult. This article describes two approaches used to recruit participants in the recent online study, the National Survey of Assessment and Accommodations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. The first approach is to collaborate with the professional and social networks of those who work with deaf and hard of hearing students. This involves both direct and indirect communication with organizations and individuals who can refer potential participants. Second, potential participants may also be reached via a random sample of schools nationwide. Both of these approaches are taken within the context of action research within a professional community. The article will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these methods and make recommendations for future use in nationwide online research. Finally, the importance of sustained, active participation by deaf education practitioners is discussed in light of survey techniques and goals.