Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

College

College of Education

First Advisor

Donna Foiles-Kiel

Abstract

There is limited literature regarding the social capital of deaf individuals in the United States (U.S.). There are few studies on deaf individuals in Puerto Rico (P.R.), and none explicitly examines deaf Puerto Ricans’ social capital. This qualitative study aimed to understand and capture the experiences of the deaf Puerto Rican community by focusing on how deaf Puerto Ricans utilize social capital to achieve success. The two main research questions guiding this study are: How have deaf Puerto Ricans utilized social capital to achieve success? What are deaf Puerto Ricans' perceptions of success? This study centers around Yosso's (2005) Community Cultural Wealth model as the theoretical framework. However, the main focus was on the theory that social capital is the tool and the means to participate in, acquire, and share community cultural wealth.   Through interviews with nine deaf Puerto Rican participants, stories were gathered in sign language, where each participant narrated their life journeys towards what they attributed to their success. As a result, the most prominent themes across all stories were social capital and familial support as the resources that helped them achieve success.

Download

Share

COinS