A sign language journey to the land of smiles: Thailand study abroad.

This study examines the experiences of Deaf and hearing American Sign Language (ASL) undergraduate students, Deaf doctoral students, faculty, and an interpreter during an 11-day Deaf-centric study-abroad program in Thailand designed to immerse participants in Deaf culture and education. The qualitative intrinsic case study identified six key themes from hearing undergraduates, including immersion in the Deaf world, comprehension challenges, cultural differences, and improvements in receptive skills, while Deaf participants emphasized shared Deaf identity and highlighted challenges with a travel agency unfamiliar with Deaf culture and accessibility needs. The findings underscore the transformative potential of combining international and multicultural Deaf immersion for personal growth and linguistic development, while recommending that travel agencies and universities collaborate closely with Deaf leaders to ensure fully accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive study-abroad programs. Limitations include the small sample size and insider researcher roles, with suggestions for future research on Deaf-hearing dynamics and preparation of agencies for Deaf-inclusive travel.