Reframing CODA Child Welfare through Digital Family Support: Deaf Mothering and Implications for Inclusive Education in Indonesia

Abstract

This article reconceptualizes the welfare of Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) through digital family support and Deaf mothering, while examining their implications for inclusive education in Indonesia. To address research gaps that typically focus on communication barriers or child interpreting burdens, this study conducts a secondary qualitative content analysis of 60 TikTok videos from the Indonesian account @jennifernatalie_, across the playlists “Doa Joshua,” “Mom & Son,” and “Bahasa Isyarat.” Drawing on family communication patterns, social inclusion indicators, and disability-inclusive support perspectives, the study identifies three key findings. First, CODA welfare is constructed through dialogic, participatory, and consensual family communication. Second, multimodal communication serves as relational access that fosters emotional security, linguistic inclusion, and child participation. Third, TikTok functions as a platform for digital advocacy and public pedagogy that challenges deficit-based representations of Deaf parenting and offers relevant insights for inclusive educational practice. Ultimately, this study repositions Deaf mothers as active agents of child welfare. Practically, the findings highlight the relevance of sign language, multimodal communication, and digital family advocacy for inclusive education, family support, and disability-responsive services for Deaf-headed households.