Enhancing accessibility: a phenomenological study on the usability of the FSL buddy app for deaf and hearing students in the Philippines

This study examined the effectiveness and usability of FSL Buddy, an application designed to enhance communication in the Philippines. The researchers employed a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students, hearing students, and multimedia application developers through interviews and observations. Using Moustakas’ modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method, they identified key technical and usability barriers, including limited vocabulary, connectivity issues, platform incompatibility, interface navigation challenges, and suboptimal aesthetic design. To improve the app and increase user engagement, the researchers recommend co-creating with end-users, expanding vocabulary resources, redesigning the interface for better aesthetics, and ensuring cross-platform compatibility. These findings highlight the importance of applying universal design principles in communication technologies to promote social equity and inclusion in education.