Guidelines for making ornithology and ornithological conferences more inclusive and accessible for deaf, Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing students and scientists

Students and scientists who are deaf, Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing (henceforth DDBHH) are underrepresented in the sciences including ornithology. Hearing ornithologists lack understanding of the barriers to participation for DDBHH students and scientists in their field. At the 2023 American Ornithological Society Annual Meeting held in London, Ontario, Canada, the authors hosted and participated in a panel of DDBHH students and scientists to share their perspectives on birding and ornithology. The panel focused on how DDBHH scientists conduct birding, ornithological research and fieldwork, barriers to professional opportunities, and how to improve access to such opportunities. We provide recommendations to improve access for DDBHH colleagues and students in ornithology and other STEM fields focused on thoughtful, effective allyship through three key steps.