CODA

What does CODA mean?

CODA is an abbreviation of child (or children) of deaf adults. It refers to a person who is typically hearing and has one more or parents or guardians who are wholly or partly deaf.

Examples of CODA

My daughter’s a real-life CODA. She’s hearing. She’s a child of deaf adults. Her first language was sign language before she could speak. And so she was bilingual growing up.
—Troy Kotsur, All About Change (podcast), 18 Mar. 2024

As the author of the seminal book, Mother Father Deaf, Paul [Preston] shared the Coda experience with the world. Until its publication, there had not been research published on the Coda experience. Through his luminous writing, Paul shed a light on parts of us that had remained hidden from the world, and many Codas, for generations.
—Children of Deaf Adults International Inc., Facebook, 16 Oct. 2023

As CODAs, we learned nuances of the culture such as: understanding the politics of the deaf; debates about ASL vs. oral and what best fosters literacy in the deaf; exposure to deaf art, poetry, humor and film.
—David Sorensen, “My Life as a CODA: Someone Made a Movie About It” (Medium), 15 Nov. 2021

Where does CODA come from?

CODA is formed from the initial letters of child of deaf adults. It began to be used as an abbreviation in the early 1990s, based on CODA International, or Children of Deaf Adults International, an organization founded by Millie Brother 1983 to provide support for the CODA community around the world. CODAs, most of whom are hearing, have a distinct experience in navigating between deaf and hearing culture and language, and often have to serve as interpreters for their parents or guardians. The term gained broader awareness after the 2021 film CODA, a coming-of-age story about the only hearing person in her family, won three Oscars at the 94th Academy Awards (including Best Picture) in March 2022.

How is CODA used?

CODA is used as a noun (‘I’m a CODA’) and adjective (‘CODA representation in culture’). Its plural form is CODAs or CODA. Other forms of the term include Coda (proper noun) and coda (lowercase). The term is most widely used within and about the CODA community. Related abbreviations include GODA (grandchild of deaf adults), SODA (siblings of deaf adults), and KODA (kids of deaf adults, referring to CODAs under the age of 18). CODA is sometimes used specifically for adult-aged children of deaf adults.