Frequently Asked Questions
🌲 What is CodaFest?
Held at Camp Taloali in Stayton, Oregon, CodaFest brings people together for a weekend that blends education, storytelling, cultural exchange, and time in nature. This is not a traditional conference. It’s a camp-style experience designed to feel human, accessible, and grounded in real life.
🤟 Why CodaFest Exists
Many families live between Deaf and hearing worlds. Codas grow up navigating both—often without spaces that fully reflect their experience. Deaf parents face ongoing barriers in communication and access. Hearing partners and extended family members may want to understand more, but don’t always know where to begin. CodaFest creates a space where these experiences can come together—not separately, but side by side.
🌿 What You’ll Experience
Throughout the weekend, CodaFest offers:
Workshops and conversations rooted in lived experience
Youth activities and opportunities for leadership
Shared meals and informal connection
Storytelling, reflection, and community dialogue
Campfires, nature, and time to simply be together
Some sessions are structured.
Some are open.
All are designed to support connection, understanding, and belonging.
💛 Who It’s For
CodaFest is for:
Codas (Children of Deaf Adults)
Deaf parents and Deaf community members
Hearing partners, spouses, and extended family
Youth growing up in Deaf and hearing families
Anyone connected to or wanting to better understand this experience
You don’t need to have it all figured out to come.
You just need to be open.
✨ The Heart of CodaFest
At its core, CodaFest is about creating a space where:
People don’t have to explain their experience to be understood
Families can learn from each other
Different perspectives can exist without conflict
Identity is explored without pressure
Community is built in real time
This is a space to connect, reflect, and grow—together.
North Santiam River
Stayton, Oregon
Vendor & Food Market
🌲 CodaFest Activities & Experiences
CodaFest September 3-6 2026
Our Mission
CodaFest is a community-centered gathering dedicated to connection, cultural understanding, and the recognition of Codas as a unique and vital part of the Deaf ecosystem.
We stand in active support of the fight against language injustice, advocating for full language access, equity, and recognition across Deaf and hearing systems.
By bringing families and communities together, we create space for healing, leadership, and collective movement toward a more just and inclusive future.
Building Community
Fostering Connections
Wellness
Emotional Growth
CodaFest supports the emotional, relational, and personal wellbeing of Codas. Many Codas grow up navigating complex family roles, language dynamics, and cultural expectations while moving between Deaf and hearing worlds. These experiences can shape identity, responsibility, and belonging in powerful ways.
By creating space for reflection, connection, and shared understanding, CodaFest promotes healing, resilience, and self-care across generations. Through conversations, workshops, and community support, participants are encouraged to explore their experiences, build healthier relationships, and strengthen their sense of identity and wellbeing.
CodaFest recognizes that wellness includes emotional health, cultural connection, community belonging, and opportunities to process shared experiences in supportive environments.
Coda Culture and Identity
Celebrating Diversity
CodaFest celebrates Coda culture through workshops, storytelling, and activities that highlight the vibrancy of our community and its unique strengths. Codas often grow up immersed in Deaf culture while also navigating hearing spaces, developing a deep understanding of language, communication, and cultural connection.
These experiences shape a distinct cultural identity that deserves recognition and celebration. CodaFest provides opportunities to share stories, honor lived experiences, and explore the traditions, humor, resilience, and creativity that are part of Coda life.
By gathering together, participants strengthen a shared sense of identity and pride while building connections across generations of Codas and Deaf families.
Collaboration
Building Our Legacy
CodaFest recognizes that the experiences of Deaf families and Codas are deeply influenced by language access, communication systems, and social structures. Language justice means recognizing the importance of accessible communication, cultural respect, and equitable opportunities for Deaf people and their families.
Through dialogue, education, and collaboration, CodaFest encourages greater understanding of the systemic challenges that impact Deaf families while also highlighting the important role Codas often play in between communities.
By bringing together Codas, Deaf community members, professionals, and allies, CodaFest fosters collaboration, shared learning, and stronger relationships that support more inclusive and accessible communities.