What is a Soda?
A person with a Deaf sibling is a SODA. The acronym stands for Sibling Of Deaf American. Many SODAs are hearing, some are Deaf.
Greensoda Productions endorses material that enables siblings to build understanding with each other.
SODAs may find themselves sorting through an overload of contradictory information over an extended time. There can be a lot of joyful experiences having a deaf sibling. SODAs may also experience a sense of loss, often experienced as survival grief.
Interpreting for family members is an inherent issue that can lead to one playing the "caretaker" role with their Deaf sibling. Situations that call for interpreters can arise at family functions, the dinner table, the doctor's office, school or work. These same occurances happen for people with Deaf parents, too.
Deaf Studies scholars might say SODA must to stand for Sibling of Deaf "Adult," in accordance with the term CODA - which is commonly known as "Child of Deaf Adult." "Of Deaf American" fits Eliza’s sense of self much better as her SODA experience formed long before her sister, Sarah, reached adulthood.