Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals experience disproportionately high rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) yet face persistent barriers to culturally and linguistically appropriate care. To better understand recovery experiences, twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with DHH adults in recovery (n = 15) and Deaf recovery service providers (n = 7). Using a grounded theory approach within a community-engaged framework, we identified multiple external barriers, including lack of ASL-accessible services, interpreter funding constraints, inaccessible recovery materials, and systemic inequities, as well as internal barriers such as co-occurring mental health conditions, learned helplessness, and isolation. Facilitators included peer and family support, ASL-fluent providers, skill-building, and personal accountability, while motivators included relational turning points, health concerns, and future goals. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive, empowerment-focused interventions and directly inform the development of DeafMET, a tailored adaptation of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for DHH individuals.