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Disabled people encounter numerous barriers to accessibility and face discrimination and inequalities in their daily lives. The situation is even more complex for migrants with a disability, who have to learn how to navigate a new bureaucratic system. This study focuses on deaf adult migrants and the linguistic and bureaucratic challenges they face in Swedish society. The data consists of interviews with 43 deaf migrants participating in language learning courses in four folk high schools catering to deaf people in Sweden. Crip Theory and Crip Linguistics are used as lenses to explore the impact of able-bodiedness and linguistic norms on this particular group. The findings show that deaf migrants experience infantilisation, that sign language interpreters are often seen as a one-size-fits-all solution without much consideration for other factors influencing communication, and that normative able-bodiedness underlies many of the bureaucratic issues deaf migrants face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the South Korean Deaf community's response to sign language interpreting during the COVID‐19 (coronavirus disease 2019) health crisis, focusing on individual factors affecting the signers' comprehension. The data were collected from a mobile‐based questionnaire survey conducted among 401 Deaf adults; binary probit modelling was adopted to analyse the data. The major findings are: (i) 59.9 per cent of the respondents understood less than 70 per cent of the interpreting; (ii) males and urban residents tend to understand better; (iii) younger people (less than 50 years) and signers with a Bachelor's degree or higher are likely to have lower comprehension; and (iv) Deaf adults who visited a doctor after the COVID‐19 outbreak tended to have lower comprehension. The findings demonstrate that individual characteristics, including age, impact significantly on the extent to which Deaf individuals understand the sign language interpreting of COVID‐19 information, indicating that steps are needed to achieve a Deaf‐inclusive society during a health disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an index for Volume 24 of the journal "Sign Language Studies." It provides a list of articles and their page numbers, as well as an author index. The articles cover various topics related to sign language research, such as the history of sign languages, linguistic analysis, educational methods, and social justice issues. The journal aims to promote understanding of sign languages and Deaf communities by providing a platform for diverse perspectives. One specific article, "Urban Toponymy in South African Sign Language (SASL): Patterns and Variations" by Siyavoshi and Sibanda, examines how urban place names are signed in SASL. The authors analyze the linguistic and cultural aspects of this form of communication, and the article includes a photo gallery showcasing visual representations related to the topic. [Extracted from the article]

This study examined deaf learners' academic and social difficulties as well as their coping mechanisms in Ethiopian elementary schools. To do this, the study adopted a phenomenological design from qualitative research methodology. Purposive sampling methods were used to choose nine deaf students for semi-structured interviews. Using word-by-word narrative analysis, data were analyzed. The lack of sign language interpreters and teachers' exclusionary behaviors were found to be some of the academic and social obstacles faced by deaf learners in the research area. The study also found that deaf learners in participating schools used problem-focused coping techniques, including pen-and-paper techniques for interpersonal communication, and maladaptive coping mechanisms like ignoring and social withdrawal. According to the report, local authorities should organize awareness workshops for instructors from participating schools on how to instruct deaf learners in inclusive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sign language is an essential means of communication for individuals with hearing disabilities. However, there is a significant shortage of sign language interpreters in some languages, especially in Saudi Arabia. This shortage results in a large proportion of the hearing-impaired population being deprived of services, especially in public places. This paper aims to address this gap in accessibility by leveraging technology to develop systems capable of recognizing Arabic Sign Language (ArSL) using deep learning techniques. In this paper, we propose a hybrid model to capture the spatio-temporal aspects of sign language (i.e., letters and words). The hybrid model consists of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) classifier to extract spatial features from sign language data and a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) classifier to extract spatial and temporal characteristics to handle sequential data (i.e., hand movements). To demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed hybrid model, we created a dataset of 20 different words, resulting in 4000 images for ArSL: 10 static gesture words and 500 videos for 10 dynamic gesture words. Our proposed hybrid model demonstrates promising performance, with the CNN and LSTM classifiers achieving accuracy rates of 94.40% and 82.70%, respectively. These results indicate that our approach can significantly enhance communication accessibility for the hearing-impaired community in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this paper represents a major step toward promoting inclusivity and improving the quality of life for the hearing impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores two different emergency evacuation experiences in different settings. The first account focuses on a successful evacuation of a Japan Airlines flight, highlighting the calmness of the passengers and professionalism of the flight crew. The second account describes a chaotic evacuation at a planetarium after an explosion, where the lack of clear instructions and accessible exits caused panic and confusion. The article emphasizes the significance of clear instructions, training, and inclusive design in ensuring safe evacuations. It also stresses the importance of considering the needs of individuals with disabilities, limited hearing, limited eyesight, limited mobility, and different languages and cultures in emergency exiting. The article suggests implementing clear exit paths, protected areas of refuge, and emergency access to ensure the safety and inclusion of all individuals. Communication, training, and flexibility in emergency procedures are also highlighted as crucial factors. [Extracted from the article]

Previous research has shown that sign languages share socio-cultural norms, such as 'politeness,' with spoken/written languages. For example, in Japanese Sign Language (JSL), a head nod and bending the upper body are exclusively observed in polite signing contexts, demonstrating that JSL shares politeness norms with Japanese (Yoon and Kim 2022). Similar to Japanese, Korean has a well-defined honorification to convey politeness (e.g., Brown et al. 2014), and we therefore assume that Korean Sign Language (KSL) may also have systematic strategies to mark politeness. We recruited a native KSL signer and sign language interpreter to compare nonmanual features between two different hierarchical orders (a superior versus a peer/subordinate), and across different contexts (apology vs. compliment). Our findings reveal that, similar to JSL, KSL shows nonmanual characteristics, such as squinted eyes, head nods, narrowed shoulders, and upper body bending, in polite settings. We interpret upper body bending as a feature that likely reflects language contact with spoken/written Korean, embodying Korean politeness culture. Moreover, our results suggest that a smaller signing space may not always indicate more politeness. Unlike previous findings, our study shows that a larger signing space is employed to mark more politeness in emphasizing lexical signs. Our study primarily attempts to investigate systematic relationships between nonmanual features, contexts, hierarchical orders, and politeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenological study, guided by Radcliffe-(1881–1955) Brown's Structural Functionalism Theory, investigated how sign language inset was used for social inclusion during the 2019 Philippine State of the Nation Address on GMA Network, Inc. Eight participants' lived experiences were examined through in-depth interviews. Four major themes emerged: exposure and familiarization with the deaf community culture, which is the Filipino Sign Language (FSL); adjustment of the TV inset size for deaf visual signs recognition and understanding; validation of TV insets interpreting with a deaf consultant; accessibility to communication through clear policy and guidelines of TV inset interpreting. The study concludes that even though the sign language interpreters use FSL, we can only elicit social inclusion by adjusting the size of the TV inset; since the sign language insets require the visual signs of the SLIs, which include hand gestures and facial expressions. Moreover, a better understanding of the signs that consider both schooled and non-schooled Deaf requires the exposure and familiarization of SLIs with the deaf culture. Meanwhile, TV networks should consider adjusting the size of the TV inset, hiring a deaf consultant to validate signing, and ensuring deaf access to communication to integrate them socially. Sign language inset implementation requires a model to follow structurally to be functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sign language is significant in its linguistic complexity and sociocultural values to its users. The linguistic situation of sign languages in the Middle East is controversial. For Arab deaf communities, each country has a rich and complex national sign language without the need for a superior, more standard unifying Arabic sign language (ArSL). There have been attempts to unify sign languages by creating ArSL. This initiative has been mostly taken by nondeaf persons and has been met with opposition and resistance. This paper investigates sign languages in Kuwait and the attitudes towards both Kuwaiti Sign Language (KSL) and ArSL from both deaf individuals and sign language translators/teachers using surveys, informal interviews, and fieldwork visits. The research question is: What sign language would the deaf community and sign language interpreters/teachers in Kuwait choose (KSL, ArSL, or both) to better serve the deaf community. This paper is designed to uncover the impact of language policies on communities' representations of self and explore the richness and complexity of national sign languages that can be underestimated by language policymakers. The findings of this study indicate a preference for KSL or the use of both KSL and ArSL, but not ArSL alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T his study focuses on the practice of simultaneous cointerpreting in the media, specifically examining the interaction between a hearing interpreter (HI) and a deaf interpreter (DI). The HI's role in this context is to interpret the spoken source speech in Belgian French into French Belgian Sign Language (LSFB) for the DI, who, in turn, conveys the discourse to a deaf audience. The main objective of this research is to explore the phenomenon of adjustment within the HI-DI interaction and the strategies used by the HIs to overcome the inherent challenges of this configuration. To do so, the study analyzes a collection of recorded press conferences related to the COVID-19 crisis, featuring four HI-DI teams. By analyzing a set of video data from press conferences, this study aims to identify the types of information exchanged during the interpretation process, such as specific concepts, meta-comments, the speaker's intentions, and so on. Additionally, the study aims to identify the strategies used by the HIs throughout the process. This analysis reveals the complex dynamics of the HI-DI interaction, shedding light on the HIs' efforts to convey content and meaning from the source speech, as well as their use of metalinguistic indications to make effective adjustments. This article focuses on three specific strategies employed by the HIs: compression strategies, whose goal is to provide the DI with time and space to reformulate the (pre)interpreted message; explicitation strategies, used to make explicit logical connections and prosodic information in the discourse; and interactional signaling strategies, which facilitate interaction between the interpreters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with the philosophy of inclusion and various legislative instruments which encourage 'education for all', ODL institutions have made provision for sign language interpreters (SLIs) to facilitate participation for deaf students. Although, some studies have examined issues of virtual learning and the ODL programme; a paucity of studies assessing virtual sign language interpretation (VSLI) in remote educational activities is evident. Therefore, a research study was instituted to probe into perceived enablers and or constraints of providing VSLI during the Covid-19 lockdown in Nigeria. Based on the Job Demand Resources Model, two research questions were raised and answered in this paper. This study adopted the qualitative research design and seven SLIs who had participated in virtual teaching and learning activities during the lockdown were purposively selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, and the data collected were coded and analysed thematically through using an iterative process. Government policies and the empathetic nature of SLIs were found to be enablers of VSLI, while four themes, namely epileptic power supply; internet connectivity; lack of institutional support and the comprehensibility of deaf students who attended remote lectures were found to serve as barriers to effective and efficient VSLI. Based on the findings, appropriate recommendations were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the use of Assistive Technologies (AT) among pupils with hearing and visual impairment in selected primary schools in Zanzibar. The study involved 127 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions, and observation. Findings indicated that primary schools in Zanzibar had access to hearing aids, sign language interpreters, braille, and speech recognition software. However, the utilization of these technologies posed challenges for most pupils. While pupils with impairments perceived the positive impact of assistive technologies in learning and performance, they encountered several obstacles, including shortage of devices, insufficient training for both teachers and pupils, lack of qualified teachers for instructing pupils in their use, communication issues with hearing-impaired pupils, negative attitudes toward Assistive Technology, and inadequate quality of available devices. The study recommends that the government allocate substantial funds for the procurement and maintenance of assistive technologies and establish support systems and resource centers to enhance effective utilization of assistive technologies in primary schools. This will ultimately promote inclusivity and improve educational experiences of pupils with hearing and visual impairments in Zanzibar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CIRCULO de Linguistica Aplicada a la Comunicacion is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Students with disabilities have described issues related to participating in activities during physical education (PE) classes with feelings of being excluded. This study investigates the inclusive process of the Deaf or hard of hearing students in school from the specific context of PE class. Qualitative research using semi-structured face to face interviews were utilised with a convenience sample of seven Deaf or Hard of hearing students. All interviews were conducted on a dialogue with assistance of a professional sign language interpreter. The results were analysed through Delucca's theoretical framework on inclusion. Thematic analysis revealed two major categories, (1) I don't understand and (2) Feeling invisible. These categories exposed the difficulties of the inclusive PE class environment on Deaf and hard of hearing students. Students expressed difficulties understanding the PE activities and sports proposed during classes. Sign language or other strategies to communicate were not part of teachers support system for instruction, nor did the teachers interact with the Deaf students or their interpreters. All social interactions of the Deaf children were limited to the sign language interpreter. PE classes were recognised by Deaf and hard of hearing students as a place of non-acceptance and indifference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive education recognizes and values the diversity of students, guaranteeing their development, participation, and learning within the same classroom. However, this form of social and academic inclusion requires extra effort from teachers and educational institutions. This project, aimed at the deaf community, focused on transmitting in their native language, elementary knowledge of computer networks, which is indispensable in this technological age. Specialized teachers selected the content of the topic of study and proposed a methodology for creating new signs with the participation of deaf telecommunications engineering students and professional interpreters, who adequately transmitted the concepts from one language to another. The educational content created in sign language was organized in an electronic book to facilitate access to the deaf student community. The final product was evaluated in four aspects by deaf people and interpreters, obtaining a positive evaluation by most respondents. In conclusion, the importance of developing this type of inclusive pedagogical support tool aimed at university-level students with disabilities is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deaf people communicate naturally through sign languages and often face barriers to communicating with hearing people and accessing information in written languages. These communication difficulties are aggravated in the health domain, especially in a hospital emergency, when human sign language interpreters are unavailable. This paper proposes a solution for automatically recognizing signs in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) in the health context to reduce this problem. The idea is that the system could assist in the communication between a Deaf patient and his doctor in the future. Our solution involves a multiple-stream architecture that combines convolutional and recurrent neural networks, dealing with sign languages' visual phonemes individual and specialized ways. The first stream uses the optical flow as input for capturing information about the "movement" of the sign; the second stream extracts kinematic and postural features, including "handshapes" and "facial expressions"; and the third stream process the raw RGB images to address additional attributes about the sign not captured in the previous streams. Thus, we can process more spatiotemporal features that discriminate the classes during the training stage. The computational results show that the solution can recognize signs in Libras in the health context, with an average accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-score of 99.80%, 99.81%, 99.80%, and 99.80%, respectively. Our system also performed better than other works in the literature, obtaining an average accuracy of 100% in an Argentine Sign Language (LSA) dataset, which is usually used for comparison purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the development of sign language education in Sweden during the 1970s. Initially, there was a belief that sign language hindered deaf children's ability to learn spoken language and written Swedish. This led to the creation of a new sign language called Signed Swedish, which aimed to align sign language with spoken Swedish. However, research showed that Signed Swedish was not effective and inaccessible for deaf children. Eventually, sign language was recognized as the language of deaf people in Sweden, leading to a bilingual approach in deaf education. The article also highlights the contributions of Brita Bergman to sign language research and the establishment of sign language as an academic subject. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the beginnings of research on British Sign Language (BSL) in the mid-1970s. It highlights the work of various researchers, including Mary Brennan and Reuben Conrad, who challenged the exclusive use of spoken languages in deaf education. The article also mentions the development of research projects in Bristol and Edinburgh, as well as the collaboration between deaf and hearing researchers. The author, Bencie Woll, shares their own experiences and interests in BSL research, which expanded to include topics such as sign language acquisition, sign language disorders, and machine learning of BSL. The article also mentions the emergence of sign language conferences and international collaborations in the field. [Extracted from the article]

This article, "How I Changed Ed Klima's Mind," recounts the author's time studying sign language at UCSD in the 1970s. They were initially interested in child language acquisition and worked with Edward S. Klima as their advisor. The author discusses their experiences learning sign language, attending seminars at the Salk Institute, and working with Bonnie Gough, a deaf signing consultant. They also explore the challenges of studying sign language and the development of ASL as a recognized language. The article delves into various technological advancements and research methods used in the field, such as video equipment, architectural support at the Salk Institute, and the use of strobe light photographs and computer-generated images. The author also emphasizes the significance of Friday lab meetings and the influence of Ursula Bellugi. Overall, the article provides a personal account of the author's academic journey in sign language research. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a collection of memoirs from the first researchers of German Sign Language (DGS) at the University of Hamburg. The researchers, led by Siegmund Prillwitz, conducted research on communication among deaf children and worked towards integrating sign language into education. The article emphasizes the progress made in recognizing and studying sign language in Germany, as well as the contributions of the deaf community. The researchers stress the importance of collaboration between hearing and deaf individuals in their work. The text also discusses the challenges faced in promoting DGS within the deaf community and society, and mentions the establishment of research centers and institutes dedicated to the study of DGS. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides an overview of the early research on Finnish Sign Language (FinSL) conducted at Helsinki University starting in 1982. The research was led by Professor Fred Karlsson and Liisa Kauppinen, the executive director of the Finnish Association of the Deaf. The article includes personal accounts from researchers involved in the early stages of FinSL research, discussing their experiences and challenges. The research focused on analyzing the structure and semantics of FinSL, including the study of mouth movements in signed production. The article also highlights the work of Terhi Rissanen, Päivi Rainò, and Ritva Takkinen, who conducted research on various aspects of FinSL, such as morphology, syntax, societal and linguistic changes in the signing community, and sign language acquisition and structure. The text also mentions the impact of cochlear implants on sign language transmission and the decline of sign language education in Finland. The authors emphasize the importance of studying sign language and the need for further research in the field. [Extracted from the article]

"The Routledge Handbook of Public Service Interpreting" is a comprehensive resource that explores various aspects of Public Service Interpreting (PSI). It brings together contributions from scholars in different fields and covers topics such as settings, interpreting skills, and the impact of mass migrations and the Covid-19 pandemic on PSI. The handbook provides concrete examples and reflections to help interpreters navigate sensitive situations. It is organized into three parts and offers data-driven research conducted in different countries and settings. While there is some thematic overlap and a focus on specific regions, it is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and practitioners of PSI. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Íkala: Revista de Lenguaje y Cultura is the property of Universidad de Antioquia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The document is a presentation for Íkala: Revista de Lenguaje y Cultura, a journal of language and culture. The new director, Luanda Sito, expresses their commitment to maintaining the journal's excellence and expanding networks of dialogue in the field. The current issue contains twelve articles, including topics such as academic writing, sign language interpretation, African literature, university education, language teaching, and cultural production. The journal emphasizes the value of cultural and linguistic diversity and is dedicated to fostering dialogue between different regions of the Global South. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Health literacy is strongly associated with health inequality among persons with deafness, and hypertension (HTN) is the most prevalent chronic disease among persons with deafness in South Korea. Despite its importance, research regarding the health literacy levels of persons with deafness with HTN in South Korea is lacking. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the health literacy levels of persons with deafness with HTN in South Korea, including linguistic, functional, and internet health literacy. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 95 persons with deafness with HTN were recruited through facilities associated with the deaf community. From August 2022 to February 2023, data were collected through face-to-face surveys attended by a sign language interpreter and online surveys. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation. Results: Approximately 62.1% of the participants exhibited a linguistic health literacy level corresponding to less than that of middle school students, and the total percentage correct of functional health literacy was 17.9%. Each domain of internet health literacy was low. Significant correlations were found between some aspects of health literacy. Conclusions: The study's findings highlight the low health literacy levels across various facets among persons with deafness with HTN in South Korea. Based on these findings, several strategies are suggested for developing HTN self-management interventions for persons with deafness. This study contributes to the foundational understanding of health literacy among persons with deafness with HTN in South Korea and provides valuable insights and guidance for developing HTN self-management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Medical interpreters experience emotional burdens from the complex demands at work. Because communication access is a social determinant of health, protecting and promoting the health of medical interpreters is critical for ensuring equitable access to care for language-minority patients. The purpose of this study was to pilot a condensed 8-h program based on Mindful Practice® in Medicine addressing the contributors to distress and psychosocial stressors faced by medical sign and spoken language interpreters. Methods: Using a single-arm embedded QUAN(qual) mixed-methods pilot study design, weekly in-person 1-h sessions for 8 weeks involved formal and informal contemplative practice, didactic delivery of the week's theme (mindfulness, noticing, teamwork, suffering, professionalism, uncertainty, compassion, and resilience), and mindful inquiry exercises (narrative medicine, appreciative interviews, and insight dialog). Quantitative well-being outcomes (mean±SEM) were gathered via survey at pre-, post-, and 1-month post-intervention time points, compared with available norms, and evaluated for di_erences within subjects. Voluntary feedback about the workshop series was solicited post-intervention via a free text survey item and individual exit interviews. A thematic framework was established by way of qualitative description. Results: Seventeen medical interpreters (46.2 ± 3.1 years old; 16 women/1 man; 8 White/9 Hispanic or Latino) participated. Overall scores for teamwork (p ≤ 0.027), coping (p ≤ 0.006), and resilience (p ≤ 0.045) increased from pre- to post-intervention and pre- to 1-month post-intervention. Non-judging as a mindfulness component increased from pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.014). Compassion satisfaction (p = 0.021) and burnout (p = 0.030) as components of professional quality of life demonstrated slightly delayed effects, improving from pre- to 1-month post-intervention. Themes such as workshop schedule, group size, group composition, interactivity, topics to be added or removed, and culture are related to the overarching topic areas of intervention logistics and content. Integration of the findings accentuated the positive impact of the intervention. Discussion: The results of this research demonstrate that mindful practice can serve as an effective resource for medical interpreters when coping with work-related stressors. Future iterations of the mindful practice intervention will further aspire to address linguistic and cultural diversity in the study population for broader representation and subsequent generalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development of a wearable sensor glove for sign language translation and an Android-based application that can display words and produce speech of the translated gestures in real-time. The objective of this project is to enable a conversation between a deaf person and another person who does not know sign language. The glove is composed of five (5) flexible sensors and an inertial sensor. This article also elaborates the development of an Android-based application using the MIT App Inventor software that produces words and speech of the translated gestures in real-time. The sign language gestures were measured by sensors and transmitted to an Arduino Nano microcontroller to be translated into words. Then, the processed data was transmitted to the Android application via Bluetooth. The application displayed the words and produced the sound of the gesture. Furthermore, preliminary experimental results demonstrated that the glove successfully displayed words and produced the sound of thirteen (13) translated sign languages via the developed application. In the future, it is hoped that further upgrades can produce a device to assist a deaf person communicates with normal people without over-reliance on sign language interpreters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to information is a right that should not be limited because of being a member of a linguistic minority. The Deaf Community, which has its own language and culture, faces limitations in access to the media, such as open-signal television, unlike hearing people. This phenomenon was investigated from the point of view of people from the Deaf Community in order to be able to raise coherent proposals to meet their needs. The objective was to know the perception of members of the Peruvian Deaf Community about the interpretation in Peruvian Sign Language (PSL) in open signal television channels in Peru. It was a qualitative study of phenomenological design in which a group of people representing the Deaf Community of Lima, Peru participated. Group interviews were conducted with the presence of an interpreter known by all the interviewees. The results show that the Deaf Community interviewed perceives that there are deficiencies in terms of the number of interpreters and the space assigned to them on screen. The people interviewed stated that the Deaf Community experiences a feeling of isolation and mockery due to the small number of programs that are interpreted and the appointment of interpreters who do not adequately convey the information. In addition, they consider that there is a need for better training of interpreters in aspects such as linguistic diversity and the use of classifiers and spacing. Based on the findings and their interpretation, the researchers make some final considerations to promote good practices aimed at reducing the gap in access to information for the Deaf Community in Lima, based on inclusion and equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal mixed method study investigated the education experiences among 38 Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) students, 44 of their hearing peers, and three lecturers in two programs at a postsecondary institution in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Longitudinal data were collected at three points in time, summer 2020, winter 2021, and spring 2021. To investigate the differences between the two groups, GPA marks and responses to designed questionnaires for the different moments were collected from students. Repeated-measures ANOVA, the fixed effect regression approach, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and personal communication with the students and the lecturers. Interviews were conducted with the addition of a sign language interpreter familiar to the DHH students. Results revealed a significant distinct digital divide between the two groups in academic achievement, degree of adaptation, and general perceptions of their education. The results of this study suggest that DHH students in postsecondary settings may be at risk of underachieving in the distance learning study mode. As a result, higher education institutions, universities, and curriculum designers need to take steps to improve the environment of distance learning platforms considering the diversity of students' needs. This will ensure that students with hearing loss have equal access to lectures, course content, and their peers. Promoting equity and justice in the learning environment aims to bridge the knowledge gap and prepare DHH students for their future careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports preliminary survey and interview data from a 3-year study regarding language ideologies related to deaf interpreters (DIs). DIs are professional sign language interpreters who are deaf and who may work as part of a team with hearing sign language interpreters. Survey data provide a snapshot of current DI demographics and reflect that most DIs are Canadian-born and from a grandparent generation. This suggests that a precarious national sign language ecosystem currently exists in Canada. Data from an interview with one DI participant reveal how this participant, by virtue of his education in Canadian deaf schools and professional background, was positioned as a peer of other Canadian deaf professionals. Simultaneously, due to his immigrant background and accompanying lived experiences of language and multilayered repertoire, he was positioned in solidarity with deaf clients who were newcomers to Canada and multiply marginalised. This dual positioning and status enabled insights regarding dominant language ideologies among DIs and other deaf professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of 'trust' is frequently used when discussing the working relationship between deaf signers and signed language interpreters, with interpreters often claiming that trust is a prerequisite to a successful interaction. This paper presents original data from an in-depth research project which used collaborative autoethnography to gather the experiences of seven deaf academics who work regularly with British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, who interpret between BSL and spoken English, to analyse the concept of 'trust' in our working relations with BSL interpreters. We found that 'trust' is not a useful or productive concept for our interpersonal and professional aims. Instead, we outline multiple ways in which deaf academics can assess and evaluate interpreters' values, competencies, and performance without relying on 'trust'. Our findings provide an important, powerful and under-explored perspective on the working relations between deaf academics and interpreters. We suggest these findings can be applied by deaf BSL signers and interpreters in contexts beyond academia, and constitute an important contribution to the literature on interpreting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific and public health knowledge must be communicated efficiently to the public during a health crisis to allow communities to prepare, respond and recover. Public briefings and national campaigns are important components of this communication, and sign language interpreting may be an element of this process. This paper examines the experiences of sign language interpreters during the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland and the UK, and explores their role in providing access to scientific and public health information for the Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) community. Findings are based on interviews conducted in the first half of 2020 with 16 Irish Sign Language (ISL) or British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters or science communicators, 11 of whom had direct experience of interpreting during COVID-19 briefings. These interviews constitute authentic accounts of sign language interpreters working during a global health crisis. Interviews were qualitatively analysed to discuss how specialised competence and scientific understanding factored into participants' experiences and to derive lessons to inform future crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective and efficient health care is greatly influenced by communication between patient and provider. Federal laws require the use of a sign language interpreter (SLI) or other appropriate accommodations to ensure effective communication within the health care system for deaf children. Specialized training and certifications are available for SLIs choosing to specialize in the health care field. The training is typically geared toward SLIs working with adults rather than children. In addition, very few studies focus on the use of SLIs for children within health care settings. SLIs bring unique perspectives to their respective settings when referencing one's skill set. This research aimed to identify correlations and differences between educational and medical SLIs' strategies and abilities to recognize the unique job demands presented when working with deaf children in the medical setting. A qualitative interview study was conducted with both medical and educational SLIs as a means of accessing their practical knowledge of working with children. This article describes the correlations and differences between educational and medical SLIs' strategies and abilities to recognize the unique job demands of working with deaf children in the medical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]