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School for Digital Deaf Studies

Leiden University has a leading position in research and education in the linguistics of languages around the globe, including sign languages. In recent years, digital approaches to studying spoken languages and their communities have rapidly expanded. Language technology and digital approaches relating to research and training on sign languages have remained extremely marginal. This is particularly true for sign languages in the Global South. To address this digital divide, new generations of students are trained in digital approaches to Deaf studies and the development of sign language technology. To ensure that the digital divide is addressed in a meaningful way that is relevant to Deaf signers, students are members of Deaf communities from around the world.

The School for Digital Deaf Studies 2025 is a hybrid school consisting of one week online and a two-week school in person in Ghana aiming for the capacity building needed to expand academic research and education activities in digital Deaf studies, informed by insiders’ perspectives. It follows up on the success of the first African School for Deaf Studies in 2019, the first pan-African school for deaf academics. Like the first edition, the school uses a Direct Communication approach, with signing as the medium of instruction. It prioritises signing students from Leiden University and the partner organisations, but is open to other students as well. This project presents a collaboration with partner organisations in Africa, Indonesia, and the UK. 

For more information, email v.a.s.nyst@hum.leidenuniv.nl.

Collaborating organisations

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