Research indicates that the employment rate of deaf or hard of hearing people is significantly lower than hearing people. Reasons include workplace communication issues, evidence of disability discrimination in the recruitment process and lack of access to traditional careers advice services. As a result, many Deaf people are turning to self-employment - a distinct area of growth, but still under-represented in terms of accessible training and resources. SignMedia Enterprise (SME) aims to address these issues through the development of an accessible web based smartphone and tablet application for sign language users with an interest in the business sector. Aims: -Improve levels of skill for employability and new business creation by removing barriers to language and technical knowledge for deaf sign language users. -Promote a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship within the deaf community by raising aspirations and promoting inclusion. -Facilitate inclusion in the workplace and more active participation in society with a resource that can be used to improve communication with hearing colleagues, students and support workers. -Increase opportunities for VET professional development with a flexible open resource that can be used as VET non-formal learning or as part of delivered training. Programme of VET based training events and support activities -Promote mobility and collaboration within an active European deaf community. -The project aims to promote VET along with developing entrepreneurship and enterprise skills. Objectives: -Create an open resource for mobile and tablet platforms that supports deaf people in business and self-employment. -Film 500 sign language glossary items, including technical definitions, in three different sign languages. -Provide visual images and written translations of the glossary items to support the communication needs of a deaf community with diverse language needs, and extend the reach of the resource to hearing colleagues, students, and support workers. -Present video case studies of deaf-led business success stories from each country, including an SME and self-employed individual. -Collate a selection of the most useful links to established business websites and organisations Create training materials and templates and support these through training events -Develop a user guide for trainers and educators on how best to use the resource. -Elements of ISL will also be included in the app. This will enable engagement of ISL users across Europe and globally thus increasing impact. -Mapping of current VET provision for deaf people who may be self-employed or want to start their own business. This will take place through IO 1 market testing. Following the mapping, and subsequent findings, further mapping will take place to determine how the glossary and training activities designed and carried out could be validated as informal learning. This will take place within each partner country and also at an EU level, through models such as ECVET. The consortium consists of 5 partners. University of Wolverhampton (UK) as lead partner, Bellyfeel Media Limited (UK) , University of Klagenfurt (Austria), Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy) and Alba Società Cooperativa Sociale (Italy). The methodology and results of the project are based around 4 key Intellectual Outputs, 4 project meetings, management activities and multiplier events. The Intellectual Outputs are as follows: O1 Market Testing; O2 Content development, adaptation and testing, O3 Technical Development; O4 Support and Training. It is envisaged that 1000 people will be reached directly and indirectly through project activities including: Needs analysis; Associated Partners; testing with end users, VET providers, policy makers, enterprise and support agencies, sign language interpreters and other relevant stakeholders; Multiplier Events and dissemination activities; Promotional material; Social media and project website; Project networks, links and contacts. The main target users are deaf people in business and self-employment and those with an interest in setting up their own business, along with other beneficiaries are sign language interpreters, business students, hearing business professionals, teachers of the deaf, sign language students and policy makers. The project aims to not only support deaf people who are already freelance/ in business but also provide opportunities for Deaf people to start their own businesses. The ability for sign language users to learn technical vocabulary for two other sign languages will enable enhanced mobility, creative collaboration and employment across Europe for deaf people will be a key impact.
Research indicates that the employment rate of deaf or hard of hearing people is significantly lower than hearing people. Reasons include workplace communication issues, evidence of disability discrimination in the recruitment process and lack of access to traditional careers advice services. As a result, many Deaf people are turning to self-employment - a distinct area of growth, but still under-represented in terms of accessible training and resources. SignMedia Enterprise (SME) aimed to address these issues through the development of an accessible web based glossary for sign language users with an interest in the business sector and a package of supporting resources and materials. The main target users were deaf people in business and self-employment and those with an interest in setting up their own business, along with other beneficiaries are sign language interpreters, business students, hearing business professionals, teachers of the deaf, sign language students and policy makers. These groups were therefore the priority when identifying, selecting and engaging with project participants for various project activities. The project aimed to not only support deaf people who are already freelance/ in business but also provide opportunities for Deaf people to start their own businesses. The ability for sign language users to learn technical vocabulary will enable enhanced mobility, creative collaboration and employment across Europe for deaf people will be a key impact. The consortium consisted of 5 partners. University of Wolverhampton (UK) as lead partner, Bellyfeel Media Limited (UK) , University of Klagenfurt (Austria), Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy) and Alba Società Cooperativa Sociale (Italy). The methodology and results of the project were based around 3 key Intellectual Outputs ( O2 Content development, adaptation and testing, O3 Technical Development; O4 Support and Training), 4 project meetings, management activities and dissemination activity. A 500 item business glossary in the 3 sign languages has been created signmediaenterprise.com and is free to use. The terms include a written definition, illustration and signed video and can be accessed in a number of different ways to assist with accessibility. The glossary is structured around the format of a business plan. There is also a 100 term International Sign glossary https://signmediaenterprise.com/a-z/?lang=isl . To support the glossary, 6 video case studies were created which focus on deaf led businesses. These aim to inspire and support the target audiences and provide real lief examples. https://signmediaenterprise.com/case-studies/ It was envisaged that a total of 99 individuals from target groups, stakeholder and internal partner staff would be involved and this was achieved through a range of activities, including internal testing, questionnaires, live launch, events and remote testing. The technical development team created the app structure, design and functionality to create the design, final structure and uploading of the content to the app. The final phase of the project blended dissemination with marketing and training along with an ongoing social media conversation with the target audience. A series of templates and tools were created along with users guides for trainees and trainers. It was envisaged that 1000 people would be reached directly and indirectly through project activities and this was far exceeded. Multiplier Events could not be carried out as planned due to COVID restrictions. Instead a cross-partner live launch event took place in June 2020. The event was targeted predominantly at the target groups and was delivered in international sign language to ensure wide engagement. It took place via Facebook Live which has resulted in a recording of the event being available on an ongoing basis from the project website. The event provided information about the project, the needs analysis findings, outcomes from testing, the app content and most importantly showed delegates how to access and use the app themselves. It also showcased the support and training available. The live launch on Facebook has had 1200 views on the launch date and since. This demonstrates significant impact, which is greater than would have been achieved at face to face events. In order to ensure that SME produced an app that is relevant and appropriate to the target groups, it was vital that individuals and organisations, outside of the consortium, were engaged with. The glossary has been positively received by the target groups and as a result impact has been very positive. This is demonstrated through the results of testing and piloting and anecdotal evidence in relation to the need for the project activities and outputs. It is also demonstrated through the high levels of engagement with social media.