The project aimed and achieved the following: - Developed an innovative educational model through SIE that allows teachers to adopt a new approach in teaching and learning for deaf students. - Provided role models to deaf children by connecting them with the Deaf Community, particularly with deaf entrepreneurs, artists, and scientists. - Highlighted and promoted sign language as a tool for inclusive, innovative education. - Created an online course to enable teachers to develop deaf children’s changemaking competences. - Involve deaf students from different countries and foster their self-confidence as they viewed themselves as members of the broader Deaf community.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasized the importance of sign language, yet McClain-Nhlapo (2017) found that only 2% of deaf children globally receive education in formal sign language. This lack of access leads to lower academic performance, confidence, and self-esteem (NCSE, 2011). Limited use of sign language in schools and a lack of education about deaf culture contribute to these issues, leaving deaf children behind both academics and personal development. The "Sign for Change" project aimed to boost the self-confidence and skills of deaf children, helping them become active, productive and participative members of society. The project used the Social Innovation Education (SIE) model, developed in the Horizon 2020 NEMESIS project (https://nemesis-edu.eu/), to create an innovative training package for teachers and students with hearing problems.