Deaf learners face many barriers in their education, resulting from the exclusion of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and the marginalization of their socio-cultural identity in learning opportunities. To increase access to linguistic and cultural models and empower Deaf learners, Benilde-CEAD develops FSL Learning materials that are evidence-based, such as conducting FSL validation activities for its FSL Student Handbook Level 1. The book features FSL Grammar and Dictionary for Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS). It is the first of three books developed under the guidance of Dr. James Woodward, a leading linguist on Asian and Pacific sign languages and former Co-Director of the Center for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Across 10 provinces in South Luzon and the Visayas, Benilde-CEAD Deaf FSL researchers met with Deaf respondents from Deaf organizations in Mindoro, Bicol, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Palawan, with the assistance of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD). These Deaf representatives validated regional FSL variations through interviews and elicitation sessions.
The handbook provides an evidence-based reference for Benilde Deaf School (BDS) to strengthen Deaf-centered bilingual education and enhance BICS among Deaf learners, parents, and teachers.
This initiative advocates for Deaf-centered bilingual education, and the use of evidence-based FSL learning materials is a necessary component in advancing Deaf learners’ academic success. This addresses the language deprivation faced by Deaf children and aligns with the implementation of the 2018 FSL Law. CEAD builds evidence on best practices and develops learning platforms that can be replicated in schools nationwide.
This activity is an integral part of the Model Learning Institute on Deaf-Centered Education (MLITEDCE) made possible through a grant from The Nippon Foundation of Japan.
