Ms. Theresa De La Torre, Director of Benilde’s Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf (CEAD), presented their research “Advancing Academic Success of Filipino Deaf Learners through Deaf-Centered Education, Research, Linguistics, and Innovations” at the International Conference on Education for the Deaf and Sign Languages held on September 26–27, 2024, in Vietnam.
The event, organized by the Vietnam Association for Education for All (VAEFA), brought together educators, policymakers, parents, and Deaf representatives from around the world to promote inclusive and equitable learning for Deaf individuals.
In her presentation, Ms. De La Torre emphasized that many Filipino Deaf learners face academic challenges due to limited early exposure and consistent access to Filipino Sign Language (FSL) both at home and in school. She noted that the absence of fluent Deaf role models, limited FSL literature, and low teacher competency in Deaf-centered methods continue to affect literacy, academic achievement, and self-esteem among Deaf students.
To help address these barriers, CEAD established the Model Learning Institute on Deaf-Centered Education (MLITEDCE)—a pilot project that builds a Deaf-centered bilingual education ecosystem. The initiative supports teacher training, the development of FSL-based learning materials, and research on Deaf learners’ academic and well-being outcomes.
Serving as a model institution, the Benilde Deaf School demonstrates how a Deaf-centered education system can strengthen academic success, affirm Deaf identity, and serve as a blueprint for advancing inclusive education for Deaf learners across the Philippines.
