Jasmin Rivera and Nathaniel Macariola, Deaf researchers from Benilde’s Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf (CEAD), received their Master of Arts in Sign Language Education (MASLED) and the Dr. Nathie L. Marbury Award from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., on May 10, 2024. The award recognizes graduate students who drive significant systemic change in sign language education.
Both scholars balanced full-time work and studies, overcoming challenges posed by the time difference between the Philippines and the U.S. “I did not give up on my studies because I didn’t want to fail,” Jasmin shared.
They studied at Gallaudet through the Model Learning Institute on Deaf-Centered Education (MLITEDCE) scholarship, which addresses barriers in Deaf education, such as the limited use of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and the lack of Deaf-proficient teachers. With their new expertise, they plan to enhance FSL research and develop learning materials for the Benilde Deaf School (BDS).
Previously trained under linguist Dr. James Woodward, they helped develop the country’s first three FSL Student Handbooks, now used in BDS training modules supported by The Nippon Foundation. Both are alumni of Benilde-SDEAS and currently lead CEAD’s FSL Corpus Signbank and FSL Grammar-Dictionary projects.
Producing qualified Deaf Teachers and FSL researchers 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.
