Partners

ISLA

ISLA, Via Enea Silvio Piccolomini, 2 - 53100 Siena, IT https://www.sienaschool.com

The Siena School for Liberal Arts (ISLA) is a private educational institution that offers a wide range of innovative adult educational and academic courses, taught in English and Italian, and internships in the Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as opportunities in Community Service and a variety of Extracurricular Activities. The Siena School has offered Italian and American sign language and deaf culture courses since 2004 for American and Italian students and professionals.
It works closely with its sister school - the Siena Art Institute - to bring to Italy international deaf artists and organizes thematic workshops on current issues of deaf culture every summer. It also regularly organizes workshops for Italian sign language teachers, deaf educators, interpreters and communication assistants in collaboration with the Mason Perkins Deafness Fund and the National Deaf Asssociation ENS. The ISLA is the only institution in Europe to provide deaf accessible study abroad semesters for American students. ISLA will cooperate closely with the Siena Art Institute (https://www.sienaart.org) and the Fondazione dei Musei Senesi https://www.museisenesi.org) to give the project partners access to the training mainstream Museum professionals receive, as well as to the challenges of mainstream museums and how they deal with these.

Miriam Grottanelli is Director of the Siena School for Liberal Arts, as well as the president of the Mason Perkins Deafness Fund in Italy. MPDF was set up in 1985 to favour the wellbeing, education and development of the potential of deaf and deaf and blind children. Its aim is to work to build up a positive and stimulating environment which focuses attention on the potential of the deaf child rather than his hearing deficit.

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Pia Rizzi
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Clio Manfredi

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UCLan

UCLan, Preston, UK, https://www.uclan.ac.uk

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), is recognised as a world class institution by its inclusion in the 2010 QS World Rankings – the first Modern University in the UK to gainthis status. UCLan’s BSL and Deaf Studies is acknowledged as a centre of excellence in this dynamic and expanding field of academic teaching and research and includes both Deafand hearing staff members. The team has been involved in a number of collaborative research and development projects since 1993, which have influenced policies and practices bothin the UK and Europe. EU projects include SignOn!, Signs2Go, BiBiKit, Signs2Cross and SignTeach. Work funded by UK central government bodies focused on online curriculum development such as 'Sign Online' and 'BSL:QED'. The BSL & Deaf Studies team are closely allied to the International Centre for Signed Languages and Deaf Studies (ISLanDS), with whom they have supported in developing and researching courses for Deaf people in India.

Recent activities of the centre include a research bid for a Living Heritage, Arts and Folklore of Deaf People project, which will scope the current research landscape in order to gain a preliminary picture of the living heritage, arts and folklore of Deaf people across Lancashire. The living heritage of Deaf people will be explored to identify lifestyle practices, education, employment and retirement, and socialisation of older generations of deaf people, as well as the instruments, artefacts and cultural spaces that individual members of the deaf community recognise as part of their cultural heritage.

Lynne Barnes

Lynne Barnes is Academic Lead for the BSL & Deaf Studies team at UCLan. Lynne also acts as an Adviser to deaf and hard of hearing students across the university. Her research interests are in the pedagogy of deaf learners and access for deaf students within Higher Education. She completed her doctorate in 2017 which looked at the employability of deaf graduates. Lynne was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2008 for her work in BSL & Deaf Studies and in establishing support services for deaf students in H.E. For her PhD research, Lynne Barnes has interviewed Deaf UCLan graduates about the transition from university to employment or entrepreneurship, and the many barriers that they have to deal with in a predominantly hearing society.

Luigi Lerose

Dr. Luigi Lerose, originally from Padua, IT, completed PhD Philosophy (Linguistic), Alpen Adria University, Klagenfurt (Osterreich), 2012.
He is currently employed at UCLan as a BSL Dr. Luigi Lerose, originally from Padua, IT, completed PhD Philosophy (Linguistic), Alpen Adria University, Klagenfurt (Osterreich), 2012, He is currently employed at UCLan as a BSL and Deaf studies Lecturer. He has worked with a cohort of teachers on educational programming, highlighting the importance of language teaching (pedagogy) and language trainingfor adults. He is the President of the European Network of Sign Language Teachers (ENSLT).

Junhui Yang

Dr. Junhui Yang is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in BSL & Deaf Studies at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. She obtained her PhD in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University, Washington, D. C. in 2006. She has been a member of Board of Directors for British Deaf History Society since 2016. Her research interests include sign language linguistics, sign bilingual education, and history of British Deaf community and Deaf teachers in China.

Pragma

EUD

European Union of the Deaf (EUD), Rue de la Loi, Wetstraat 26/15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

http://www.eud.eu

Based in Brussels, Belgium the European Union of the Deaf (EUD, www.eud.eu) is a non-profit European non-Governmental organisation (ENGO) comprising National Associations of the Deaf (NADs).It is the only supranational organisation representing Deaf people at European level and is one of the few ENGOs representing associations in all 28 EU Member States, includingIceland, Norway and Switzerland.Aiming to establish and maintain EU level dialogue with the European Union institutions and officials in consultation and co-operation with its member NADs, it also has participatorystatus with the Council of Europe (CoE).

EUD is a full member of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and is a Regional Co-operating Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to tackle issues of global importance. It is supported by the Equality Unit within the Directorate General Justice at the European Commission.

It is EUD's aim to achieve equality in public and private life for Deaf people all over Europe to ensure they can become full citizens. Its main objectives are the recognition of the right to use an indigenous sign language, empowerment through communication and information, and equality in education and employment.

Mark Wheatley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mr.Mark Wheatleyis the Executive Director of EUD since 2007.

In this position, he has the responsibility to promote the Deaf Community in EU countries and attend all European level meetings related to deaf/disability issues and, if appropriate, give information relating legal consequences of measures taken by EU institutions, such as the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

Aside from building and strengthening the EUD networking with EU institutions, Mr. Wheatley is responsible for EUD's communication with member organisations.

Previous to working at EUD, Mr. Wheatley was the managing director of Red Lizard Limited, a company providing media, publishing, presentation and design services for businesses, service providers and consumers that cater to deaf communities.

Frankie Picron This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mr.Frankie Picron is EUD’s Project Manager. With a master’s degree in Law, he represents the deaf community when it comes to expressing various issues such as access to employment, political participation, and equality in public and private life of deaf people. He regularly provides insights from his past experience as a Policy Assistant on human rights issues.

He has actively contributed to the H2020 Action NEXES project (Next Generation Emergency Services), Erasmus+ DESIGNS project (Deaf Employment for Sign Language Users in the EU) and Signteach project and continues to manage projects such as H2020 SHAPES (Smart and Healthy Ageing through People Engaging in supportive Systems) project, the aiD (artificial intelligence for the Deaf) project, while demonstrating his human skills and ability to take into account the interests of stakeholders.

David Hay

Mr. DavidHay is EUD Communication and Media Officer (since 2013).He manages all the press releases, articles, social media posts and any another website contents relating to European Union of the Deaf.

He also produces the media output, it varies from written article to video statement with the options of animated video. And also contribute to EUD social media output which generated huge following.

Previous to working at EUD, he was a Researcher/Director for the BBC. He used to research and develop stories within the Deaf Community, finding contributors, liaising with them and setting up shoots for the director. During his time at BBC See Hear, he had to liaise with countless press officers and politician aides. He used to research government policy and data and present it in an easy to read format to fit within the programme for the deaf community.

FMS

Fundazione Musei Sinesi , Banchi di Sotto, 34, 53100 Siena, IT https://www.museisenesi.org

Fondazione Musei Senesi is the museum network of the Sienese territory (Tuscany). Since 2003 it has been committed to enhance the tangible and intangible heritage of the area and promote its knowledge.
Fondazione coordinates over forty museums spread through 31 municipalities. This non-profit institution operates on the model of a “widespread museum” or “cultura landscape”, looking for an integration between the collections and their original contexts, traditions and landscape, the research institutes, local companies, supplying the touristic chain and creative industries.

Mission statement: Fondazione Musei Senesi intends to be a place of dialogue and sharing where museum professionals, administrators, local communities and visitors meet. Its goal is to assist museums to become welcoming spaces, where enhancing both cultural collections and the stories of the people who contributed to their creation and conservation, where active citizenship is exercised and where anybody could "feel good, at home".

Fondazione Musei Senesi is the only museum system of the province referring directly to the regional administration. We're reguraly supporting museum activities and especially involved in participatory processes, accessibility and social inclusion. We've often collaborated with Mason Perkins Deafness Fund in Siena for special projects (for instance, in 2015 a mobile app in Italian, English, Chinese and LIS language about our museums, but also occasional LIS guided tours). Since 2 years, we're part of regional project for labs directed to Alzheimer patients. We've activated projects connecting intercultural communities and prisoners to museums through narratives.

Elisa Bruttini This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Maria Cammelli This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

equalizent

equalizent , Obere Augartenstraße 20, 1020 Wien, AT, www.equalizent.com

equalizent was founded in 2004 and has 4 main areas of focus: people who are deaf; people who are hard of hearing; Sign Language; and diversity management. equalizent’s training and company concept are unique in Europe. Through various training and advisory services, equalizent supports people who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as people with other disabilities, to find work.

A third of staff members are deaf. This means that deaf trainees are trained by deaf peers. equalizent organises the annual Diversity Ball – an accessible event which takes place in Vienna, Austria. equalizent also founded HANDS UP, an interactive exhibition, raising awareness about the Deaf world.

For more information about equalizent: https://www.equalizent.com (in German and English)

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Monika Haider: Position CEO Master of Social Science Degree (pedagogics). Proficient in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS), knowledge of the disability community and its structures, ,experience in project management, leadership, networking, teamwork, moderation, organisation of integration and networking events, and competency in the development and implementation of strategies. Beside general management, Monika is an expert for leadership of projects for the D/deaf, SL and diversity management, as well as counselling, training and qualification services.

Joanna Kinberger

Joanna Kinberger has a Degree in German, Italian and Business Studies, English (Native speaker – L1), German (L2), knowledge of Romanian, French, Italian, Norwegian and Serbian, as well as ÖGS. She has 10 years + experience in international project implementation and management.

Sandra Kral

Sandra Kral has a Degree from Vienna University in Sociology and Gender Studies. A native German speaker, she is responsible for all German language outputs, as well as project administration and research activities. Besides German, she also speaks English, French, Russian and she understands Austria Sign Language.

DeafStudio

DeafStudio, Solivarská 1423/2, 080 05 Prešov. SK, www.deafstudio.net

DeafStudio is a civic association that was established late December 2008 in Prešov in Eastern Slovakia. The members of DeafStudio are Deaf youth. They are dedicated to education, information about the culture of deaf communities.

DeafStudio's goal is:

• preservation of cultural assets deaf and hard of hearing;
• support for the education of members, sympathizers and the public;
• transferring and gaining experience and information in the field;
• satisfying the artistic aspirations of members;
• self-realization of artistic growth of members;
• discovering new artistic intentions;
• creating a confrontational environment - sources of inspiration;
• creation of technical background - provision of assistance.

Subject to the implementation of the objectives of Deafstudio is:

• performing educational and educational activities, advisory and consultancy activities, cultural and educational activities;
• raising awareness, professional levels of citizens, parents, students, children and the public by organizing courses, seminars, lectures, conferences and workshops, practical meetings, sports and recreational activities, cooperation with educators and students of educational institutions.

DeafStudio has a long-term cooperation with educators, students of educational and social institutions.

We are cooperating with museums to make cultural activities accessible via QR technology for deaf visitors and we are preparing other museums in Slovakia and we currently have more than 20 museums with language access in Slovakia. Those who translate historical texts into Slovak sign language. We are training for a new team to create access the Slovaksign language to museums.

Roman Polášek

Roman Polášek is the founder and president of DeafStudio with his passion for making video and sharing information for D/deaf people. He studied audiovisual media in mainstream high school in Presov, where he learned video editing, moderator, lighting and filming. He has worked in various national projects to translate texts into Slovak sign language and is an accredited Slovak sign language instructor who teaches courses for hearing students. He is a supervisor for translating in projects. We have another 4 employees in various fields and 10 external workers who work together in some national and European projects.

Marek Kanaš This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Marek Kanaš is project manager of DeafStudio since 2017 forvarious national and international projects. He is president of the Slovak Association of Club Deaf Youth since 2013, he has been a member of the Committee of the European Union of Deaf Youth (EUDY) since 2018.

He has many years of experience in media and management in various organizations and companies. He studied three fields in high school: audiovisual media, digital graphic design and electrical engineer in 6 year. He has accredited the social rehabilitation worker. He has attended over 20 different training sessions from Erasmus+ and Study Session CoE over 6 years, focusing on leadership, addressing human rights for disabled people, negotiating, education for deaf youth, management and technology development for the disabled. He was project manager of EUDY Children Camp 2017 - (23 nations and 54 children) and director of EUDY Junior Camp 2018 (21 nations and 84 juniors) in Slovakia, both holding a historic record for the largest number of children and juniors at the European Deaf Camp under EUDY: a successfully completed event with a positive feedback.

Associated Partners

Consortium & Partners: