Deaf researchers are underrepresented in sign language research. The aim of this project is to broaden the participation of deaf individuals in disciplines that conduct sign language research. Funding will be used to bring U.S. deaf college students to the Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR) conference that will be hosted in London during the summer of 2013 and to provide American Sign Language interpreting services for these students at the conference. TISLR is the most significant and well-attended international sign language research conference. Immediately prior to TISLR, the students will also participate in a three-day Sign Language Researchers' Toolkit training that will be offered by the Deafness, Cognition, and Language Centre at the University College London. The training will include hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment and software for analyses and documentation of signed languages. The knowledge, skills, resources, and networks the students will acquire in London at the training and at TISLR will make them better equipped to develop careers in sign language research.
Deaf researchers are underrepresented in sign language research. The aim of this project was to broaden the participation of deaf individuals in disciplines that conduct sign langauge research. Deaf masters and doctoral students were invited to apply and a committee of deaf and hearing sign language researchers selected six students from four universities to participate in this program. Three deaf and hearing sign langauge researchers served as mentors for the program participants. The deaf students in this program attended the Sign Language Researchers Toolkit Workshop offered by the University College London, UK that introduced them to the most recent tools and resources for the study of sign languages. International experts on sign language research from different countries offered the training. After the workshop, the students attended and presented at the 11th meeting of the Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR), the most significant and well-attended international sign language research conference. The knowledge the students learned from the workshop helped the students to be prepared for the TISLR conference. The funding covered the students' stipends, travel costs, and sign language interpreting services to ensure all students had full access to information at the training and conference. Overall, this program offered these deaf students knowledge, tools, and resources to conduct sign language research and introduced them to a network of sign language researchers. The students in this program shared with other students at their universities what they learned through the program. The long-term projected outcome is an increase in deaf sign language researchers.
