The debate about inclusion of the deaf and disabled into mainstream schools is still dividing the key players in this debate, i.e. schools, authorities, science but also the organizations for the disabled and the deaf. Especially, the deaf organizations point to the fact that they are not disabled but just different, a cultural and linguistic minority, with their own language (sign language) and culture. Practices forcing them to adapt to hearing culture (oral language and culture) are interpreted as audism, i.e. the notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears. Thus, audist practices are a violation of their human rights.  Recent research however shows that not every deaf person agrees with this point of view expressed by the deaf organizations. The EU-DEED partners intend to focus on these individual narratives in between the grand notions of audism and human rights, giving the deaf a voice to exchange personal views on audism and human rights, to search for solutions for deaf education and to express different theoretical perspectives.

The debate about inclusion of the deaf and disabled into mainstream schools is still dividing the key players in this debate, i.e. schools, authorities, science but also the organizations for the disabled and the deaf. Especially, the deaf organizations point to the fact that they are not disabled but just different, a cultural and linguistic minority, with their own language (sign language) and culture. Practices forcing them to adapt to hearing culture (oral language and culture) are interpreted as audism, i.e. the notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears. Thus, audist practices are a violation of their human rights.  Recent research however shows that not every deaf person agrees with this point of view expressed by the deaf organizations. The EU-DEED partners intend to focus on these individual narratives in between the grand notions of audism and human rights, giving the deaf a voice to exchange personal views on audism and human rights, to search for solutions for deaf education and to express different theoretical perspectives.