Historically, American Sign Language (an aspect of Deaf culture) has been rendered invisible in mainstream hearing society. Today, ASL’s popularity is evidenced in an ethnolinguistic renaissance; more second language learners pursue an interest in ASL than ever before. Nonetheless, Deaf and hearing people alike express concern about ASL’s place in hearing culture. This qualitative study engages ethnographic methods of participant observation and semi-structured interviewing as well as popular media analysis to understand language ideologies (ideas and objectives concerning roles of language in society) hearing and Deaf Signers hold about motivations and practices of other hearing Signers. Although most hearing ASLers identify as apolitical students genuinely seeking to build bridges between disparate communities, I argue that ASLers are most concerned with hearing Signers’ colonization of the language through commoditization and cultural appropriation.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:02:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1717131 bytes, checksum: eff8a83413e4fec4adb0aa3e0eac10e1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work was of the view that deaf people constitute a genuine culture, post signs that share as the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). Given the scarcity of studies on the culture in psychometric perspective, the goal of this dissertation was initially adapt and validate the questionnaire Meaning of Life, Religious Attitudes Scale and Basic Values Questionnaire for Deaf people. Therefore, it was necessary linguistic these instruments. In a second step, aimed at investigating the possible associations between factors such instruments. Counted on 200 Deaf 9 states of Brazil: Paraiba (69%), Rio Grande do Norte (5.5%), Pernambuco (3.5%), Ceará (4%), Rio Grande do Sul (4, 5%), Paraná (4.5%), Minas Gerais (2%), São Paulo (5%) and Mato Grosso (2%). The sample had a mean age of 28.6 (SD = 7.16), ranging 18-56 years, the majority were male (58%). Data collection occurred both online and face shape. The results suggested that the instruments are relevant to the given context of deaf culture and that the variables religiosity variables , the meaning of life and human values were associated in a direct and significant. The results were discussed in light of the existential analysis of Viktor Frankl and the Functionalist Theory of Human Values / O presente trabalho partiu da concepção de que as pessoas surdas se constituem em uma genuína cultura, posto que compartilham signos como a Língua Brasileira de Sinais (Libras). Tendo em vista a escassez de estudos sobre essa cultura na perspectiva psicométrica, o objetivo dessa dissertação foi inicialmente adaptar e validar o Questionário Sentido de Vida, a Escala de Atitudes Religiosas e o Questionário dos Valores Básicos para pessoas Surdas. Para tanto, se fez necessário uma adaptação linguística desses mesmos instrumentos. Em um segundo momento, objetivou averiguar as possíveis associações entre os fatores desses instrumentos. Contou-se com 200 Surdos de 9 estados do Brasil: Paraíba (69%), Rio Grande do Norte (5,5%), Pernambuco (3,5%), Ceará (4%), Rio Grande do Sul (4,5%), Paraná (4,5%), Minas Gerais (2%), São Paulo (5%) e Mato Grosso (2%). A amostra apresentou idade média de 28,6 (dp= 7,16), com amplitude de 18 a 56 anos, a maioria do sexo masculino (58%). A coleta de dados ocorreu tanto de forma online quanto presencial. Os resultados sugeriram que os instrumentos administrados são pertinentes para o contexto da cultura surda e que as variáveis religiosidade , sentido de vida e valores humanos se associaram de forma direta e significativa. Os resultados foram discutidos à luz da análise existencial de Viktor Frankl e da Teoria Funcionalista dos Valores Humanos

Nesta dissertação apresento uma investigação acerca dos marcadores culturais em produções editoriais de surdos, considerando obras que circulam em português escrito, destinadas ao público juvenil e adulto. Vinculada aos Estudos Culturais em Educação, discuto o problema de pesquisa: como as produções culturais surdas, que circulam em português escrito no mercado editorial brasileiro, possibilitam a construção de marcadores culturais? Assim, objetivo: mapear e investigar as produções culturais de surdos publicadas em português escrito; b) discutir marcadores culturais surdos, considerando posições identitárias, de comunidades e de usos das línguas; c) problematizar a constituição de representações surdas que circulam nas obras analisadas. Após a leitura de dez livros produzidos por surdos, a narrativa da experiência de si e a identidade surda como uma diferença sobressaem-se como marcas culturais das produções editoriais surdas. A produção da identidade/diferença surda se dá principalmente pela experiência do olhar, uso das línguas de sinais, tradução cultural através da escrita em línguas orais e a participação em comunidades e lutas, que marcam a(s) cultura(s) surda(s). Além disso, essa produção identitária se processa através de representações que circulam nas obras, inclusive constituindo outros marcadores culturais das publicações: a denúncia do silêncio e de estereótipos e, diante disso, a capacidade de superação e o sucesso dos sujeitos surdos. A produção da identidade e da diferença surda é, por sua vez, consumida pelos sujeitos, conduzindo suas condutas através da regulação que se dá através da cultura. Observa-se, ainda, que as marcas que emergem das obras surdas analisadas aproximam-se às produções de outros sujeitos culturalmente considerados ‘diferentes’. / In this dissertation I present an investigation about the cultural markers in editorial productions of deaf, considering materials written in Portuguese designated to the juvenile and adult public. Linked to Cultural Studies in Education, I discuss the research problem: how does deaf cultural production written in Portuguese and available in the Brazilian editorial market allow the construction of cultural markers? Thus, I objective: to map and investigate the cultural productions of deaf published in Portuguese written; b) to discuss deaf cultural markers, considering positions of identity, of community and of the use of languages; c) to discuss the constitution of deaf representations that circulate in the material analyzed. After reading ten books produced by deafs, the narrative of the experience of themselves and the deaf identity stand out as cultural markers of deaf editorial productions. The production of deaf identity/difference is caused, mainly, by the experience of looking, the use of sign languages, the cultural translation through the writing in oral languages, and the participation in communities and fightings that mark the deaf culture. Moreover, this identitary production takes place through representations that circulate in the materials, also constituting others cultural markers of publications: the denunciation of silence and stereotypes and, facing that, the ability to overcome and the success of deaf subjects. The production of identity and of deaf difference is consumed by the subjects, leading its conduits through the regulations given through culture. It is observed that the brands that emerge from the deaf materials analyzed approach to the production of other subjects culturally considered ´different´.

This diploma dissertation is focused on integration of hearing handicapped people in the society. The objective of the diploma dissertation is the analysis of possibilities to integrate the hearing handicapped people in socio-cultural milieu of the majority society. The diploma dissertation is an investigation work and it is divided into two parts, namely to theoretical and practical ones. In the first theoretical part, I am dealing with a brief division of hearing defects, communication and personality types of hearing handicapped individuals and further with areas of education, employment and culture. Methods and techniques of the qualitative research are described in the practical part. The research method is used in the diploma dissertation and data collection technique is represented by the semi-controlled conversation with hearing handicapped people. The research was implemented on the territory of the capital city of Prague. The research set is made up of 10 respondents altogether having different types of hearing handicap. The cardinal question set within the framework of the research is What are the chances of integration of the hearing handicapped people in the socio-cultural milieu of the majority society? Further, other secondary investigative questions were set. It resulted from the research that chances for education of hearing handicapped persons are not sufficient and further that the hearing handicapped people have a limited access to labour market due to their hearing defects. In addition, the investigation showed that the highest barriers in relation to the hearing society consist in communication and information barriers and further in persistent prejudices of the society and that the hearing handicapped people do not have an adequate access to cultural enjoyment equally over the entire Czech Republic territory. One of the outcomes of the dissertation thesis for practical utilization is the description how to find out the chances of integration of the hearing handicapped persons in the socio-cultural milieu of the majority society, which may contribute not only to better awareness of both the expert public and general public, but also to finding conceivable needs of social services for these people.

Nesta dissertação apresento uma investigação acerca dos marcadores culturais em produções editoriais de surdos, considerando obras que circulam em português escrito, destinadas ao público juvenil e adulto. Vinculada aos Estudos Culturais em Educação, discuto o problema de pesquisa: como as produções culturais surdas, que circulam em português escrito no mercado editorial brasileiro, possibilitam a construção de marcadores culturais? Assim, objetivo: mapear e investigar as produções culturais de surdos publicadas em português escrito; b) discutir marcadores culturais surdos, considerando posições identitárias, de comunidades e de usos das línguas; c) problematizar a constituição de representações surdas que circulam nas obras analisadas. Após a leitura de dez livros produzidos por surdos, a narrativa da experiência de si e a identidade surda como uma diferença sobressaem-se como marcas culturais das produções editoriais surdas. A produção da identidade/diferença surda se dá principalmente pela experiência do olhar, uso das línguas de sinais, tradução cultural através da escrita em línguas orais e a participação em comunidades e lutas, que marcam a(s) cultura(s) surda(s). Além disso, essa produção identitária se processa através de representações que circulam nas obras, inclusive constituindo outros marcadores culturais das publicações: a denúncia do silêncio e de estereótipos e, diante disso, a capacidade de superação e o sucesso dos sujeitos surdos. A produção da identidade e da diferença surda é, por sua vez, consumida pelos sujeitos, conduzindo suas condutas através da regulação que se dá através da cultura. Observa-se, ainda, que as marcas que emergem das obras surdas analisadas aproximam-se às produções de outros sujeitos culturalmente considerados ‘diferentes’. / In this dissertation I present an investigation about the cultural markers in editorial productions of deaf, considering materials written in Portuguese designated to the juvenile and adult public. Linked to Cultural Studies in Education, I discuss the research problem: how does deaf cultural production written in Portuguese and available in the Brazilian editorial market allow the construction of cultural markers? Thus, I objective: to map and investigate the cultural productions of deaf published in Portuguese written; b) to discuss deaf cultural markers, considering positions of identity, of community and of the use of languages; c) to discuss the constitution of deaf representations that circulate in the material analyzed. After reading ten books produced by deafs, the narrative of the experience of themselves and the deaf identity stand out as cultural markers of deaf editorial productions. The production of deaf identity/difference is caused, mainly, by the experience of looking, the use of sign languages, the cultural translation through the writing in oral languages, and the participation in communities and fightings that mark the deaf culture. Moreover, this identitary production takes place through representations that circulate in the materials, also constituting others cultural markers of publications: the denunciation of silence and stereotypes and, facing that, the ability to overcome and the success of deaf subjects. The production of identity and of deaf difference is consumed by the subjects, leading its conduits through the regulations given through culture. It is observed that the brands that emerge from the deaf materials analyzed approach to the production of other subjects culturally considered ´different´.

Nesta dissertação apresento uma investigação acerca dos marcadores culturais em produções editoriais de surdos, considerando obras que circulam em português escrito, destinadas ao público juvenil e adulto. Vinculada aos Estudos Culturais em Educação, discuto o problema de pesquisa: como as produções culturais surdas, que circulam em português escrito no mercado editorial brasileiro, possibilitam a construção de marcadores culturais? Assim, objetivo: mapear e investigar as produções culturais de surdos publicadas em português escrito; b) discutir marcadores culturais surdos, considerando posições identitárias, de comunidades e de usos das línguas; c) problematizar a constituição de representações surdas que circulam nas obras analisadas. Após a leitura de dez livros produzidos por surdos, a narrativa da experiência de si e a identidade surda como uma diferença sobressaem-se como marcas culturais das produções editoriais surdas. A produção da identidade/diferença surda se dá principalmente pela experiência do olhar, uso das línguas de sinais, tradução cultural através da escrita em línguas orais e a participação em comunidades e lutas, que marcam a(s) cultura(s) surda(s). Além disso, essa produção identitária se processa através de representações que circulam nas obras, inclusive constituindo outros marcadores culturais das publicações: a denúncia do silêncio e de estereótipos e, diante disso, a capacidade de superação e o sucesso dos sujeitos surdos. A produção da identidade e da diferença surda é, por sua vez, consumida pelos sujeitos, conduzindo suas condutas através da regulação que se dá através da cultura. Observa-se, ainda, que as marcas que emergem das obras surdas analisadas aproximam-se às produções de outros sujeitos culturalmente considerados ‘diferentes’. / In this dissertation I present an investigation about the cultural markers in editorial productions of deaf, considering materials written in Portuguese designated to the juvenile and adult public. Linked to Cultural Studies in Education, I discuss the research problem: how does deaf cultural production written in Portuguese and available in the Brazilian editorial market allow the construction of cultural markers? Thus, I objective: to map and investigate the cultural productions of deaf published in Portuguese written; b) to discuss deaf cultural markers, considering positions of identity, of community and of the use of languages; c) to discuss the constitution of deaf representations that circulate in the material analyzed. After reading ten books produced by deafs, the narrative of the experience of themselves and the deaf identity stand out as cultural markers of deaf editorial productions. The production of deaf identity/difference is caused, mainly, by the experience of looking, the use of sign languages, the cultural translation through the writing in oral languages, and the participation in communities and fightings that mark the deaf culture. Moreover, this identitary production takes place through representations that circulate in the materials, also constituting others cultural markers of publications: the denunciation of silence and stereotypes and, facing that, the ability to overcome and the success of deaf subjects. The production of identity and of deaf difference is consumed by the subjects, leading its conduits through the regulations given through culture. It is observed that the brands that emerge from the deaf materials analyzed approach to the production of other subjects culturally considered ´different´.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-22T21:56:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nelson.pdf: 1528441 bytes, checksum: 3fb7e84a56abd1efa511455dc4a1e748 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Descriptive phenomenological approach to qualitative data collected at two schools who work with deaf people in the city of Manaus, State School Augusto Carneiro dos Santos and Filippo Smaldone Institute. The schools were chosen because they were originally considered "schools of the deaf", because they attend only to this specific group. It is a case study whose subjects were teachers and education professionals (both deaf and hearing) who work in the schools investigated. The research aimed to investigate the advances and setbacks from the National Education Policy in the Perspective of Special Education Inclusive/2008 (BRAZIL, 2008), in the context of schools working with deaf people in the city of Manaus, identifying movements, speeches, pressures, resistance and political consequences of current public and results entailed for the deaf schools for the school routine, for teachers and education professionals as well as for deaf students. It is understood that the microcosm of the school and its surroundings can help in a thorough analysis of the main issues involved in Deaf Education in these times of post-National Policy on Special Education. In the case of deaf people in the area of education, is of great importance to address the issue of inclusion. Currently, this has been the political leadership in Brazil, which emphasizes the rights of all students with disabilities (sensory, physical or mental) to be common in schools. As for the results, we highlight advances such as the establishment of the schools should provide a bilingual approach for deaf, having Pounds as a first language and Portuguese as a second language and, the possibility that teachers have some knowledge of Pounds. Regarding the setbacks, it was found that under the National Policy on Special Education, the deaf schools are being closed or adulterated as individual schools and turned into ESA (Educational Service Specialist), deaf students are being spread in a variety of regular schools unprepared to meet this specific audience. / Pesquisa descritiva fenomenológica, de abordagem qualitativa que coletou dados em duas escolas que trabalham com surdos na cidade de Manaus: Escola Estadual Augusto Carneiro dos Santos e Instituto Filippo Smaldone. As escolas foram escolhidas por serem, originalmente, consideradas escolas de surdos , pelo fato de atenderem apenas a este grupo específico. Trata-se de um Estudo de Caso cujos sujeitos foram professores e profissionais da educação (surdos e ouvintes) que atuam nas escolas investigadas. A pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os avanços e retrocessos a partir da Política Nacional de Educação Especial na Perspectiva da Educação Inclusiva/2008 (BRASIL, 2008), no contexto das escolas que trabalham com surdos na cidade de Manaus, identificando movimentos, discursos, pressões, resistências e conseqüências desta política pública atual e resultados dela decorrentes para as escolas de surdos, para o cotidiano escolar, para os professores e profissionais da educação bem como para os estudantes surdos. Entende-se que o microcosmo da escola e de seu entorno podem dar subsídios para uma análise aprofundada sobre as principais questões que envolvem a Educação de Surdos nestes tempos de pós-Política Nacional de Educação Especial. Em se tratando de surdos, na área da Educação, é de grande relevância abordar o tema da inclusão. Atualmente, tem sido esta a direção política no Brasil, a qual enfatiza a defesa dos direitos de todos os alunos com deficiências (sensoriais, físicas ou mentais) a estarem nas escolas comuns. Quanto aos resultados, destacam-se avanços como: o estabelecimento de que as escolas devem proporcionar uma perspectiva bilíngüe para os surdos, tendo a Libras como primeira língua e a Língua Portuguesa como segunda língua e; a possibilidade de que os professores tenham algum conhecimento de Libras. No que concerne a retrocessos, foi constatado que, por força da Política Nacional de Educação Especial, as escolas de surdos estão sendo fechadas ou descaracterizadas como escolas específicas e transformadas em AEE (Atendimento Educacional Especializado); os alunos surdos estão sendo espalhados numa infinidade de escolas regulares despreparadas para atender esse público específico.

Submitted by Inês Marinho (bele_ballet@hotmail.com) on 2016-06-20T13:14:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Maria Aldenora dos Santos Lima.pdf: 1446737 bytes, checksum: 119d59639defabc1f65950a75462748f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2016-06-23T19:03:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Maria Aldenora dos Santos Lima.pdf: 1446737 bytes, checksum: 119d59639defabc1f65950a75462748f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2016-06-23T19:14:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Maria Aldenora dos Santos Lima.pdf: 1446737 bytes, checksum: 119d59639defabc1f65950a75462748f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-23T19:14:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Maria Aldenora dos Santos Lima.pdf: 1446737 bytes, checksum: 119d59639defabc1f65950a75462748f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-18 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study examined aspects of deaf identity and deaf culture in the development of Deaf Education in the Municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul - Acre. Such work aims to contribute to a better understanding of deaf identity and culture of cruzeirenses deaf, in order to expand the strengthening of deaf culture and the discovery of possibilities for themselves and the environment they live in, encouraging approach to cultural content. The specific objectives were to identify aspects of participation of the deaf in the development of Education cruzeirenses deaf; Analyze the process of recognition of Deaf identities in Cruzeiro do Sul; and analyze the process of recognition and promotion of deaf culture in Cruzeiro do Sul. The research was qualitative, with data collection instruments such as: Focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and direct observation and study groups with deaf. The research subjects were deaf and interpreters from Cruzeiro do Sul. The results indicate a dissatisfaction regarding the development of Deaf Education in Cruzeiro do Sul, indicate that most cruzeirenses deaf do not fully experiences the deaf identities and who are unaware of basic aspects of deaf culture. There was the need to strengthen deaf culture and the identity of the deaf so that they acquire autonomy in their educational and social life, and participate in the Bilingual Education development process. The struggle for bilingual schools and the creation of a deaf association is the main demand of the deaf community, as well as more respect in society and the recognition of Deaf identities and cultures and participation of deaf people in educational and social decisions. / Este estudo analisou aspectos das identidades surdas e da cultura surda envolvidos no desenvolvimento da Educação de Surdos no Munícipio de Cruzeiro do Sul-Acre. Tal trabalho visou contribuir para um maior conhecimento sobre as identidades surdas e a cultura dos surdos cruzeirenses, no intuito de ampliar o fortalecimento da cultura surda e as possibilidades de descoberta de si e do ambiente em que vivem os surdos cruzeirenses, incentivando a aproximação a conteúdos culturais. Os objetivos específicos foram: identificar aspectos da participação dos surdos no desenvolvimento da Educação dos surdos cruzeirenses; analisar o processo de reconhecimento das identidades surdas em Cruzeiro do Sul; e analisar o processo de reconhecimento e promoção das culturas surdas em Cruzeiro do Sul. A pesquisa foi de cunho qualitativo, com instrumentos de coleta de dados, como: grupos focais, entrevistas semiestruturadas e observações diretas. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram surdos e intérpretes de Libras do Munícipio de Cruzeiro do Sul/AC. Os resultados indicam que existe uma insatisfação a respeito do desenvolvimento da Educação de surdos em Cruzeiro do Sul, indicam que a maioria dos surdos cruzeirenses não vivencia plenamente as identidades surdas e que desconhecem aspectos básicos da cultura surda. Também verificou-se a necessidade de fortalecer a cultura surda e as identidades dos surdos para que os mesmos adquiram autonomia em sua vida educacional e social, e para que participem do processo de desenvolvimento da Educação Bilíngue no município. A luta por escolas bilíngues e pela criação de uma associação de surdos é a principal reivindicação da comunidade surda, como também mais respeito, por parte da sociedade, com relação ao reconhecimento das identidades e culturas surdas e participação de surdos nas decisões educacionais e sociais.

This work has considered the centrality of language in order to understand how the processes of conceptualization of the term deaf culture have been constituted, as this concept has acquired a status of truth and reality that has become increasingly stronger in the academic environment. The text presents a kind of research that problematizes utterances that constitute a discursive web about deaf culture. The focus is on analyzing how deaf culture has been narrated and thought by the deaf themselves and how it has been constituted as a concept, thus acquiring a real meaning and having a fundamental role in the constitution of the deaf subject, despite acting as a closed, universal concept. The subjected knowledges of the deaf community, as a way of enunciation of this cultural discourse, have triggered the analysis. Under this blend of truths that have been socially authorized by the deaf, deaf culture has become a conceptual imperative, thus inviting us to perceive those enunciations, as well as reflect and act on them. This concept has become a device that triggers discursive practices related to deafness. This work aims at perceiving the imperative of deaf culture at the conceptual level and seeks to genealogically understand the emergence of such a theme, the truths that have supported it and the discursive strategies involved in this process. / Este trabalho toma a centralidade da linguagem para compreender como se constituem os processos da conceituação do termo cultura surda , uma vez que este vem tomando status de verdade e realidade cada vez mais forte no universo acadêmico. O presente estudo apresenta uma forma de pesquisa que problematiza os enunciados que constituem uma trama discursiva acerca da cultura surda. O foco foi analisar como a cultura surda vem sendo narrada e pensada pelos próprios surdos e como vem se constituindo como um conceito, tomando significado real e tendo um papel fundamental na constituição do sujeito surdo. Nesse sentido, a cultura surda vem atuando como um conceito fechado e universal. O que instiga o olhar analítico são os saberes sujeitados da comunidade surda como forma de enunciação desse discurso cultural. Sobre esse amálgama de verdades socialmente autorizadas pelos surdos, a cultura surda vem se tornando um imperativo conceitual, convidando-nos a perceber essas enunciações, bem como a pensar e agir sobre elas. Essa conceituação torna-se um dispositivo que coloca em funcionamento práticas discursivas no que tange à surdez. O trabalho objetiva perceber o imperativo da cultura surda no plano conceitual e busca genealogicamente entender a emergência do tema, as verdades que o sustentam e as estratégias discursivas envolvidas nesse processo.

Doctor Pharmaceuticae - DPharm / South Africa's White Paper for the transformation of the health care system in South Africa (DOH, 2007) acknowledges major disparities and inequalities as a result of an imprint by apartheid policies. In its transition to democracy, health promotion strategies have been initiated to address these disparities. However, such strategies have been narrowed and "favoured target audiences that are literate, urban-based and who have easy access to print and audio-visual media" (DOH, 1997). This implies that many vulnerable and marginalised groupings in South Africa, including the Deaf community are excluded from health promotion endeavours. Deaf people in South Africa communicate using South African Sign Language (SASL) and majority of the Deaf community exhibit poor literacy levels. Deafness is a significant communication barrier which limits a Deaf person's prospect to attain the best possible health care (Barnett, et al 2011). Various means of communication including spoken language, written instructions and the use of pictograms are used by healthcare workers to communicate health-related information. For many members of the Deaf community who communicate primarily in sign language, these methods are a sub-standard and prevent the attainment of optimum therapeutic outcomes. With regard to pharmaco-therapeutic services, Deaf people cannot hear the spoken language used by pharmacists during patient counselling, and their compromised functional literacy hinders the ability to read instructions on medicine labels. With both the spoken and written means of communication compromised, the Deaf patient's ability to comprehend instruction by pharmacists on how to use their medicines is inadequate and as a result, a Deaf patient may leave the pharmacy with medicine, but a poor understanding of how to use the medicine safely and effectively. Previous researchers have worked on building a technology base, including industrial design and computer science expertise to conceptualize the groundwork of a mobile phone application called SignSupport to facilitate communication between medical doctors and Deaf individuals. The particulars of the pharmacy scenario however, require a pharmacy-specific device to be of use in the dispensing of medicines to a Deaf patient in a pharmacy. The over-arching goal of this thesis is to design and evaluate a mobile phone application to facilitate the communication of medicine instructions between a Deaf patient and a pharmacist. Qualitative, participatory action research and community-based co-design strategies were directed toward Deaf participants, senior pharmacy students and pharmacists to create a prototype of the afore-mentioned mobile phone application. Preliminary results indicated that the application was suitable to pharmacists and Deaf community. Furthermore, both sets of users approved the overall design and were receptive to and keen on the practical uses of the application. Inadequacies pointed out by the Deaf community and pharmacists were addressed as an iterative modification to the prototype and culminated in version 2 which was deployed in an actual hospital pharmacy in 2015. Hospital usability studies generated largely positive results from both Deaf users and pharmacists, indicating that SignSupport is able to facilitate communication between pharmacists and Deaf patients. Next steps include advancing the application to a market–ready version that is downloadable and available as an application on the play stores of commercially available smart phones. / National Research Foundation