Deafblind Communication; Building professional competency in tactile communication
Centre of Excellence – Deafblind (CoE – DB)
Partners: Monash University, NAATI
Overview:
This project seeks to better understand what makes for successful communication for deafblind signers, and to use these insights to develop evidence-based training resources and skill descriptors for professional qualifications. In order to achieve this, conversations between deafblind signers and others are recorded and analysed accordingly.
The aims of the project are to:
Document the way deafblind signers, their communication guides and interpreters undertake joint attention tasks, creating an annotated machine-readable corpus for future researchers.
Explore how participants draw on visual Auslan, gesture, haptic feedback and innovation to develop effective communicative practices
Understand the basic structures and principles that underpin successful communication for/ with deafblind signers
On the basis of 1-3, develop and trial a range of training resources and skill descriptors that can inform the development of formal training and credentialing of professionals working with Australian deafblind signers.
