European Added Value

Total Communication is an educational approach within the field of deaf children education in which a variety of communicational languages and methods may be used individually or in combination between the deaf child and his or her teachers, parents and friends.
Total Communication is an increasingly used method in the schools for students with hearing disabilities from all Europe. This project aims to develop the verbal and nonverbal communication skills to the hearing impaired children (using the Total Communication) and to obtain the basic life-skills and competencies needed for their personal development, for future employment and for an active European citizenship.

The students with hearing disabilities have difficulties in processing and understanding complex verbal messages presented through mass - media or internet. This project makes accessible the information related to the concept of European integration for students with hearing disabilities and creates the attitudes required for an active European citizenship.

The personal identity of the deaf is formed in connection with the feeling of belonging to the deaf people community. Moreover, it is well known that there is a particular culture of the deaf, language, etc. The direct contact with other children belonging to the other countries' deaf communities enables the student to strengthen the feeling of belonging to a larger deaf community, an European one.

Understanding, awareness, tolerance, respect and acceptance of cultural diversities come through an open dialogue. Such open and unprejudiced dialogue is crucial to a successful European Union. Our project aims to promote tolerance and acceptance of cultural and human differences.

Also, the project aims to create an intercultural exchange through experimentation of another country's lifestyle and to develop knowledge and understanding among young people and educational staff toward the diversity of European cultures, languages and its value.

The final project's product will show the effects of Total Communication and its importance for hearing disabled persons. It will focus on the creation of the positive attitudes for an inclusive society. The educational software's distribution and its presentation in regular schools will develop the inclusive attitudes among the students from those schools. The software will be designed in English allowing it to be used in any European country.