Rationale

The beneficiaries of the project from the partner schools are children and young people with hearing disabilities. Some of them, with hearing aids or cochlear implants, can benefit in varying degrees, and use their residual hearing. They are in various stages of their speech therapy and use both verbal communication and sign language (The Total Communication). When the Total Communication is implemented there are used all possible means to transmit the message, which may facilitate the communication in an optimal way. Total communication helps the beneficiaries to transmit and to perceive the message, and also because of its "total" aspect to improve the understanding of it through the different clues involved. Both the beneficiary, and anyone in their environment, may use, for example, body language, signs, expressiveness, mimics, articles, pictures, drawings, icons and verbal language.
Total Communication is implemented for people who have hearing deficiencies and face problems interacting with their environment. Total Communication, like an overall vision, appreciates all forms of communication as being equal. We have proposed this project in order to develop the student’s creativity using verbal and nonverbal forms of communication- "Total Communication", and to overcome the communication barriers either for oral language or sign language.

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

This project allows the exchange of experiences and a direct communication between students and teachers from the countries that have different cultures, traditions and religions. This enables the implementation of an active cultural education in order to promote tolerance and accepting cultural and human differences. Moreover, it will encourage the learning of a foreign language and will improve student’s social skills and their ability to work in teams, among other young people and educational staff.
The social integration of people with hearing disabilities requires efforts not only from them or from the authorized institutions but also from the community members. An inclusive society implies adequate attitudes from its members.
Therefore, one aim of the project is to promote equal opportunities and social cohesion by raising the awareness of the local communities and especially of the students, parents and teachers from the regular schools, regarding the valences of the total communication (information on the existence of alternative communication, for example LMG) and its importance for people with hearing disabilities.
The final product of the project will show the positive effects of Total Communication and its importance for hearing disabilities persons. It will focus on the formation of specific attitudes for an inclusive society.