Conceptual meta-environment for Deaf children Literacy challenge: How to design effective Artifacts for bilingualism construction

Abstract

In Brazil, most Deaf children (approximately 90%) are born into non-Deaf families. These children suffer prejudice in social situations and within their own families. They have few chances to get exposed to Sign Language (SL), the natural language of the Deaf, thus being deprived of adequate language acquisition and age-appropriate intellectual development. Libras, the Brazilian Sign Language is a complete linguistic system to be used by the Deaf as a tool for communication, development, social inclusion, citizenship exercise among others. This paper presents a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) conceptual meta-environment framework to construct computational Intellectual Artifacts in SL to promote bilingualism (Libras/Portuguese) via Intellectual Interactions (computer-mediated systems based on cognitive theories for mind development). A storytelling environment illustrates its use in order to increase family bonding activities and effective bilingualism for Deaf children and non-Deaf parents.