The Center for the Study of Communication and the Deaf

The Center for the Study of Communication and the Deaf is devoted to both applied and theoretical research to benefit the Deaf and their families. Faculty and students have focused on three major research themes: the acquisition of signed languages, the impact of language on the education of the Deaf child, and the developmental assessment of bilingual approaches to the education of Deaf children. A variety of community services focus on projects assisting the hearing parents of Deaf children and on workshops and presentations to area agencies. The center has recently begun to create assessment instruments to determine ASL development in Deaf children.

Additional research interests of the center are the languages (American Sign Language (ASL) and English), family structure, educational systems, and social service networks of Deaf children and adults. A primary goal of the center is to provide state-of-the-art information to professionals in the education of the Deaf, those in related professions, and the families they serve. Currently, the center is conducting four projects. The first project examines the role of language in the thinking and cognitive development of Deaf children. The second project investigates the role of American Sign Language in the process of learning to read English for Deaf children. The third project focuses on the learning of American Sign Language as a second language and on the development of ASL evaluation materials for Hearing persons, as well as for Deaf children. The last project concentrates on the development of an ASL/English curriculum for Deaf children in grades preschool to fourth grade.

For more information, contact Dr. Robert Hoffmeister at 617-353-3205 or e-mail rhoff@bu.edu.