This planning grant seeks to develop a Deaf Education System Mapping Guide outline to assess and
strengthen deaf education systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Deaf children in LMICs
face systemic barriers, including language deprivation, lack of trained teachers proficient in sign
language, and weak policy frameworks. Existing educational initiatives remain fragmented and often fail
to address system challenges. This project will begin to create a structured system mapping guide to
help policymakers, educators, and deaf communities analyze and improve deaf education systems by
deploying system mapping activities.
The project will follow a collaborative and participatory approach, engaging deaf education experts and
stakeholders from Malawi, Rwanda, and the Philippines. This process will ensure the guide is
contextually relevant and adaptable to diverse LMIC settings. Key activities include a literature review,
needs assessment, stakeholder consultations, and refinement of the guide’s structure.
Future work will involve developing the full guide in English and International Sign, piloting it in various
LMICs, and creating a toolkit for strengthening deaf education at national and school levels. By
integrating systemic analysis and deaf-led expertise, this project aims to foster inclusive, sustainable
educational reforms that uphold the linguistic and educational rights of deaf learners.