site.btaDeaf Community Hold High-Profile Conference to Raise Awareness and Enhance Exchange of Experiences and Best Practices with EU, US Partners

The Bulgarian deaf community held a high-profile conference in Sofia to raise awareness and enhance the exchange of best practices and experiences among sign language experts from Bulgaria, the EU and the US. It was organized by Deaf.bg and Fulbright Bulgaria and among the participants were Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, Gallaudet University President Roberta Cordano, US Ambassador Kenneth Mergen, Fulbright Bulgaria Director Angela Rodel and the CEO of Deaf.bg, Ashod Derandonyan.

Foreign Minister Gabriel said that national and international information campaigns are the key to improving access to inclusive higher education of deaf people, said the Foreign Ministry.

The Minister vowed the support of the government for the deaf community and pointed out that a major step was the adoption in 2021 of a Bulgarian Sign Language Act. 

The participants discussed establishing long-term partnerships, through exchange programmes between the EU and the US, for study of the sign language and research in the field of sign languages. 

A central message during the conference was that deaf people can be leaders: in education, in research, innovations, art.