Most deaf people in Kurdistan-Iraq are isolated socially, economically, and politically because they are deprived of their human right of language. Kurdish Sign Language (KuSL) is not routinely used in the public schools, and education for deaf children is available only in special schools and only until the sixth grade. Many deaf children, especially those outside major urban areas, communicate with their families in very limited “home sign,” which restricts them from communicating with anyone beyond their family members. Ms. Bahar Mahmood Mohammed, a pioneer in sign language teaching and a frequent guest in AUIS Disability Studies classes, estimates that many deaf Kurdish people are able to use only about five percent of the language of hearing people. There are fewer than five sign language interpreters for all of Kurdistan, furthermore, leaving the deaf population vulnerable in any legal, medical, or social situation. Mr Fredun Sherzad, the president of the Kurdistan Deaf Society, notes that resources for deaf education, especially in terms of support from the government, are stretched thin at best.

The educational environment is making a leap, though, as sign language instructors begin to offer instruction to the general public.  As part of this way forward, 24 AUIS students are learning KuSL in the “Disability Beyond the Classroom” summer session, taught by Dr. Lynn Rose, professor in the social sciences. Ms. Aveen Sleman, who is Kurdish and deaf, is the visiting sign language instructor; Ms. Hannah Hoot, a hearing American who is fluent in Kurdish, provides sign language interpretation and Kurdish-English translation. The classroom facilitators are Mr. Zana Abbas, who is deaf, and Ms. Shara Kamal, who is hard of hearing. The course, conducted in English, began with material on deaf culture, deaf etiquette, and deaf history. The students then began to learn the basics of KuSL through a course designed in collaboration with two graduates of Gallaudet University, Ms. Emma DeCaro and Mr. Elias Henriksen.
The premise of Disability Studies is that disability is normal, and that disabled people should have equal access in any given community. We hope that this course contributes to this goal.