New journal article: Sign language in deaf-and-hard-of-hearing education – comparing Sweden and Türkiye

This new study, by Ingela Holmström and Gülcihan Yazcayir, compares perceptions and practices of sign language in Sweden and Türkiye across special schools and mainstream settings. The study is publlished in The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.

The results shows that Swedish participants prioritized language rights, identity, and language status. In Türkiye, although most people supported access at an early age, oralist concerns related to speech sometimes prevailed.

Sign language plays a central role in Swedish schools for deaf-and-hard-of-hearing students and is included as a subject/support in mainstream schools. In Türkiye, its use is limited due to teachers’ fluency, heterogeneous classes, and speech-first norms.