Innovating Sign Language Education for the Deaf: A Service-Learning Approach in South Asia

Abstract

Deaf communities in South Asia continue to face barriers due to limited sign language recognition, lack of trained teachers, and insufficient policy support. This paper introduces service-learning as a strategy for inclusive deaf education, based on case studies from Bangladesh. The results demonstrate improved sign language literacy, leadership skills, empathy among hearing students, and policy advocacy. Service-learning is presented as a scalable model that aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).