A lecture by Rodrigo Nogueira Machado, a deaf researcher, on how the combination of legislation, Deaf activism, and linguistic research has contributed to the academic development of the Deaf community in Brazil.
Deaf Movements and Language Policies in Brazil
- Date:
- 14 Oct 2025,
19:00–21:00
- Age restrictions
- 12+
The event will be conducted in International Sign with interpretation into Russian Sign Language, Russian, and English.
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To register, please contact us on Telegram*: @ges2access.
In recent decades, the academic sphere of the deaf in Brazil has made significant progress. This is closely connected with the work of Deaf movements that have fought for many years for recognition of their language, culture and educational rights. A key milestone was the establishment of Letras Libras undergraduate programmes and the development of master’s and doctoral programmes in related fields.
Photo: Anya Todich
These achievements are also linked to major legislative changes. The lecture will address how national legislation—particularly the legal recognition and subsequent regulation of sign language—transformed access to education. In addition, the Brazilian Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities consolidated the rights of deaf people and supported the development of inclusive policies. Together, these measures created a legal foundation for deaf people to obtain formal education at all levels.
The lecture will place particular emphasis on studies of Libras (Brazilian Sign Language), which have analysed its structure, variability, and features. The findings of this research have informed educational materials and bilingual teaching approaches. These studies directly support the education of deaf students, reinforcing their cultural identity and encouraging participation in research.
By examining the interplay of legislation, activism, and research, the lecture will demonstrate how their synergy has contributed to the development of bilingual education for deaf people in Brazil and to the greater presence of deaf individuals in academia.
Speaker
Rodrigo Nogueira Machado, PhD — professor of Brazilian Sign Language at Ceará State University (Fortaleza, Brazil).
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