Epilogue: Chinese Literacy From a Deaf Lens.

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Education
• Deaf Studies

Background:

• The
• Silk Road
• to literacy initiative aims to foster East-West dialogue on literacy research for Chinese d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh) students.
• This epilogue addresses a special issue of American Annals of the Deaf focusing on language development and literacy learning in Chinese d/Dhh communities.
• It includes a tribute to Dr. Ye (Angel) Wang, a proponent of collaborative research between deaf and hearing scholars.

Purpose of the Study:

• To stimulate discussion among international literacy researchers regarding literacy for Chinese d/Dhh students.
• To offer reflections from a Chinese Deaf perspective on existing research within the special issue.
• To reframe literacy instruction by highlighting an asset-based model.

Main Methods:

• The study functions as an epilogue, posing questions and offering reflections.
• It analyzes and synthesizes ideas presented in six preceding articles of the special issue.
• It adopts the viewpoint of the Chinese Deaf community to interpret literacy instruction.

Main Results:

• A shift towards an asset-based literacy model is proposed for Chinese d/Dhh students.
• Emphasis is placed on leveraging visual sensory strengths in literacy instruction.
• Strategies such as sign-to-print mapping and valuing Deaf cultural capital are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• The Chinese Deaf lens offers a valuable perspective for reframing literacy education.
• An asset-based approach can enhance language development and literacy learning for d/Dhh students.
• Collaborative research paradigms are crucial for advancing literacy instruction for the Deaf community.