Girardot branch creates inclusion project

According to Carolina Díaz, a teacher in the Nursing program, this idea aims to break down the communication gap that exists between these people and the listeners.

This is how two parallel research projects were developed. “The first consisted of designing a booklet on how to prevent COVID-19. This resource is extremely important because, due to the health measures where the use of face masks is essential, people with hearing disabilities could not read lips, which generated isolation on this crucial topic and others.”.

Designing materials for this type of audience is no easy task. “As hearing people, we aren't capable of creating materials for people with hearing disabilities on our own. That's why it's important that they evaluate the materials. Therefore, the help of students María Gladys Céspedes and Melie Julieth Méndez was fundamental in testing the materials through various activities.”.

The second phase consisted of creating boards with the sign language alphabet, which Dr. Juan Carlos Méndez, the branch director, had installed at the headquarters so that hearing people could come, see, and learn. “Students Laura Camila Carvajal and Angie Camila Martínez assisted me in creating this communication tool. Angie has two parents with hearing impairments, which was a great help in this process.”.

It's also worth noting that the branch's work on inclusion continues, as it's one of its main priorities. "We now want to organize a forum on this topic and explore how different areas of academia can contribute, given that the university has various agreements with clinics and schools, among others.".

Finally, it is worth noting that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 446 million people worldwide suffer from disabling hearing loss. Of this total, 500,000 are Colombian, representing 1.1% of a total population of 48 million. This further reinforces the successful inclusion policy that the University of Cundinamarca has been implementing at each of its campuses.

More news from the Girardot branch at the News Agency