Caribbean Deaf Education Conference
Short Title: CDEC 2025
Theme: Pathways to Inclusive Education and Human Rights for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Empowering Change in the Caribbean and Beyond

Date: 06-Nov-2025 - 09-Nov-2025
Location: St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Contact: Paulson Skerrit
Contact Email: [email protected]
Meeting URL: https://caribbeandeafedconference.com/

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics
Language Family(ies): Deaf Sign Language

Submission Deadline: 31-Jul-2025

The School of Education at the University of the West indies, St Augustine Trinidad, has partnered with an NGO (We Care Deaf Support Network) to host the Caribbean Deaf Education Conference 2025 from November 6th to 9th 2025. We will have 2 full days of conference presentations with 4 keynote speakers on the 6th and 7th of November 2025. A full day for workshops on the 8th November and the final day of the conference, the 9th November, will feature a Deaf Expo that will allow the Deaf community to showcase their businesses (products and services) and for stakeholders to engage with the local Deaf community in a less formal setting. It is the first time that a Caribbean Deaf Education is being hosted by the School of Education. A check in the archives of the university indicates that there was a conference on Education of the Deaf many decades ago. Much has changed in the field of Deaf Education and we critically need to bring awareness to evidence-based practice both from Caribbean and International participants, with the goal of effecting change in the Caribbean. Much work has been done by the School of Education, the Faculty of Humanities and Education and other faculties in various research initiatives revolved around the Deaf community.

As the Conference Committee Chair and on behalf of the conference organizing committee, I would like to ask your assistance in disseminating information about the conference including its website to participants, stakeholders, potential funders and supporters of ICED 2025. We would like to attract presentations- oral/signed from as many of the areas of ICED 2025 as would align with the theme and sub-themes of our Caribbean Deaf Education Conference (CDEC) 2025. There will also be opportunities for poster presentations. The Conference website with further details regarding: abstract submission which is due July 31st 2025, with a planned extension to August 10th, 2025 and registration for the conference as participants and attendees can be found at https://caribbeandeafedconference.com/

The theme of the conference is: Pathways to Inclusive Education and Human Rights for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Empowering Change in the Caribbean and Beyond
Sub-themes:
- Inclusive Practices in Deaf Education: Focuses on strategies and frameworks to create inclusive and equitable educational environments for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, emphasizing accessibility and support at all educational levels including ECCE, primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

- Professional Development for Educators and Support Staff: Covers training programs for teachers and teacher aides, equipping them with the skills needed to effectively teach and support deaf students in various educational settings, including ECCE, primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

- Literacy Development for Deaf Learners: Explores methodologies and best practices for developing literacy skills in deaf and hard-of-hearing students, addressing the unique challenges they face in acquiring reading and writing skills.

- Advocacy and Legislation for Deaf Rights: Examines existing legislation impacting the rights and education of deaf individuals, highlighting the role of parents and students in advocacy efforts, the role of policy in promoting inclusion and equity, and grassroots movements and community engagement.

- Crisis Management and Disaster Preparedness in Deaf Education: Discusses strategies for preparing deaf education systems for crises, including emergency preparedness plans tailored to the needs of deaf students, with attention to health challenges they may face.

- Lessons Learned from COVID-19 in Deaf Education: Reflects on the challenges and successes faced by the deaf education community during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying lessons learned and future directions for resilient educational practices.

- Sign Language Access and Interpretation: Addresses the importance of sign language interpreting in educational settings, discussing training for interpreters and the role of sign language in facilitating communication.

- Addressing Gender Issues in the Deaf Community: Explores gender dynamics within the deaf community, focusing on the unique experiences of deaf women and girls, as well as intersectional issues related to gender and disability.

- Exploring Deaf Identity: Cochlear Implants, Speech Therapy, and Language Use: Investigates diverse perspectives regarding cochlear implants, speech therapy, and the use of native Caribbean sign languages, addressing issues of identity and language deprivation.

- Health and Wellness in the Deaf Community: Discussions on accessibility and support, emphasizing the need to address health challenges within inclusive educational frameworks.

- Leadership and Empowerment in Deaf Education: Focuses on developing leadership skills within the deaf community, emphasizing the importance of deaf leaders in advocating for inclusive practices and shaping educational policies.

The Caribbean region will benefit from the contributions of the many experts in the various fields who are attending and presenting at the prestigious ICED 2025 conference. We will also welcome any support in terms of collaborators and funding as it’s the first time, faculty from the School of Education, is hosting a conference dedicated to Deaf Education. Any potential sponsors may write the committee at [email protected] for information regarding financial support of the conference. A direct link to the conference registration page is: https://caribbeandeafedconference.com/registration/
The conference chair may also be contacted at [email protected] or WhatsApp +1868473-6973.