Caribbean Deaf Education Conference 2025

November 6-9, 2025

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine

Days
Hours
Minutes
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Deadline: July 31st, 2025
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Watch Submission Guidelines

This Year's Conference Theme

Pathways to Inclusive Education and Human Rights for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Empowering Change in the Caribbean and Beyond

Conference Sub-themes

UWI:  Faculty of Humanities and Education

Subtheme 1 of 11
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.

Subtheme 2 of 11
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.

Subtheme 3 of 11
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.

Subtheme 4 of 11
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.

Subtheme 5 of 11
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.

Subtheme 6 of 11
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.

Subtheme 7 of 11
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.

Subtheme 8 of 11
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.

Subtheme 9 of 11
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.

Subtheme 10 of 11
Health and Wellness in the Deaf Community

Discussions on accessibility and support, emphasizing the need to address health challenges within inclusive educational frameworks.

Subtheme 11 of 11
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.

View All Sub Themes

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Onudeah “Oni” Nicolarakis

Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Gallaudet University, USA. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and an MA in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University...

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Prof. Kristin Snoddon

Professor and Graduate Program Director at the School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada...

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Claudia L. Gordon, Esq.

The first black, deaf, female attorney in the United States. She holds a BA from Howard University in political science and a JD from the American University Washington...

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Dr. Kimberly A. Wolbers

Professor in the Deaf Education program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, and Co-Director of the Theory & Practice of Teacher Education...

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Contact Information

Important Dates and Links

  • Conference:
  • Date: November 6-9, 2025
  • Location: The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
  • Abstract Submission:
  • Deadline: July 31st, 2025

Abstract
Submission Guidelines

We invite educators, researchers, practitioners, advocates, policymakers, and members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to submit abstracts for the Deaf Education Conference 2025. Abstract submissions must follow these guidelines:
  • Abstracts must be 400 words or fewer
  • Submissions are limited to three abstracts per presenter
  • Focus on innovative research and practical strategies in Deaf education
  • Highlight projects with positive outcomes in Deaf and Hard of Hearing education
Conference Languages

Conference Languages

The conference languages are English and Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL)/ American Sign Language (ASL). If presenters wish to present in a language other than the conference languages, we will ask them to provide interpreting into one of the conference languages. We will provide the interpreting between TTSL/ASL and English to ensure that all presentations are accessible in both conference languages. All conference delegates will need to indicate the language that will be used in their presentation at the time of submission of their abstract and any arrangements to ensure accessibility in at least one of the conference languages. You may update us of any changes using the conference email: CaribDeafEducConf@gmail.com

Please note that there is a planned Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) workshop at the start of the conference that will be open to all delegates who sign up for it.

Abstract Requirements

Abstract Requirements

We encourage submissions from a range of disciplines and professional backgrounds. Abstracts should clearly demonstrate how your work aligns with one or more of the conference themes, emphasizing the significance and practical applications of your findings. Requirements of Abstract Submission:

For Emperical Research
  • Background: description of the problem
  • Purpose: research objectives, research question(s) and/or hypotheses
  • Design and Methods (where applicable): research design, sampling strategy, description of participants, data collection procedures and instruments, data analysis approaches
  • Findings (if available): summary of specific results
  • Conclusions and Implications: main outcome(s) of the research (if available), implications for practice, policy or further research
  • Keywords: (up to 5)
  • Topic or Central Theme: clear statement of the topic or central theme
  • Overview: a brief overview of the key points to be discussed
  • Theoretical Framework (where applicable): the theoretical framework or perspective being used
  • Unique Contribution: summary of specific project or intervention and relevance to conference
  • Conclusions and Implications: main outcome(s) or potential implication for practice, policy or research
  • Keywords (up to 5)
Registration Fees

Registration Fees & Deadlines

Fees vary by participant category and region. All registration fees include lunch and refreshments for the duration of the conference. Early registration ends September 30th. In October, USD $50 will be added to all categories. In November, an additional USD $100 will be added.

For Caribbean Residents

    • University Researchers:
      $200 USD

    • Education Practitioners (teachers, interpreters, etc.):
      $150 USD

    • Students and Deaf Community Members:
      $75 USD

For Non-Caribbean Residents

    • University Researchers:
      $300 USD

    • Education Practitioners (teachers, interpreters, etc.):
      $200 USD

    • Students and Deaf Community Members:
      $100 USD

Payment / Wire Transfer

Our credit card payments options are coming soon. However, to make payment via wire transfer our bank details are as followed:

Account Name: We Care Deaf Support Network
Bank Name: First Citizens Bank
Account Number: 2093501
Address: Park Street Port of Spain

Swift code: FCTTTTPS
Bank code: 005
ACH routing code: 01010001-3

After performing your wire transfer, please remember to email your account name as well as a picture/screenshot of your transaction to CaribDeafEducConf@gmail.com for us to verify.

Go To Abstract Submission
Register for Conference

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Contact Us

If you have questions, need assistance, or want to learn more about our programs and services, feel free to reach out.

+1 868 473-6973
CaribDeafEducConf@gmail.com

Team Members

Dr. Paulson Skerrit

Lecturer @ The UWI - Teacher Education; Reading Literacy; Sign Language

Ms. Qushiba La Fleur

Parent Advocate / Disability Consultant / Trainer - Inclusive Practices;
We Care Deaf Support Network - CEO

Ms. Latisha Street

TTSL /ASL Sign Language Interpreter;
We Care Deaf Support Network - Financial Officer

Ms. Mary Bastien

Clinical Social Worker / Mental Health Professional / Disability Advocate;
We Care Deaf Support Network - Consultant

Dr. Danielle Thompson-Ochoa

Ochoa - Lecturer @ Gallaudet University- USA

Ms. Patrice Quammie

Instructor @ The UWI- English Language Academic Literacies

Dr. Benjamin Braithwaite

Lecturer @ The UWI - Linguistics, Sign Language

Dr. Sharon Jaggernauth

Lecturer @ The UWI - Mathematics Education, Mixed Methods Research

Mr. Ian Dhanoolal (Deaf)

DEAF Exe Board Member

Ms. Lori Rodrigues (Deaf)

DEAF Exe Board Member

Ms. Wendy Maynard

Marketing @ The UWI

Ms. Salina Peterson

DEAF Exe Member

Contact Details

Feel Free to Contact Us by Using any of the phone numbers or email below:

+1 868 473-6973 +1 868 774-2864 CaribDeafEducConf@gmail.com

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Dr. Onudeah “Oni” Nicolarakis

Dr. Onudeah “Dr. Oni” Nicolarakis is a dedicated educator, researcher, and advocate whose work centers on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community and inclusive education. With nearly 20 years of experience, she has taught DHH and hearing students across various educational settings, from early childhood to higher education. Her academic journey includes a BA in Early Childhood Education and a MA in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University, followed by a doctorate from Columbia University, where her dissertation explored writing strategies among Deaf and hearing adults.

Dr. Nicolarakis currently serves as an associate professor and the program director of the postgraduate programs in the Department of Education at Gallaudet University. Her research interests encompass functional writing development, ASL/English literacy, transformative pedagogy, and school reform. She has contributed significantly to the field through publications and presentations on Black Deaf Gain, translanguaging, early childhood education, and language anxiety.

Beyond academia, Dr. Nicolarakis actively engages in initiatives aimed at enhancing educational outcomes for DHH students. She serves as a trustee for the Lexington School and Center for the Deaf board. Additionally, she has participated in the Pathways to Language ECHO series, focusing on early language acquisition for DHH children.

Dr. Nicolarakis’s committment to equity extends to her involvement in research addressing barriers to DHH participation in clinical trials. As a Black Latina Deaf scholar, she is recognized among a growing number of Black/Latine Deaf individuals who have earned doctoral degrees, contributing to the diversification and enrichment of perspectives within the field.

Through her multifaceted roles, Dr. Nicolarakis continues to advocate for inclusive practices and policies that support the DHH community in educational and research contexts.

Prof. Kristin Snoddon

Kristin Snoddon, Ph.D. is Professor and Graduate Program Director with the School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Her research and professional experience include collaborative work with deaf communities in developing sign language and early literacy programming for young deaf children and their parents. Her longstanding program of research has focused on developing a parent American Sign Language curriculum that is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Additionally, she analyzes language policy issues related to inclusive education, sign language rights, and acquisition planning for sign languages. She is lead editor of the book Critical Perspectives on Plurilingualism in Deaf Education (Multilingual Matters, 2021) and Co-Editor of the journal Deafness & Education International. Since 2016, she has served as Coordinator of the World Federation of the Deaf’s Expert Group in Education. Her current research focuses on sign language ideologies and ideologies of understanding related to deaf interpreters in Canada and the Caribbean.

She is now leading an Employment and Social Development Canada-funded project for providing enhanced training and professional development to deaf interpreters. Her book Being Understood: Deaf Interpreters, Embodied Language, and Relationality will be published in 2025 by Multilingual Matters.

Claudia L. Gordon, Esq.

Claudia L. Gordon is a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities, leveraging over 30 years of versatile professional expertise and a personal mission to ensure equitable opportunities for all. She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc., driving strategies for a disability-inclusive culture and an accessible, equitable work environment. Gordon has held senior leadership positions with Sprint Corporation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Council on Disability, and the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center.

During the Obama-Biden Administration, she served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Associate Director of Public Engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement. As a Biden administration appointee, she also served on the National Council on Disability, notably as Chair. Claudia Gordon volunteers her time and expertise on numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Washington, DC American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-DC) Affiliate Board, where she is also their representative to the National ACLU Board.

Her lived experience as an immigrant at the intersections of race, disability, and gender informs her work, with a strong emphasis on disabled individuals with multiple marginalized identities. Recognized for her unrelenting commitment to advocacy, compliance, civic engagement, and mentoring, Gordon has received accolades from the American Association of People with Disabilities, Google, AT&T Humanity of Connection, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, and The Root 100. A native of Jamaica, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and a graduate of Howard University and American University’s Washington College of Law.

Dr. Kimberly A. Wolbers

Dr. Kimberly A. Wolbers is Professor in the Deaf Education program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, as well as Co-Director of the Theory & Practice of Teacher Education (TPTE) undergraduate program there. She earned her PhD from Michigan State University in 2007 with a focus in special education and literacy. Her research focuses on the design and implementation of writing and language instruction for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) children and adolescents.