SDEAS & Overdoughs: Raising Awareness on Deaf Culture and FSL

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Caravan Food Group, Inc. (FGI), the company who owns Elait and Overdoughs, together with the De La Salle College of St. Benilde – School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS), spearheaded the seminars for more than 40 people – 20 people per seminar along with their companions – who registered online. 

The seminar is a part of Caravan FGI and DLS-CSB SDEAS’ on-going campaign called The GoOD Sign which aims to raise awareness to the public that members of the Deaf community can be as talented, competent, and capable as hearing people.

During the seminar, DLS-CSB SDEAS representatives – Bronson Escalderon, Media Development Specialist, and Bernadette Infanta, FSL Program Administrator – led the presentation and taught the participants basic FSL and also aspects of the Deaf community’s culture. 

The topics discussed ranged from the diversity of individuals within the Deaf community, strategies to communicate with those who cannot hear, and specific ways hearing families can be more inclusive to deaf people.

The participants during the seminar were quite enthusiastic in learning more about the Deaf community. FSL teacher Bernadette shared basic signs, and the participants mirrored the gestures enthusiastically. Some felt shy at first when invited to demonstrate the signs in front of the audience, but eventually, they gained confidence in expressing themselves with their hands, body, and facial expressions. 

After learning the basics of Filipino Sign Language, the participants also got a glimpse of Deaf culture through Bronson’s brief sharing on Deaf norms and identity.

Perhaps the best part of the event was seeing beyond differences and simply enjoying each other’s company over delightful brews and scrumptious baked goods crafted and served by our good friends from Overdoughs.

Join the growing community of #TheGoODSign and be more Deaf aware while learning Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) on November 8, 12, 22, and 26, 2022.

Register now at: https://bit.ly/TheGoODSign

Interested in collaborating with DLS-CSB SDEAS on similar projects? Email us at deaf.partnerships@benilde.edu.ph to partner with us on your journey towards inclusion.