THE ROLE OF SIGN LANGUAGE AND DEAF TEACHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITIES OF DEAF CHILDREN

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of sign language and deaf teachers in educational processes involving dead children from public elementary school in João Pessoa-PB, Brazil. Based on the Cultural Studies, the Deaf Studies and the qualitative approach we made observations of pedagogical situations and conducted semi-structured interviews with deaf teachers, who work in the Specialized Educational Service (SES), in order to obtain data. The analyses showed that the sign language and the role of deaf teachers in the educational processes have great representativeness in the identity construction of deaf children because they contribute to their educational, personal and social development, therefore, of citizenship.