Parents of Deaf children often face shock, stress, and denial due to inexperience and outdated stereotypes, which can hinder their child's development. My undergraduate thesis project, Gestures, is an educational kit designed to support parents in raising their Deaf child and improving family communication. It includes an interactive language game and informational materials about Deafness and child development.
Supporting Parents in Raising Their Deaf Child with Gestures
CLIENT
Ateneo de Manila University
Information Design Undergraduate Thesis
DURATION
August 2017-May 2018
ROLE
Research, Game Design, Graphic Design, Product Design
IMPACT AREA
Enhancing Access to Inclusive Education
I conducted research which included interviews with parents of Deaf children, SPED schools, and speech pathologists to explore family dynamics and child development. Findings revealed that many parents lack the information and tools needed to support their Deaf child, highlighting a significant gap in school resources. As Deaf children enter school and encounter new environments, their growing curiosity often leaves parents feeling stressed and overwhelmed by their questions about the world.
Problem Statement
Many parents of Deaf children struggle to find the information and resources they need to support their child's development. This lack of accessible guidance often leads to stress and overwhelm as they navigate social environments and answer their child's questions about the world.
Key Insight
How might we empower parents of Deaf children with accessible, educational resources that help them better understand and support their child's development?
Design Intervention
Gestures was created to bridge this gap—offering tailored information that reduces stress, fosters confidence, and strengthens connections between families and their communities.
Instead of viewing deafness as an obstacle, it's essential to recognize their interactions as a continuous learning process.
To address this, I conceptualized Gestures, a game designed to improve communication and dispelling misconceptions about Deafness. This kit seeks to strengthen the parent-child relationship by providing essential information to hearing parents, enabling them to better support and accept their Deaf child. I designed the physical components of the kit, ensuring usability and accessibility for the target audience.
Parents of Deaf children aged 4-6, a critical stage of development (Initiative vs. Guilt), where parental control and overprotection may limit a child’s independence. Gestures aims to support both parents and children by providing resources that foster confidence, understanding, and healthy development
Gestures is a communication game for Deaf children, using vibrant visuals and playful symbols to engage and promote family bonding. The set includes flashcards, a parent handbook, a writing board, chalk, dice, and an instruction manual. Inspired by charades, it employs a total communication approach—integrating lip reading, writing, sign language, and body expressions—to strengthen family interactions.
Prototype and Testing
Success indicators were evaluated through a pre-test, post-test, and evaluation form, with children listing 5-7 new words learned after playing the game. Parents noted improved communication with their child and effective coping strategies, while children were drawn to the visuals on the cards, aiding their word recognition.
Recommendations include engaging with speech pathologists and experts for deeper insights, considering family-specific contexts and access disparities, and simplifying game mechanics with more visuals to enhance accessibility for Deaf children.
Exhibition
Gestures was also featured in the BFA Information Design Batch 2018 Thesis Exhibit. This is dedicated to, and was greatly inspired by, my Deaf cousin Angelo, who I grew up with.