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Conference Keynote: The Crucial Role of Early Language Exposure for Deaf Children

keynote-naomi-caselli

Keynote description

This keynote presentation delves into the pivotal importance of early language exposure, particularly for deaf children, in preventing language deprivation and promoting robust cognitive and academic development. Grounded in recent research, we will explore how varied language inputs, especially from non-native signing parents, impact early vocabulary acquisition and long-term academic success. The session will also discuss the bilingual advantages of learning ASL and English, dispelling myths surrounding the potential interference between these languages. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of why early and consistent exposure to a usable first language is critical for the overall development of deaf children.

Learning objectives

After the keynote, participants will be able to:

  1. Highlight the Importance of Early Language Input: To educate participants on the impact that inadequate language exposure can have on the development of deaf children.
  2. Present Key Research Findings: To share the latest findings on how early vocabulary development in ASL predicts later language and academic outcomes, and how hearing parents' ASL skills influence their children's language acquisition.
  3. Promote Bilingualism: To dispel the myth that learning ASL hinders spoken language development, emphasizing the cognitive and linguistic benefits of bilingualism for deaf children. 
  4. Advocate for Early Language Intervention: To stress the importance of early and consistent exposure to a usable first language, whether it be ASL or spoken language, for ensuring age-appropriate vocabulary and academic achievement.

About the presenter

Naomi Caselli is an Assistant Professor of Deaf Education, director of the Deaf Center, and the director of the AI and Education initiative at Boston University. She is hearing, and her first languages are American Sign Language (ASL) and English. She leads a research team that works to make research on language—across education, computer science, linguistics, psychology, and medicine—inclusive of sign languages, and to ensure all deaf children have access to language. To achieve these goals, her research is centered on three questions:

  1. How does early language experience shape how deaf children learn language?
  2. How is the sign language lexicon structured, learned, and processed?
  3. How can we responsibly use AI to make the world more accessible to sign language users?
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