Guidelines for Developing Sign Language Learning Tools Targeted at Deaf Children

Language is crucial for social and cognitive development and is typically acquired up to the age of five through the child family and social interaction. However, deaf children born to hearing parents (approximately 90% of cases) [1] lack early exposure to their natural language, as the communication channels used by parents and children are different. Consequently, the child suffers a delay in having contact with sign language, leading to damage to their learning, cognitive development, and family relationships. A conceptual model was developed from a detailed study of language construction and variables related to the process of sign language acquisition by deaf child, while also considering the target audience and available computing technology. Thus, we propose a model that is divided into objective, target audience, and technology. From this model, we derived guidelines for the development of tools aimed at language acquisition in young deaf children.