Using the Common European Framework of Reference for Italian sign language education: lessons from research and practice

Starting in 2011, the adaptation of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) to sign language became a priority for many organisations in Europe. Among these, the State Institute for the Deaf worked on its adaptation for Italian Sign Language within the EU-funded SignLEF project. One year later, the joint effort of few institutions specialised in sign language education gave light to the ProSign project, funded by the European Centre for Modern Language. The findings coming from these and other projects converged towards the development of a companion volume for CEFR, published in 2018, including descriptors for sign language education. In this paper, I present an overview of the growth in the awareness of CEFR for LIS education as well as the political and cultural changes occurred since its adoption in 2011. A unique idea, research project, and design experience made by deaf and hearing professionals with the aim to inform Sign Language education, and to adapt and include it in deaf education and the workplace.