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signs@HWUsigns@HWU
SIGNS@HWU is a group of researchers who focus on sign language studies and Deaf Studies. We are situated in the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies, Heriot-Watt University. SIGNS@HWU was established as a cluster of the Centre for Translation and Interpreting Studies in Scotland, to profile the world-leading interdisciplinary research being conducted at Heriot-Watt University.
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CEDARS: Collaborative Exploration of Domestic Abuse Research in Signing Deaf Communities (2026-2028)
  • Relevance: Current

Domestic abuse (DA) refers to controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading, and violent behaviour, often by a partner or ex-partner, with women typically being the victims and men the perpetrators. Deaf women are at higher risk of DA than the general population and face additional barriers in accessing support, as mainstream services and educational initiatives are often inaccessible to British Sign Language (BSL) users. Until Napier’s work, UK research on DA had minimally considered deaf BSL users. This project aims to bring together key DA researchers, stakeholders, practitioners, and deaf DA survivors for colloquia and workshops to explore how various methodological approaches and disciplinary expertise can be harnessed to better understand the needs of DA survivors and perpetrators who are deaf signers. The project will produce a roadmap for a new research agenda, a collaborative work plan, a dissemination symposium, and a journal special issue featuring contributions from participants.

SIGNS@HWU people on this project:

Prof. Jemina Napier

Project partners and funders:

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