Education Abroad’s Fiona Grugan with David DeKyzer, Clin d’Oeil Festival Director in France.
Education Abroad is expanding its Deaf-centered programming in response to increasing student demand, with more diverse locations and areas of study. This work, underway since last fall, culminates in three faculty-led programs this summer:
Ghana | May 17 – June 7, 2026
Eighteen students will participate in a faculty-led program in Ghana led by Gregoire Youbara, with program support from Anjali Desai-Margolin and additional Gallaudet staff. Participants will explore African history and the African diaspora while engaging deeply with Ghanaian culture and community.
The program includes visits to several Deaf schools, including the Demonstration School for the Deaf, founded by Andrew Foster, the first Black Deaf graduate of Gallaudet, who established Deaf schools across West Africa. Students will also examine connections between Ghanaian and American history, including sites such as the Cape Coast “Door of No Return.”
Italy (Siena) | June 4 – June 25, 2026
Ten students, led by Rowena Winiarczyk, will participate in the Siena School Deaf Studies Department’s intensive three-week study abroad program. Students will study Italian Sign Language, Italian language, and Italian Deaf culture and history, with instruction from Italian faculty alongside peers from other universities.
The program emphasizes full immersion in local community life while advancing language acquisition and cross-cultural competence. During this time, Education Abroad will also explore opportunities to strengthen its partnership with Siena School’s Deaf Studies initiatives.
France (Paris & Reims) | June 7 – July 7, 2026
Sixteen students, supported by Fiona Grugan and Norah Matthews, will take part in a program led by Monique Holt in Paris and Reims, with logistics in partnership with Hands On Travel. In Paris, students will study French Sign Language (LSF) and French Deaf history while engaging with local Deaf organizations, cultural sites, and community events to understand the historical and contemporary foundations of Deaf life in France. Students have been preparing since the fall in collaboration with Gallaudet’s Department of Theatre Arts, with significant contributions from Ethan Sinnott and Annie Wiegand to develop and rehearse the performance component of the program.
The program will culminate in Reims at the Clin d’Oeil Festival, where students will volunteer and perform Off the Rails on an international stage. The performance, devised by the students and directed by Andrew Morrill and James Caverly, premiered last fall to a sold-out audience. Festival activities are also supported by Ethan Sinnott and Annie Wiegand.
Check out Education Abroad’s offerings and pack your bags!
