لخّصلي

People would often attribute persons with deafness as 'mute' individuals due to their frequent use of non-verbal communication strategies.A qualitative research design was utilized as the framework, while the research procedure consisted of a digital semi-structured interview for the participant with deafness and a focus group discussion for the Non-PWD participants.The researcher answers the question: How do students with deafness and Non-PWD peers promote inclusion through non-verbal communication strategies?The emerging themes revealed that students with deafness are provided with poor assistive services, and that there are issues involving the lack of social inclusivity in mainstream schools.Non-PWDs have shown initiative to shatter communication barriers by obliterating the stigma of communicating with students with deafness.

People would often attribute persons with deafness as ‘mute’ individuals due to their frequent use of non-verbal communication strategies. In the Philippines’ transition to an inclusive education system, the question is how Non-PWDs can accommodate the communication style and needs of students with deafness. The researcher answers the question: How do students with deafness and Non-PWD peers promote inclusion through non-verbal communication strategies? A qualitative research design was utilized as the framework, while the research procedure consisted of a digital semi-structured interview for the participant with deafness and a focus group discussion for the Non-PWD participants. A thematic data analysis was carried out to examine the findings and extract themes. The emerging themes revealed that students with deafness are provided with poor assistive services, and that there are issues involving the lack of social inclusivity in mainstream schools. Non-PWDs have shown initiative to shatter communication barriers by obliterating the stigma of communicating with students with deafness. Conversely, the status quo is that persons with deafness should apply spoken language instead of encouraging Non-PWDs to learn sign language. It has been concluded that persons with deafness are visual communicators. They use space to distinguish their relationship with another communicator, and they also apply kinesic behavior like sign language to deliver their messages, facial expressions to convey their emotions, and body language to further demonstrate their messages. Lastly, Non-PWDs should be enhancing their usage of time, silence, and developing their application of space to practice haptics.