EU Project for improved reception of asylum seekers who are deaf or have impaired hearing
Västanviks folkhögskola i Leksand
Approximately 20-40 deaf people seek asylum in Sweden each year.
"These people need to learn Swedish sign language as soon as possible in order to be able to communicate through Swedish sign-language interpreters during the asylum investigation. Our aim is to teach them sufficient Swedish sign language so that they can explain their grounds for asylum", explains Björn Albihn, head of the Västanvik project.
A sign-language boarding school environment
At Västanvik Folk High School these asylum seekers are offered boarding-school style accommodation for the period of the asylum investigation. Those who are granted residence permits have the opportunity of remaining in the Leksand municipality in order to continue their studies at Västanvik. The school, which is run by the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (Dövas Riksförbund, SDR), offers competent and specialized personnel. All teaching and organized activities occur within a sign-language environment.
"The only way that the deaf and the hard of hearing can learn Swedish sign language is by being in contact with other deaf people who use it", insists Björn Albihn.
Learning with the help of pictures, mimicry and body language
Since spring of last year, the project at Västanvik has educated 14 people, all of whom are making good progress with the Swedish sign language. Teaching is individually suited to the needs and abilities of each student and employs pictures, mimicry and body language.
"The time it takes to learn the Swedish sign language is very individual — from a couple of months to several years", explains Björn Albihn.
