Multimedia educational content for Saudi deaf

Abstract

Research demonstrates that deaf individuals are undereducated and most of them are illiterate or at least semi- illiterate. Educating individuals with disabilities, in general, is a good investment. It doesn't only reduce welfare costs and future dependence; it reduces current dependence and frees other household members from caring responsibilities, as well as allowing them to increase employment or other productive activities. In this scope, a national funded project is launched to develop an environment for teaching and learning for Saudi deaf, using both automatic translation from Arabic to Saudi Sign Language and 3D animation techniques called Avatars. As part of the project, this paper presents the development of educational material to allow access to vital information for deaf people by presenting essential knowledge needed in their daily lives in an easy manner to grasp and comprehend. Resources for the subject of Islamic Education is collected and indexed based on levels and depths of information to accommodate needs of various types of users targeted by our works. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.