Promoting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children's Theory of Mind and Emotion Understanding

The Strategic Partnership "Promoting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children's Theory of Mind and Emotion Understanding" (ProToM) sets two goals. Firstly, a comprehensive evidence-based support program is to be both developed and scientifically tested. This program will enhance Theory of Mind competences (ToM) and emotional understanding (EU), as well as the associated sign language and spoken/written language skills of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children. Secondly, the innovative practice is going to be implemented at schools and in other educational institutions by raising awareness and by carrying out training of teachers in various European countries (including Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Switzerland).
The partnership jointly develops an innovative educational program:
a) It is strictly theory-driven and focuses on the different stages of development of ToM and the components of EU, as well as on spoken and/or sing language preceding skills.
b) It has a modular design, that will be, therefore, used in different educational settings (special education schools, mainstream/inclusive schools), taking into account the heterogeneity of DHH children.
All materials and a practice box will be available in different oral/signed languages and free of charge on a website.
The objectives will be jointly realized in a partnership of seven schools (special education schools and inclusive schools) and advisory and coordination centers, as well as four universities/research institutions from Germany, Greece, Cyprus and Switzerland.