This winning presentation examines how disabled young adults experience the transition from school to adulthood. Using accessible interviews and layered multimodal analysis, it captures communication beyond speech. Findings show that belonging, relationships and purpose matter, but being listened to is the top priority, and future planning should begin with people’s goals.

This research aims to improve literacy for deaf people by developing a practical writing system for sign languages. Because most sign languages lack a standard written form, deaf learners often struggle with written English. The project creates readable sign-language texts and tests whether they can support literacy in deaf communities worldwide.

This research investigates how sign language experience reshapes the brain’s visual system. MRI studies show expanded hand-processing regions and reorganised face areas in both deaf and hearing signers, even when learning occurs in adulthood. The findings highlight neural plasticity and reveal how visual language transforms perception and brain organisation.