International Journal of Education and Social Science (IJESS)

This paper is based on an ethnographic study stemming from a partnership between the Diocese of Central Tanzania and a non-denominational church in Laurel, MD. This partnership focuses on forming an alliance to provide better and more equitable access for deaf and hard of hearing Tanzanians in the Dodoma Region. This study examined the impact of introducing Tanzania Sign Language (TSL) to deaf and hard of hearing residents in five villages in Dodoma, Tanzania. The goal of this partnership and this research is to examine how bringing exposure to deaf culture and TSL to communities where they have not had such exposure can impact entire villages. With access to communication as well as social frameworks that accept deaf and hard of hearing individuals as whole and capable, deaf Tanzanians can have opportunities to be productive and valued members of their communities.