Help Deaf Children learn to read and write

In the latest stage of our “Tell Me a Story” project, we brought ancient myths to deaf children in a language they can fully experience: Argentine Sign Language (LSA). This time, we chose five foundational myths from diverse cultures:
The Trojan Horse, Pandora’s Box, The Sphinx, The Seven Scorpions, and Icarus.

These stories have been told and retold for generations. They spark curiosity, challenge our thinking, and give us insight into human fears, dreams, flaws, and courage.

For deaf children, who are often left out of mainstream cultural narratives, accessing these powerful myths in their natural language is more than just entertainment — it’s a bridge to belonging, imagination, and deep cultural knowledge.

Each myth was adapted into a visual storytelling format in LSA and narrated by deaf senior adults, who brought the tales to life with expression, clarity, and warmth. Their hands carried not only the plot but also centuries of storytelling tradition. This intergenerational exchange was intentional: we want deaf children to see themselves reflected in role models who are culturally rich, linguistically competent, and actively contributing to society. And we want to honor the value of aging within the deaf community — to show that stories, like people, grow more meaningful over time.

The filming process involved collaborative rehearsals between the narrators and our creative team, leadered by a deaf young woman. We worked on choosing the right expressions, and visual cues that would make these myths resonate with young deaf viewers. 

Through this project, children not only discover ancient tales but also learn how language can express big ideas, complex emotions, and symbolic thinking. This contributes directly to the development of reading and writing skills, especially when sign language is used as a base for bilingual literacy approaches. It also cultivates curiosity, strengthens their visual thinking, and deepens their sense of cultural identity.

We believe that mythology helps children make sense of the world — and when that world is shared in their language, it becomes truly theirs.

We invite you to visit and enjoy through this link these Myths in Argentine Sign Language that are now part of the “Tell me a Story”, free and open series, which brings deaf children from all over Argentina close to literature. 

Thank you for supporting this journey of reading skills, culture, and connection!

Links:

• Watch the new Myths Series on LSA here