Making an impact together
Our CoLabs are all around the world:
Canada
Belgium
Italy
Japan
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Thailand
The Netherlands
Turkey
United States
The CoLabs program is a network of global teams working with Motion Light Lab’s VL2 Storybook Apps program. Our shared goals are to build high-quality bilingual literacy resources in our local sign language and written languages and exchange our stories - building a sign-centric global digital library.
Through the CoLabs program, we mentor, train, and capacity-build local Deaf-led teams in app development, video filming, editing, and storyboarding to elevate their digital skill sets, creating more career opportunities.
By fostering the growth of CoLabs, we are empowering Deaf creators to tell stories, develop resources, and be a part of the solution to language access and literacy development for for young deaf children.
Collaborations projects
Local
Smithsonian American
Art Museum
We collaborated with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to make Musical Thinking exhibit accessible for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community.
The exhibit had QR codes that linked to Sign Language videos, inclusive captioning, and immersive haptics.
The exhibit ran from June 2023 to January 2024.
Action Brain Lab
Action Brain Lab and ML2 have been working closely on a variety of projects such as the SAIL (Signing Avatars Immersive Learning) initiative.
SAIL is a Virtual Reality program in which the user interacts with avatars that take them through five different environments and provide feedback on how to sign words.
ABL and ML2 also will be co-hosting the Haptics Arts Festival fall 2024 at Gallaudet Unviersity.
DC Public Library
Under a partnership contract, we volunteered Storytime Sessions at the DC Public Library for two years in a row - and we loved every minute of it!
Gesture Literacy Studio
Gesture Literacy Knowledge Studio brings a wealth of knowledge with visual communication.
We partnered with them for Storytime Sessions and a few recent Storybook Apps such as Little Colors for Little Ones and Count With Us! A Nursery Rhyme Book.
International
CABSS
We worked with Centro Assistenza per Bambini Sordi e Sordociechi Onlus (based in Italy) as they developed their own Storybook Apps: Museo degli Errori, I Capafiori, and Forme Che Si Formano!
Connecting Capitals
Connecting Capitals is a creative exchange project between Gallaudet University and BOZAR (organization based in Belgium) that uses art-making, education, and technology to connect and empower Deaf youth between the ages of 18-27 from the United States and Belgium.
“Connecting Capitals: A Digital Coffeetable Book” is the brainchild of this collaboration!
National Association of the Deaf - Thailand
Our team member went to Thailand and trained their team on how to make storybook apps.
We continue to support them as they continue to create storybook apps and even research on their literacy development.
After working together for “ต้นเบาบับ” (The Baobab in Thai), they created their own storybook incorporating Thai culture that we later translated into English/ASL: “เจ้าช้างขี้เกียจ” (“The Lazy Elephant”), and มิตรแท้ (“Great and Good Friends”).
CB Linguistic Services
Out of Quebec, Canada are coming a few Storybook Apps this year!
We have recently worked together and we look forward to Baobab LSQ as well as their own stories!
Do you want to join the force with ML2?
How We Collaborate
Are you an organization seeking to boost sign language advocacy in innovative ways?
We would love to collaborate with you!
First things first, we recommend you having a team (3+ people) and initial funding.
Ready? Click the button below to reach out! We would love to connect with you.
