Have you heard of CREA-LSC? It is a project developed by LSC Lab, a research group within the AccessCat Network, which enables users to learn Catalan Sign Language (LSC) free of charge, independently, online and from home. This innovative resource democratises access to the language and is unique worldwide: none of the nearly 300 existing sign languages has a comparable self-learning resource, explains Gemma Barberà, network researcher and project coordinator.

Since its launch in 2022, CREA-LSC has received more than 20,500 visits from people interested in learning LSC. This interest has not been limited to Catalonia, with visits recorded from around the world, from the United States to Australia. “Several research groups in applied sign language education in France, Germany and the United Kingdom have already contacted us to explore collaboration opportunities and adapt this format to their respective sign languages,” adds Barberà.

You can find out more about this educational resource in the AccessCat catalogue.

CREA-LSC has now received a mark of excellence in innovation from Pompeu Fabra University for its pioneering nature. This recognition forms part of the UPF’s Programme for the Recognition and Support of Teaching Innovation, which aims to “encourage practices that bring new ways of understanding education and learning,” the university explains. It is a source of pride for the group, Barberà adds, as this recognition has only been awarded to five other projects across the entire UPF.

You can read more about CREA-LSC and the other recognised projects at UPF website [in Catalan].