HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa paid a working visit to Gallaudet University, accompanied by an official Moroccan delegation \ Newslooks \ Washington DC
Her Royal Highness was warmly received at the National Deaf Museum by Roberta J. Cordano, President of Gallaudet University, along with two Moroccan students: Zahra Ketoun, a PhD candidate, and Zakaria El Kantaoui, an undergraduate and former deaf student at the Lalla Asmaa Foundation.
This working visit marks a pivotal step in strengthening the partnership between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Gallaudet University—an emblem of international collaboration in inclusive education and accessibility, according to a statement from the Foundation.
A Vision for the First University of Its Kind in Africa
This partnership aims to help Morocco become the first country in Africa and the region to host a university entirely dedicated to the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, offering a full academic pathway from early childhood through to doctoral studies.
Gallaudet University stands out globally for its unique educational model. It provides children with hearing disabilities a complete academic curriculum, equivalent in structure and rigor to that of leading universities worldwide. The university’s model helps shatter societal stereotypes by demonstrating that deaf and hard-of-hearing students can excel in demanding academic settings. It allows them to fulfill their potential in a high-quality, inclusive learning environment.
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa expressed her aspiration to see a similar initiative established in Morocco, one that ensures equal educational opportunities for Moroccan youth with hearing impairments.
A Visit to Gallaudet’s Classroom Environment
During the visit, Her Royal Highness observed a classroom session in one of the university’s departments, gaining direct insight into student projects and the teaching excellence at Gallaudet.
The warm reception by the university community reflected not only a shared commitment to inclusive education, but also the energy and determination of young deaf students to pursue academic success.
Motion Light Lab: Innovation in Deaf Education
Her Royal Highness also toured the Motion Light Lab, a one-of-a-kind research center focused on creating bilingual visual books to support literacy among deaf children. Researchers presented innovative methods combining sign language and visual aids to support cognitive and linguistic development.
Princess Lalla Asmaa praised the impact of these resources and underscored the relevance of such initiatives for Morocco, especially in line with the efforts of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation to promote deaf education nationwide.
Student Academic Center: A Model of Accessibility
Her Royal Highness visited the Student Academic Center, which embodies Gallaudet’s philosophy of accessible education. The center includes advanced infrastructure to support deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) tools and Video Relay Service booths.
Princess Lalla Asmaa expressed strong interest in developing similar facilities in Morocco to support deaf students from primary school through university.
During the visit, a student ambassador presented a symbolic gift to Her Royal Highness, a gesture that reflected the welcoming spirit of Gallaudet’s community.
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
The delegation also visited the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, a premier institution offering educational programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from preschool through high school.
Her Royal Highness observed a teaching session involving young deaf children and their parents, highlighting the center’s focus on early language acquisition and family involvement. The center presented its early intervention model, which supports language and social development from a young age.
Particularly noteworthy was the Family Learning approach, which trains parents to become active participants in their children’s development. Her Royal Highness expressed her intent to promote this model in Morocco through educational projects supported by the Lalla Asmaa Foundation.
Signing Ceremony: A Landmark Memorandum of Understanding
A key moment of the visit was the signing ceremony at the National Deaf Museum, where a Memorandum of Understanding was formalized between Mr. Karim Essakalli, Executive President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, and President Roberta J. Cordano of Gallaudet University.
This agreement launches a reinforced partnership focused on training, research, and knowledge exchange, with the goal of enhancing the inclusion of deaf individuals in Morocco and across Africa.
It lays the groundwork for what could become Africa’s first university fully dedicated to educating deaf students—from early childhood to doctoral studies—thereby providing a clear path to inclusion and opportunity.
A Personal Commitment to Inclusive Education
Throughout this visit, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa demonstrated her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Morocco. Her vision centers on creating educational environments that both honor individual differences and ensure full integration into society.
Her leadership and active support of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation reflect a deep understanding of inclusive education’s power to transform lives.
Her Royal Highness’s engagement in this partnership with Gallaudet University is a testament to her determination to expand the Foundation’s achievements internationally, beginning with Africa, where inclusive education remains a pressing challenge.
This visit, marked by fruitful exchanges and a strengthened collaboration between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Gallaudet University, reflects Princess Lalla Asmaa’s tireless advocacy for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. It embodies the values of solidarity and social justice upheld by His Majesty King Mohammed VI
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