Sasakawa International Scholarship

Name: Tissa Peiris Country: Sri Lanka Field of Study: Cultural Studies

I am an ASL instructor and Multicultural Specialist at the Center for International Programs and Services. I also teach Visual Gestural Communication (VGC) at the Language Planning Institute at Gallaudet University.

In 1997, I received my bachelor of arts degree in Communication Studies and Deaf Studies. At present, I am a part-time graduate student in the Deaf Studies Cultural Studies program.

My goal is to establish interpreting services in Sri Lanka. I have been working to develop the Sri Lankan Sign Language booklets since 2008, and for the deaf adults students to have an interpreters provided for them to continue their education beyond high school (secondary school).

My philosophy is "Part of being a person is about helping others."