Evaluation of a computational description model of Libras (Brazilian Sign Language): Bridging the gap towards information access.

Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) is a complete linguistic system the deaf use for their communication, education, literacy needs. Information Systems fail to support such endeavors mostly due to limitations and inadequacies in using sign languages, thus precluding the deaf from social inclusion and citizenship. A computational model to describe the sign languages is needed to build effective technological artifacts for the needs of the deaf. This study presents an evaluation of a computational description model in Libras. Thus validated, the model addresses as challenge for the Information Systems community the development of technological tools to bridge the gap towards inclusion and citizenship of the deaf.