PhD project funded by the Industrial Training through Research Agreement (CIFRE) scheme in collaboration with the Association Départementale des Parents et Amis de Personnes en situation de handicap et/ou de vulnérabilité des Alpes-Maritimes (ADAPEI-AM).
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) describe a group of conditions that affect the typical development of the brain and nervous system. These disorders may include conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, dyspraxia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other similar challenges. NDDs can result in difficulties with communication, socialization, learning, and understanding the environment, with severity levels varying widely.
In this context, compensatory reliance on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) techniques, which are non-linguistic and multimodal, has grown significantly. These tools, such as Makaton or the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), leverage multiple channels (visual, visuo-gestural, and audio-vocal) simultaneously to aid communication. In France, their use is part of the best practice recommendations of the Haute Autorité de Santé (2017).
However, some individuals with NDD fail to benefit from these communication aids, or these systems no longer meet their needs over time. As a result, they remain deprived of any means of expression, which can lead to the development of associated challenges, such as behavioral disorders, further hindering their social inclusion. Supporting these individuals with NDD throughout their lives presents a significant challenge.
Building on studies demonstrating the benefits of sign language acquisition for children with NDD, particularly non-verbal children with ASD (see Kurt, 2011; Adam, 2020, among others), this project explores the potential contributions of a language—French Sign Language (LSF)—to non-verbal adults with NDD for whom augmentative, non-linguistic techniques like Makaton or PECS have proven insufficient or ineffective.
Our focus will be on developing socio-communicative, linguistic, and/or language skills in non-verbal adults with NDD by introducing a fully-fledged language, LSF, in ecological contexts such as residential care facilities (e.g., medicalized care homes or specialized care centers). LSF maximally exploits visual iconicity and spatial properties, offering unique advantages. To this end, we will create contexts for perception, comprehension, and expression that are tailored to the needs and abilities of the selected participants, both through preparatory work and in-situ interventions.
A detailed observation of emerging general and linguistic skills, which are often "low-signal" in non-verbal individuals with NDD, requires an original and sophisticated methodological protocol. This entails interdisciplinary collaboration to develop new tools and/or adapt existing ones for both participant evaluation and the creation of teaching materials and procedures.
Our project integrates contributions from multiple disciplines and practices, including language sciences (linguistics and didactics), behavioral sciences, educational sciences, developmental and educational psychology, and specialized education for individuals with NDD.
Gérard, C. (2025). Microanalyse de l'imitation en LSF chez un adulte autiste dans le cadre d'un atelier signé. Enfance, n°253(3), 309-322. https://doi.org/10.3917/enf2.253.0309
Gérard, C. (2020). Interpretation strategies of interpreters in French - French Sign Language in the presence of Deaf users with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Do interpreters in French - French Sign Language develop specific interpretation techniques for translation situations involving Deaf users with ASD? [Master’s thesis]. Université Paris 8.
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International conferences and symposia with peer review
Gérard, C. & Burgat, S. (2025). « Communication et troubles du neurodévellopement : l'apport de la langue des signes et du pédagogue sourd », XVIIème colloque international de l'association internationale de psychomécanique du langage (AIPL), 13 juin 2025, Paris.
Gérard, C. (2023). « Benefits of exposure to sign language for non-verbal adult with ASD », Pre-Conference Education as a Hope in Uncertain Times, Junior Researchers of EARLI, August 20, 2023, Aristote University, Thessalonique, Greece.
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National conferences and workshops with peer review
Gérard, C. (2024). « Défis éthiques et méthodologiques pour l'élaboration d'un corpus vidéo de langue des signes française (LSF) impliquant des adultes avec un trouble du neurodéveloppement (TND) », Workshop early-career researcher LangaJE 2024 Données et corpus en linguistique et en didactique à la lumière de la science ouverte : problématiques et enjeux méthodologiques, November 15, 2024, Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, Lyon, France.
Cruveiller, V. & Gérard, C. (2024). « Langues des signes et autisme », 6th congress of the International Coordination between Psychoanalyst Psychotherapists and Associate Members Working with Autistic People (CIPPA) Parlera, parlera pas ? Autismes et langages. January 25, 2024, Espace Reuilly, Paris, France.
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Oral presentations without peer review
Casimir, A., Gérard, C., Le Craz, S., Mazarin, M. Rabuel Plantin, F. & Ratagne-Maillaut, E. (2025). « Co-analyse participative d'un atelier LSF pour adultes avec un TND : visions croisées entre autisme et surdité », 4ème journée d'études internationale Langues des signes et personnes avec un trouble du neurodéveloppement, June 17, 2025, Paris.
Gérard, C. (2025). « Apports de la langue des signes française (LSF) pour des adultes ayant un trouble du neurodéveloppement (TND) et conscidérés comme non verbaux », Les mercredis de la diversité, mission inclusion scolaire (CAPPEI) de l'Inspé Académie de Nantes, June 4, 2025.
Gérard, C. (2025). « Schémas d'annotation sous ELAN pour l'analyse des interactions en LSF dans le contexte des TND », Sourds et Langues des Signes Seminar (SLS), February 10, 2025, CNRS Site Pouchet, Paris, France.
Piery, K. & Gérard, C. (2024). « Reflections on an experimental educational program for LSF and NDD », International Workshop Using sign language by and for people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD): from the field to research and back, June 14, 2024, CNRS Site Pouchet, Paris, France.
Gérard, C., Zorn, S. & Garcia B. (2024). « Microanalysis of imitation in the context of an LSF workshop for non-verbal adults with NDD », International Workshop Using sign language by and for people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD): from the field to research and back, 14 juin 2024, CNRS Site Pouchet, Paris, France.
Gérard, C. & Zorn, S. (2023). « Exposition à la langue des signes française (LSF) de personnes avec un trouble du neurodéveloppement (TND) : premières analyses », International Workshop Adultes dits "non verbaux" avec un trouble du neurodéveloppement (TND) : retours sur l’expérience d’une exposition à la langue des signes française (LSF), June 30, 2023, Paris 8 University, France.
Gérard, C. & Vanbrugghe, A. (2022). « Observations et analyses des compétences socio-communicatives et langagières d’un jeune adulte avec un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA) dit non verbal exposé à la langue des signes française (LSF) », International Workshop Exposition à une langue des signes de personnes avec troubles du spectre de l’autisme : bilan des recherches et expérimentations, July 1st, 2022, Paris 8 University, France.
Gérard, C. (2022). « Approche exploratoire des interactions gestuelles, avec leur entourage, d’adultes avec un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA) dits « non verbaux » en contexte écologique d’exposition à la langue des signes française (LSF). », Welcome day for new doctoral students at the Structures Formelles du Langage laboratory, January 21, 2022, Paris 8 University, France.
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Posters presented at peer-reviewed conferences
Gérard, C. (2025). « Exploring communication potential in autistic adults through French Sign Language (LSF) », 14th Autism Europe International Congress (AEC 2025), poster session, September 11 - 13, 2025, Dublin, Ireland.
Gérard, C. & Burgat, S. (2025). « Sign language and neurodevelopmental disorders: the approach of Deaf instructor », 24th International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED 2025) More than words, poster session, July 7 - 11, 2025, Roma, Italy.
Gérard, C. (2025). « Etude des dynamiques interactionnelles en LSF auprès d'adultes avec un TSA ou un TDI », Journée d'études ISGS France 2 : Approches multimodales des interactions en contexte formels et informels, poster session, 12 mai 2025, Paris, France.
Gérard, C. (2024). « LSF et TND : Progrès dans les interactions de 3 adultes avec TND dits non verbaux liés à une exposition longue à cette langue »,17th autumn university of ARAPI (Association for Research on Autism and the Prevention of Maladaptations) Clinical practice at the heart of research: a necessary dialogue to better understand autism and NDDs throughout life, poster session, October 7 - 11, 2024, Le Croisic, France.
- 2024/2025
Master's degree in Teaching, Education, and Training Professions (MEEF), Paris 8 University - French Sign Language for Learners with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD) (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, and Intellectual Developmental Disorder, IDD) (2-hours lecture with S. Burgat)
- 2023/2024
Bachelor's in Linguistics, Paris 8 University - Ethics and Deafness (Year 2)
University Diploma in Autism, Paris 7 University - Autism and Sign Language (3-hours lecture with V. Cruveiller)
Professional Bachelor's in Teaching French Sign Language in Schools, Paris 8 University - Benefits of sign language for people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including autism spectrum disroder (ASD) (3-hours lecture with S. Zorn)
- Co-organization of Scientific Events
- Scientific and Media Outreach
- Organization of Events for the Association AutiSignes
