It is with great pleasure that we present these Guidelines. As an organisation of parents of Deaf children we are all too aware of the necessity for special materials such as videos and CD-ROMs with sign language. These ‘signing books’ will most certainly help Deaf children and students in their development; whether productions are designed for clear-cut educational and informational purposes or are ‘books’ or films for recreation, or games. The possibilities signing books offer to many adult Deaf people are obviously also great; for example, access to information that otherwise would be difficult to gain.

We have experienced how complicated the development of such material is. During the course of the Signing Books project we have seen how others have also struggled with many questions, such as translation issues, contrast, the use of visuals, etc., etc.

We do hope the Guidelines will be helpful for people making signing books in the future. We also hope for good co-operation, on an equal footing, between those experts who know all about video production and people with expertise on sign language and on the needs of Deaf children, students and adults.

We thank all persons who contributed to the Signing Books project. The researchers and assistants from the City University of London, the University of Hamburg and the FODOK and our project co-ordinator. We also thank the great number of Deaf and hearing persons who participated in the production of the test materials, the actual testing, in workshops, meetings of focus groups and in the organisation of the symposium. And last but not least we thank all the others who facilitated the project’s progress when they were asked for a helping hand. We are grateful to all of them.

Toine van Bijsterveldt, Chairman

FODOK  (Dutch Federation of Organisations of Parents of Deaf Children)

Main Contractor Signing Books project