Evon Discovers Black Pride 1.0

Introducing EVON, a unique exploration of identity and self-acceptance.

Evon is initially portrayed as an individual who conceals her distinct afro beneath a headscarf, conforming to her friends' fashion trends in a bid to blend in. Faced with a homework assignment titled "self-portrait," she grapples with the fear of revealing her individuality. However, as her journey unfolds, Evon discovers that her differences are her true strengths, leading her to embrace her heritage and learn about Black Pride.

This app has been meticulously developed based on extensive research in bilingualism and visual learning, specifically tailored to support literacy development for deaf children.

Key features of the app include:

• Over 170 vocabulary words signed and fingerspelled in LEARN mode
• Page-by-page sentence ASL videos paired with English text in READ mode
• Interactive highlights allowing users to tap on words to view corresponding ASL signs
• Comprehensive ASL storytelling through animations in WATCH mode

The app showcases original artwork by Tirzah Farley, ASL storytelling performed by Bianca Richards-Hamilton, and a glossary created by Liann Osborne. The narrative is authored by Liann Osborne, Bianca Richards-Hamilton, and Nia Lazarus. The development of the app was spearheaded by Leah Bornstein in collaboration with Motion Light Lab.

This project has been made feasible thanks to the generous support of California School for the Deaf's Charitable Parodi Trust. It is further enhanced by Gallaudet University's Motion Light Lab training program on bilingual storybook apps, which is funded by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

A special acknowledgment goes to California School for the Deaf Fremont for their unwavering support and dedication to providing high-quality education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students throughout Northern California.