Roos Wattel was born deaf. Throughout her life she’s bridged the gap between the hearing world and the deaf world, between deaf culture and hearing culture. And now she is doing the same for museums in the Netherlands. 

Roos started her own company, Wat Telt! (What Counts), which focuses on improving accessibility in the culture & arts sector, in 2014. She aims to bridge the gap between hearing and deaf people as an accessibility consultant. To improve inclusiveness on the work floor for people who are deaf or hearing impaired, Roos works closely with other organizations. In 2015, Roos created the "Musea in Gebaren" (Museums in Sign). With this program, she trains deaf people to be museum guides in sign language. Today, 16 museums in the Netherlands offer tours in sign language provided by trainees of "Musea
in Gebaren." Roos studied at regular schools, and thanks to this upbringing, she feels part of both the deaf and the hearing communities. She is proud to be a deaf person and inspires others to create an inclusive society together with her.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Roos Wattel: Bridging the gap between the deaf and hearing community | Roos Wattel | TEDxAmsterdamWomen

Bridging the gap between the deaf and hearing community | Roos Wattel | TEDxAmsterdamWomen

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