Vice President

ROBERTA VAST

Founding member of the CREI cooperative, coordinator and project manager, member of the Board of Directors since 2019 and Vice President since 2021. Anthropologist, LIS Interpreter and Communication Assistant, she has always been interested in the themes of deaf culture and its history, with a particular focus on the education of deaf children. She edited the book “Il manuale dell'abbate Silvestri. Le origine dell'educazione dei sordi in Italia” (2015) for the Bordeaux editions and the series of tactile books “Tocco, gioco, leggo”.

President

CHRISTIAN IACOANGELI

Professional with a consolidated experience and a multidisciplinary education. Passionate about anthropology, history of popular traditions, ethnolinguistics and experimental epistemology, he started his career in 2003 as a communications assistant. Since 2005 he has been a tactile LIS interpreter and since 2012 he has been an interpreter of Italian Sign Language (LIS).

A pioneer in the field of remote video interpreting, he designed the first courses in mixed synchronous and asynchronous mode as early as 2010, anticipating the evolution of educational needs towards greater flexibility and accessibility. He served as coordinator of communication assistance services for schools in the province of Rome, ensuring effective and inclusive support for deaf students.

His experience includes activities as a university interpreter and teacher in training courses for communication assistants and LIS interpreters, where he has passed on his knowledge to new generations of professionals. In addition, he has taught technologies for image communication, enriching the educational experience of students with innovative tools.

His skills in computer science, UI (User Interface), UX (User Experience) and Web Design have allowed him to work on advanced digital projects and develop accessible solutions. Among the first to create accessible multimedia content, he contributed to the development of platforms for remote video communication, making communication more inclusive.

Currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CREI cooperative and entrepreneur in the communications, marketing and event organization sector, he continues with dedication to carry out projects that merge technology and accessibility, with the aim of breaking down communication barriers and promoting an inclusive future for all.

LIS Interpreter

MARTINA CIRILLO

Born in 1992, Martina is a CODA girl (Children of deaf adults), an international acronym that indicates hearing children of deaf parents, therefore exposed to Sign Language from the first days of life. In 2016 she completed her studies and became a LIS Interpreter, a job she carries out in parallel with that of Communication Assistant. As an interpreter she has had the opportunity to work in the university environment, at conferences and also for television events. She has never stopped perfecting her training to always remain up to date on issues that touch on the field of interpreting. She also works as a teacher (Deaf Culture, LIS).

Multimedia

DEBORAH DONADIO

A young deaf actress (1993), LIS coach and sign language expert, she is a key figure in the promotion of cultural inclusiveness. The face of Caramella in the successful series Lampadino e Caramella, the first cartoon accessible to all children, she has been able to combine her passion for art with social commitment. She plays a crucial role within the CREI cooperative, where she coordinates the multimedia sector, contributing to projects that make communication accessible to all. She has actively participated in the creation of multimedia content that breaks down linguistic and cultural barriers. Her training in fashion and design and her experience in the film industry at Cinedeaf have enriched her professional profile, making her a multifaceted and influential figure in the panorama of inclusion and visual communication.

Visual Communication

FEDERICO D'ANDREA

Born in 1993, deaf videomaker, passionate about visual communication and strongly committed to promoting inclusion. He studied editorial graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. He worked as an actor in the theater and in the series Lampadino e Caramella (Rai YoYo). He has gained solid experience in the audiovisual sector, in video editing and digital animation. Within the CREI Cooperative he deals with the production and creation of accessible video content in Italian sign language and takes care of the graphics.

Deaf Educator

MONICA MERCHANTS

Deaf daughter of deaf parents, since she was a child Monica communicates in LIS, the Italian sign language, her mother tongue. She has a three-year degree as a deaf educator. She currently works with the Casa delle Luci, with CREI and as a LIS teacher for nursery school (children aged 2-6) and also as a LIS teacher for the awareness course for adults. She is continuing to study to complete her course and obtain the LIS teacher certificate valid for all levels.