Deaf Association of Sao Paulo

This book aims to understand the historical process of the collective actions of the deaf of the Sao Paulo Association of the Deaf (ASSP) between 1950 and 2011, a period that includes the foundation of this institution and the creation of the Municipal Schools of Bilingual Education for the Deaf in the capital of Sao Paulo. In this context, with the theoretical reference of Alberto Melucci, collected documents and interviews, the author seeks to understand how these collective actions emerged and how they were maintained. It can be seen that the collective actions culminated in the founding of ASSP in 1950, based on the interest of deaf people in having a space to socialise and practise sport. This space, in continuous interaction with other social actors, ended up favouring the strengthening of a collective identity and the political formation of many deaf people, a fact that motivated other collective actions that were decisive for the foundation of institutions for the deaf. In this network of relationships that were established throughout history, ASSP played a leading role in the deaf movements aimed at recognising Libras and defending bilingual education for the deaf.