Rita SALA

Rita SALA is an Adjunct Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies, the Interdepartmental School of Economics, Languages and Entrepreneurship (Treviso campus), and the Department of Asian and North African Studies. She specializes in Deaf Culture, Sign Language interpretation, and sociological aspects of deaf communities. Her roles include teaching courses like 'CULTURA DEI SORDI' (Deaf Culture) and 'Interpretazione Italiano-LIS' (Italian-Sign Language Interpretation) across undergraduate and master's programs.

Education: Master’s in Sociology (Università degli Studi di Padova, 110/110 cum laude), Bachelor’s in Sociological Sciences (Padova), and advanced training in methodologies at non-standard research schools. She has been a Visiting Scholar at Gallaudet University and University of New Mexico.

Professional experience includes over 30 years as an Italian Sign Language (LIS) interpreter, collaborating with institutions like the Veneto Regional Council, the Mason Perkins Deafness Fund, and Siena School for Liberal Arts (where she co-founded the Department of Deaf Studies). She is a certified LIS interpreter, holds C2 proficiency in English and American Sign Language, and B2 in French and International Sign.

Key roles include Vice-President of ANIOS (Italian Sign Language Interpreters Association) and board membership in the Mason Perkins Deafness Fund. Her work focuses on bridging communication gaps for the deaf community through education, advocacy, and cross-cultural initiatives.