Visit by Dr. Paddy Ladd to the Chair of Hearing and Communication at LMU Munich

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On Thursday, October 15, the Chair of Hearing and Communication at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich welcomed Dr. Paddy Ladd. He is internationally renowned in particular for his groundbreaking work on the concept of Deafhood and is considered one of the leading figures in Deaf Studies.

The visit marked the start of a three-day lecture series in Munich. Before the event began, the department team took the opportunity to mingle and welcome the guest over coffee and cake.

In the afternoon, around 70 interested attendees gathered in the lecture hall. Among the participants were students and faculty from the Chair of Hearing and Communication at LMU Munich, students and faculty from the Sign Language Interpreting program at Landshut University of Applied Sciences, as well as student teachers specializing in hearing and communication from Bavaria.

In his lecture “AI, Deafhood, and the Ethics of Technological Inclusion,” Paddy Ladd explored the future of artificial intelligence and its significance for deaf people and sign language communities. He particularly emphasized how important it is for deaf people not only to follow technological developments but also to actively and autonomously shape them. His remarks underscored the central importance of the participation of deaf people in the development and design of inclusive technologies.

The team from the Bayerischer Rundfunk program “Sehen statt Hören” also covered the event. Following the presentation, they conducted interviews with Paddy Ladd and several participants.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to discuss current issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence, Deafhood, and technological inclusion, and to gain insights for further exploration of these topics in both academia and practice.