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“¡Deaf power!”: The triumphs of a unicauca student with hearing disability

19 February, 2026

Daniela Salazar, a deaf individual, completed her studies in the Fine Arts program at the University of Cauca. Her thesis and life story reflect her contribution to building a more inclusive, aware, and diversity-respecting institution of higher education.

With immense joy and pride, Daniela Carelly Salazar Jiménez, a student with hearing impairment in the Plastic Arts program at the University of Cauca, successfully defended her thesis Resurgir de la tierra: maíz y el gesto que resiste en Santa Rosa on Monday, March 31, 2025, at the Contemporary Exhibitions Hall of the Faculty of Arts at our alma mater.

In her thesis, Daniela aimed to share how the weaving and embroidery of corn figures have contributed to the communicative development of her family and personal context as a deaf person, demonstrating that art can be a powerful tool for expression and cohesion. Using a methodology based on spaces for dialogue, observation, and active participation, drawing references from family histories and traditions, visiting museums, and studying the works of her reference artists, the student identified non-verbal communication patterns that emerge from the artistic process.

Her research/creation project contributes to the understanding of artistic practices in the field of accessible communication and to the development of inclusive methodologies for interaction with deaf individuals.

“This project results in an understanding of how families can overcome communication barriers when they do not have access to sign languages or other structured means of communication. By documenting and analyzing how my family in Santa Rosa has created a visual communication system through weaving and embroidery, this thesis provides a tangible example of how cultural and artistic practices can be adapted to meet specific communication needs. This social contribution is valuable, as it proposes a methodology that other families in similar situations can replicate, adapting art to their own contexts and needs,” stated Daniela Salazar.

And as if that were not enough, this is not the first time Daniela has contributed to building a more inclusive and accessible world. In 2023, within the framework of the Cultural Management course, she designed and led the project “Unicauca Inclusiva”, in which signage adapted to Colombian Sign Language (LSC) was implemented in the Faculty of Arts, aiming to enable deaf individuals to navigate physical spaces, access institutional information, and carry out academic and administrative procedures.

Today, upon completing her entire undergraduate program, Daniela Salazar feels an indescribable sense of satisfaction: “This is a project that leaves me with many lessons and challenges, especially in the field of the arts, as I tried to address sensitive aspects such as disability, opening a gateway for my community in this area of knowledge. The challenges demanded by the execution of this thesis are countless, as this work was not only intended to compile memories, traditions, or customs, but also to offer an organic perspective from a woman who is deaf, from Cauca, a victim of violence who had to leave her territory, Santa Rosa, Cauca, and face a different reality: life in the city.”

Finally, one of the aspects she values most from the entire process was her evolution as an artist: “It is no secret that deaf people experience a reality different from that of hearing individuals regarding communication, but it was this difference that pushed me into a conscious creative process. Seeing my community present at the defense of this thesis gives me the satisfaction of having brought the attention of academics to the potentials of disability. During the defense, I felt my heart beating not only for myself but for the deaf children who now see me as an example of perseverance, sacrifice, and vocation. I have nothing more to say but thank you! It was not easy, but today I raise the flag of my community with pride. No path that leads to greatness is easy or guaranteed, but today I can say that it was worth every bit of effort in the world. Deaf power!”