Mary Essex, participant in the 2004 Princeton Turkish language program at the American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), gave a presentation at Gallaudet University on April 29, 2005 as part of the graduate school’s First Wednesday Research Seminars. Ms. Essex, who lived in Turkey for two and a half years, shared her observations on how deaf people live in Turkey, looking specifically at the Turkish special education system, Turkish deaf culture, and Turkish sign language.

Ms. Essex is an alumna of the Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, Vermont and a consultant for many international organizations such as World Bank, The International Deaf Children's Society, International Blue Crescent Relief, Development Foundation and Verizon.

Ms. Essex currently focuses on international communities and provides support to achieve accessible communication services and human rights for deaf people. For the past two and a half years she has been living in Turkey. She will share her observations on how deaf people live in Turkey, looking specifically at the Turkish special education system, Turkish deaf culture, and Turkish sign language.