INTRODUCTION

KOMEK AFAD Technical Sign Language Program, common Technical Sign Language Terms Dictionary and applied trainings throughout the country have been developed to enable disaster and emergency workers and heavy construction equipment operators to communicate with each other and with the hearing impaired by using a common sign language, and to intervene by producing effective and fast solutions. Factors that hinder voice communication and threaten the security during disasters and emergencies make fast and accurate intervention difficult. Silent communication has the effect of improving teamwork and the emergency environment. The work to be done will be effective in protecting the health of the employees and the community.

The program extends to people assigned in disaster and emergency coordination units; it includes everyone who takes part in the governorship, metropolitan or provincial-district municipalities, special provincial administrations, universities, development agencies, provincial disaster and emergency directorates, Turkish Red Crescent Society, non-governmental organizations and other appropriate institutions and organizations who will participate voluntarily.

The ATID project was introduced on the Day of Persons with Disabilities Program held on 3 December 2021 at Selçuklu Congress Center with the participation of fifty-two NGO representatives and members.

in 2022; AFAD Technical Sign Language (ATID) Program Cooperation Protocol was signed in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Interior, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, and Konya Metropolitan Municipality.

It is foreseen that the development of a common sign language will enable its usability throughout Turkey with pilot studies initiated for the employees of AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) , Fire Service, KOSKI (Konya General Directorate of Water and Sewerage Administration), DSI (State Hydraulic Works), Department of Public Works and Engineering and General Directorate Of Highways.

To develop the Technical Sign Language Glossary, we worked in coordination with relevant institutions and organizations to determine the terms specific to the disaster and emergency teams.

The Illustrated Dictionary of Technical Sign Language Terms consists of terms from fields like firefighting, underwater-surface, health etc.

The Technical Sign Language Glossary with its content, images, QR code design, printed dictionary work, mobile application dictionary adaptation, and a digital format that can be published on the website of the Illustrated Dictionary of Technical Sign Language Terms has been developed with the aim of creating a unified language. The terms used by all registered institutions were listed and the sign language was enriched with photographs that could serve as a source.

In addition to the dictionary content; basic sentences were chosen in disaster-emergency situations and search and rescue cases, to simplify communication among disaster- and emergency workers and among the victims. The chosen words and sentences can be enriched with new terms to be added, and are designed with a QR code application. It was supported by the mobile application, published on the website of ATID. The dictionary includes; finger alphabet, directional arrows, general terms, terms specific to institutions, other words (other words), sentences (communication sentences with operators-communication sentences with the hearing impaired during a disaster). Terms relating to equipment and technical sign languages that can be used during disaster and emergency situations outside search and rescue have been added to the dictionary.

We would like to thank those who contributed to this study one by one, and hope that the AFAD Technical Sign Language Dictionary will make important contributions to the technical team employees, hearing-impaired individuals and all volunteers in dealing with disasters and living together.