Christos Georgokostopoulos to become Greece’s first deaf PhD in theoretical sciences

Christos Georgokostopoulos is set to become the first deaf PhD holder in the field of theoretical sciences in Greece. His doctoral defense is scheduled for Monday, August 31, at the University of Thessaly’s Department of Special Education.

Georgokostopoulos is noted as being among the very few deaf doctors in Europe. His academic journey involved overcoming institutional barriers and social stereotypes, a challenge referred to internationally as the ‘deaf tax’. To ensure accessibility, the University of Thessaly’s Unit for Equal Access and supervising assistant professor Galini Sapountzakis provided the necessary conditions for his research participation.

His research, which utilizes sign language instruction as a foundation, aims to challenge prejudices regarding multilingualism in individuals with hearing impairments and highlights unique aspects of visual-spatial perception. The achievement is being recognized as a milestone for academic inclusion and scientific research in Greece.