Panayiota Themistokleous is a graduate of the Department of History and Archeology of the University of Cyprus and holds a Master's Degree in Special (Inclusive) Education of the European University of Cyprus. The results of her Diploma Thesis entitled "Referential Communication of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children attending pre-primary and primary schools" were presented at the 22nd World Congress on the Education of the Deaf.

 

She works as a Cypriot Sign Language Interpreter, providing services both in the Public (Primary Schools, School for the Deaf) and in the Private Sector (Conferences, Educational Seminars, etc.). Finally, she works in the presentation of News in Sign Language in a private television station.

 

In addition, she participates in several European Programs (Erasmus) which aims to strengthen and promote the Cypriot Sign Language, but also in research related to it (e.g. teaching, evaluation, etc.).

 

At the same time, she works as a Cypriot Sign Language Teaching Specialist at the Language Center of the University of Cyprus, teaching the courses of Cypriot Sign Language for Beginners I and Cypriot Sign Language for Beginners II. She also teaches the course of Cypriot Sign Language in the Adult Programs of the University of Cyprus Sign Language for Beginners 1 & 2.

 

She represents the University of Cyprus in the Scientific Commity for the Implementation of the Measures for the Recognition of the Cypriot Sign Language.

 

She is one of the founding members of the Association of Cypriot Sign Language Interpreters and currently holds the position of Secretary on the Board of Directors. At the same time, she is the Secretary of the Friends of the Deaf Community and a member of the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (EFSLI).