DELFE addresses the training needs of professionals in the field of special education, in particular those working with deaf persons in vocational training and distance learning environments. Overall the project aims to improve the access of deaf persons to education and training.The project will develop an e-learning environment for deaf persons, adapted to make use of sign language. A virtual network classroom will offer material and support in enabling the target group to acquire new skills in continuous training. Training material will be developed based on animation (flash technology) and adapted to sign language via streaming video (multimedia). The material is to be used within training activities for both e-commerce and ICT. The creation of a web portal and a forum of trainers in the field of special education will further facilitate the transfer of know-how and good practice between professionals and hearing impaired students.Training will be piloted within the deaf community, testing the e-learning environment and the developed training material for e-commerce. To this end, distance learning centres will be created, to be hosted by specialist associations working with deaf or hearing-impaired persons to enable both access to the training provision and the piloting of materials.