In 2005, the director of the school, Miriam Grottanelli de Santi, was introduced to Deaf poetry by Dr. Donna Jo Napoli, Linguistics professor at Swarthmore University.  From there, Italian Sign Language and Deaf culture was incorperated into the semester study abroad experience at the Siena School and the Deaf Studies Department was born.

Since it’s infancy, the Deaf Studies Department has collaborated with the local branch of the ENS (Ente Nazionale Sordi – National Association of the Deaf) to develop academic and social service programs for the benefit of the Deaf community. The school has also sponsored a series of small-scale service projects with Deaf children and adolescents as part of its regular Italian Sign Language and Deaf culture courses offered during the academic year.  Continuing to grow, the Department provides workshops related to storytelling and sign language, gives presentations in the United States and hosts Fulbright scholars who wish to use the Siena School has their base. The school continues to work on its long term projects, making literacy materials for Deaf children. In Fall 2010, the Siena School will begin its book restoration project, restoring books in the library at Istituto Pendola. Collaborations with the Department include Italian, European and American partners.

Siena is a perfect place for students to learn more about the global Deaf-World.  During the nineteenth century, Siena served as one of the most important centers for Deaf Education in Europe. Tommaso Pendola, a brilliant university professor and distinguished Sienese citizen, founded the Pendola Institute for the Deaf. In its time, the Pendola was innovative in its research and in the opportunities it afforded the Sienese Deaf community, achieving international acclaim for its work.  Proficient in Italian Sign Language, the current director's interest in the Deaf community is ironic as her ancestor, Stanislao Grottanelli de Santi, was one of the many citizens who supported the establishment of the Pendola Institute for the Deaf in Siena.