News and Stories

‘True liberation’ for signing Deaf communities means having full access to resources, opportunities, and environments where they can thrive without barriers. It’s about empowerment, equality, and being fully included in society.

Stakeholders are the people and groups who support and are involved with us, including local and international nonprofits, business partners, government agencies, community members, supporters, donors, and volunteers.

The crises that have impacted signing Deaf communities are often related to communication, accessibility, and social inclusion. Here are some types of challenging crises:

1. Health Crises:

• Deaf people struggle to get health information in sign language and have limited access to health literacy, especially during medical emergencies.
• There aren’t enough sign language interpreters in hospitals.

2. Economic Crises:

• Deaf people face higher unemployment and financial difficulties.
• Access to social services and financial aid can be limited.
• Funding for Deaf organizations and education may decrease as they are not considered top priorities, unlike disability organizations that aim to “hit many birds with one stone.”

3. Human Rights Violations:

• Deaf people are often excluded from decision-making and aid during global crises.
• They face discrimination and lack legal protection.
• Deaf individuals are at higher risk of violence and exploitation.

4. Technological Disruptions:

• The digital divide makes it harder for Deaf people to access important information.
• New technologies often lack sign language support and closed captioning.
• Remote learning and work can be difficult due to limited internet access.

The global crises that have impacted DDW in the 2020s are listed below:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• Economic recession
• Social unrest and protests
• Education and technological crises

1. Palmer, J. L. et. al, 2019.
2. National Deaf Center, 2021.
3. World Health Organization (WHO) Global report, 2022.

1. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 2016.
2. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 2016.
3. National Deaf Center, 2021.
4. World Federation of the Deaf, 2021.

1. World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), 2022
2. Deaf Child Worldwide, 2019.
3. National Deaf Children’s Society, 2022.
4. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 2021

Our resources and tools have been shared with our Deaf participants through training since 2012, both directly and indirectly. This means they have also passed them on to their local communities.

Since 2012, we have tracked all funding from grants and donors, investing in both completed and ongoing initiatives.

We started to record our impacts in 2012, including all the countries where projects and programs have been funded since DDW shifted its focus to being community-driven.