Why Signing Deaf Communities?

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‘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.

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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.

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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.

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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

SOURCES

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“Voluntourism” is when people travel to a different place to help others while on vacation. They do volunteer work, like building houses or teaching kids, and get to explore new places and cultures at the same time.

However, it can have a negative side because sometimes volunteers don’t understand the local culture well and may end up doing more harm than good. This can lead to cultural exploitation, where local people and their traditions are used for the benefit of the volunteers, rather than truly helping the community.

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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.

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

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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.

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“Tied aid” means when a country gives money to another country as help, but with a condition that the money must be used to buy things from the country giving the aid. This can limit the receiving country’s choices and can make them rely too much on the giving country.

Why We Focus on Signing Deaf Communities

Each Deaf Community Has Unique Ecosystem

Our Expertise

Deaf-Centric Consulting

Developmental Accessible Resources

Well-Informed Workshops and Training

Our Approach

1. Understand

2. Collaborate

3. Act

4. Do

5. Sustain

Support Us In Evolving Through Sign Languages