On October 23rd, three Irish Deaf people made history by becoming the first Irish Sign Language (ISL) user graduates of the Dublin City University (DCU). This achievement was made possible by a program introduced in 2019, which allowed Deaf and hard-of-hearing students who use ISL to be able to study at the university. The three graduates, Kevin Dudley, Aimee Ennis McLoughlin, and Aisling O’Halloran, are now qualified primary school teachers and have already begun working in the classroom as teachers with Deaf children at Holy Family School for Deaf Children in Cabra, Dublin. The trio formed a strong bond while studying together, providing support to each other during their educational journey.

Justin Edgar is a hard-of-hearing British filmmaker who often includes people with disabilities in his films. He recently produced a unique film titled “The Letter,” directed by Sam Dore, which features an entire cast and crew of Deaf artists. This 30-minute film explores the experiences and the impact on the Deaf communities in Germany during World War II in 1933. While the film is based on true stories, fictionalized characters are used to delve into the narrative of a Deaf regiment of stormtroopers and the rise of the Nazi-controlled social organization for Deaf individuals, known as the Reich Union of the Deaf of Germany.

Kampala recently hosted the country’s first festival to provide sign language interpreters. The Bell Lager ObaFest beer festival celebrated the diversity of East African cultures. The idea to make the festival accessible first stemmed when representatives of the festival organizers conducted an accessibility audit at the venue to figure out how people with disabilities could fully enjoy the ObaFest.

In Cochabamba, two deaf individuals Sarah Nina and Juan Pablo Arispe have secured jobs as guards. Sarah works in City Security, while Juan works for the Intendency at the Municipal Office. Over a year ago, they passed both theoretical and practical exams, proving their suitability for these positions. According to Article 2, Paragraph I, of Supreme Decree 29608, dated June 18, 2008, public institutions are obligated to employ people with disabilities, with a minimum requirement of 4%. In addition to these guards, the Municipality employs people with disabilities in various units.

In Callao – Lima, Dann Ticona Cabrera (20) is a young man with a hearing disability eagerly awaited the start of his classes at the Public Pedagogical Higher Institute “María Madre.” His excitement waned, however when he realized there was no sign language interpreter in the classroom to facilitate lesson comprehension. Even though four days have passed since the classes began, Dann and two other young individuals with hearing impairment still lack the tools to access education. Consequently, he and his peers staged a protest today outside the educational institution, demanding the provision of interpreters. The student’s mother expresses her frustration, as it has been disheartening for him and his two companions to watch the rest of the class progress while they struggle to understand the sessions due to their inability to hear.