Deaf-Blind students at the Special Education High School for the Blind and Deaf in Balkh Province, Afghanistan, are raising concerns about deteriorating education conditions under Taliban oversight. They report that most specialized teachers - those trained in Braille and sign language- have been dismissed or transferred, and replaced with unqualified staff unfamiliar with the needs of low vision and Deaf students. Before the Taliban’s return to power, many of the school's educators were themselves people with disabilities or had specific training in inclusive education. Now, only three teachers with low vision remain, and students say they do not have expertise or qualifications in specific fields like math and writing. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have made significant changes across Afghanistan’s education system. For Deaf and blind students, especially girls and young people with disabilities, these changes have led to severe setbacks, leaving many vulnerable students without the support they need to learn and thrive.

Monica Manyanga is a Deaf student at Middlesex University in Dubai who is using her experience as a Deaf person to inspire others to learn American Sign Language (ASL). During her third year as an Information Technology student, she became involved in the university’s Language and Culture Exchange (LCExchange) program, where she tutors ASL classes. The program aims to encourage students to explore and learn different languages while providing a networking opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to connect. Through her role as a tutor, Monica not only helps her classmates learn a new skill but also raises awareness and an appreciation for Deaf culture and sign language. 

A recent study in Ghana has revealed significant gaps in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge among Deaf people. This has resulted in a call for policy changes to improve access to essential health services. The research, conducted by the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) with support from Amplify Change, focused on Deaf communities across four regions. It found that Deaf individuals who use sign language interpreters still often struggle to fully understand crucial health information, while those without access to interpreters face even greater challenges. At a forum hosted in the capital city of Accra, health professionals and researchers emphasized the need for better communication strategies, trained interpreters, and more inclusive healthcare services. GNAD and healthcare workers highlighted several barriers that prevent Deaf individuals from receiving proper care. Communication difficulties, long waiting times, and low literacy levels were identified as major issues.

Many hearing people see the Deaf community but are unable to communicate with them due to a lack of knowledge in sign language. To bridge this gap, the American University in Cairo (AUC) launched a sign language training initiative. They selected 180 hearing staff members from various access and support services across Egypt to participate in the training. This program was made possible through a partnership with France and generous funding, ensuring both language skills and cultural understanding were included. The training didn’t just focus on learning sign language – it also introduced hearing participants to Deaf culture and taught them how to communicate respectfully and effectively with Deaf individuals. As a result, the participants enjoyed the experience and are now able to connect better with the Egyptian Deaf community. Many of them are inspired to continue learning more advanced sign language so they can contribute to a more inclusive future for Egypt’s Deaf community.

A local bank noticed that many Deaf people were not using their banking services and began to wonder why. To understand the issue, the bank reached out to the Deaf Association of Malawi. The association explained that many Deaf people in Malawi don’t have access to banking services or don’t understand how banks work due to a lack of accessible communication and support. The bank listened carefully and asked about the specific challenges Deaf people face. They took notes and began planning how to make their services more accessible — not only for customers but also by training their staff to communicate better with the Deaf community. Now, the Malawi Bank and the Deaf Association of Malawi are working together to improve banking access. Their goal is to ensure Deaf people can comfortably deposit and withdraw money, understand financial processes, and use technology confidently. Together, they are also exploring how to make banking technology more inclusive and accessible for Deaf users across the country.