MNI Stories

Image of a flow chart entitled "How A Law is Passed". The left side of the flow chart shows how a bill passes through the Philippines House of Representatives, the right side shows how the same bill passes through the Philippines Senate. In both the House and the Senate, a Representative or Senator writes and files a bill, which is then assigned a number starting with HB (for the House version of the bill) or SB (for the Senate version of the bill). Next, different versions of the bill are written by different Representatives or Senators, and the first "Reading" of the bill is held in the House and in the Senate. Then the House version of the bill is assigned to a House of Representatives Committee while the Senate version of the bill is assigned to a Senate Committee. Next, each Committee calls a Public Hearing. The bill goes to a Technical Working Group (TWG) in the House and in the Senate. Then a second Reading is held and the House Committee and the Senate Committee each approve their version of the bill. Then there is a third Reading and Plenary Debate of each version of the bill. If the bill is approved in both the House and the Senate, then the two versions of the bill are brought together in the Conference Committee so that the Committee can merge the House and Senate versions of the bill. Finally, the President can sign the bill into law. To the left of the flow chart is a note that says "Approved and passed HB 7503". To the right side of the flow chart, there is a photograph of a group of people with excited facial expressions. Also to the right of the flow chart are two notes, one saying "SB1455 approved in the TWG level" and the other note saying "2nd Reading Passed" (in reference to the Senate version of the bill). Below the flow chart is another message that says, "The lobbying and advocacy is not yet but we are one step CLOSER! The Philippine Federation of the Deaf needs your support. #SaveOurFilipinoSignLanguage"

Passing the Filipino Sign Language Act

The president of the Philippines Federation of the Deaf explains the process for passing the Filipino Sign Language Act.

Screenshot from a video of two women seated at a table.

Deaf Women Leaders in Ghana, Africa: Empowerment, Advancement

Deaf women leaders are active in Ghana. And they are helping other deaf women learn to be leaders too. Watch interview of two leaders.

Deaf Accessibility in India

Thusar and Babloo talks about accessibility for deaf people in India

A group of approximately 30 women stand in rows, posing with a large poster in Nepali.

MNI Works with Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf in Nepal, South Asia

MNI staff works with the Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf in Nepal, South Asia, to observe and assist with their empowerment training workshop.

Fostering local sign language and leadership

Expert international volunteer worker Kirk Van Gilder talks about the importance of fostering local sign language and leadership rather than imposing your own sign language.

Have you ever assumed wrong? I did…

I looked at the seven statues of St. John on the shelf and asked them all for help. I had made it clear earlier that this money was theirs to spend as they wanted, so I had to shut up and be disappointed seeing them buy paper goods that would be used once and tossed away…for what?

Screen shot from video interview for Lisa Ramansar with Caribbean Deaf News.

Lisa Ramansar from Trinidad Interview with Deaf Caribbean News

Caribbean Deaf News interviews with Lisa Ramansar from Trinidad. She grew up without sign language then learned to sign as an adult.