Stories in Sign Language

Screenshot from video in which Thành Nguyễn explains the start of his Vietnam Deaf Hairstyling Business

Vietnam Deaf Hairstyling Business: Generating deaf employment

A decade ago, he was a novice hairstylist. Now he owns his own Vietnam deaf hairstyling business with many deaf and hearing customers.

A screenshot taken from a video that shows a man signing to the camera.

Never Met Another Deaf Person: Deaf Children, Remote Villages

Deaf children and families living in remote villages in Ghana had never met another deaf person. Robert Sampana transformed their lives.

Susana Stiglich: Finding Sign Language, Becoming an Educator

Susana Stiglich, who is now a university professor and consultant in Peru, shares her life story as a Deaf woman.

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.

MNI Partner Organizations Celebrate the International Week of the Deaf 2018

Deaf organizations around the world including MNI partner organizations celebrate the International Week of the Deaf!

Screenshot of a video that shows Pamela Molina signing to the camera.

Pamela Molina (Chile): More and More Women Are Strong!

Pamela Molina has seen change and progress for Deaf people in Chile. In particular, she sees hope for Deaf women in Chile. Watch her story.

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.

Sign Language and Deaf Education in South Africa

Ayanda Ntukwana at Sign Language Education and Development (SLED) shares her experience in Deaf education in South Africa.

What a volunteer should not do

Watch a former President tell about his experience working with a volunteer that ended in a conflict.

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.

Letting deaf people be the leaders

Clarissa from Macau talks about a problem we see worldwide – deaf people not having the chance to lead.

Power of Empowerment

Empowering deaf women in Africa – what happens?