Going to the doctor. Attending a class. Handling a bureaucratic procedure. Requesting information at a government office. These are actions that form part of the daily routines of millions of people and, in principle, should not pose any difficulty. However, for many deaf people, carrying them out autonomously still depends on something as basic as being able to communicate in their own language.
This September 23, International Day of Sign Languages, the Confederación Estatal de Personas Sordas (CNSE) focuses precisely on that reality: the gap that still exists between a right being recognized and its full exercise in everyday life.
“We have made a lot of progress in recognition, but rights are measured in real life,” explains Roberto Suárez, president of CNSE.
What happens when a deaf person goes to the doctor or needs to carry out a bureaucratic procedure?
A medical consultation involves explaining what is happening, understanding a professional’s instructions, and being able to make decisions. For this to be possible, communication must be accessible.
The same occurs in a classroom, before an administration, in social services, or during a judicial procedure. Without the right resources, deaf people may be forced to rely on family members, seek other ways to communicate, or depend on improvised solutions.
“It is not a matter of asking for special treatment. It is about autonomy and the effective exercise of our linguistic rights,” says CNSE.
The recent reform of disability and dependency laws strengthens accessibility to information and communications. Among the resources contemplated are sign language, captioning, and other supports, depending on the needs and preferences of each person.
There are also advances in the accessibility of teleassistance for deaf people in dependent situations, with tools such as video interpretation and direct communication in sign language.
But recognizing a right does not always mean that right is accessible in practice. “A law may recognize a right, but resources, professionals, and stable services are needed for that right to reach people,” says Suárez.
The new barrier that artificial intelligence could bring
Accessibility now faces another scenario: digital transformation.
More and more we do things through a screen: make an appointment, consult information, complete procedures, or communicate with a service. And artificial intelligence is beginning to play a role in many of these activities.
These technologies can open up new possibilities to improve communication and facilitate access to information. But they can also create new barriers if sign languages and the needs of deaf people are not taken into account from the outset.
“We have the opportunity to do things right from the start, incorporating sign languages and involving deaf people in the design of these technologies that will become part of our lives,” says Suárez.
The issue, therefore, affects not only the present but also the future: how to ensure that new technologies do not reproduce the barriers that still exist in everyday situations like going to the doctor, studying, or handling a bureaucratic procedure.
On this International Day of Sign Languages, the demand centers on something as essential as being able to communicate, obtain information, and make autonomous decisions, both in the physical world and in the increasingly digital one.
