Call for strengthening sign language communication

Muscat, Sept 23
The 'With a Hand Gesture, We Create Communication' initiative concluded on Wednesday, marking International Day of Sign Languages, observed annually on 23 September, under the patronage of Dr Abdullah al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Persons with Disabilities Affairs. The initiative was organised by Al Tawasul Institute for Training in partnership with the Nafith app and the Oman Human Rights Commission.
The initiative aims to strengthen sign language communication skills among government and private sector employees and members of the public, build effective bridges with the hearing-impaired community, and raise awareness of their rights while easing their integration into public life and services.
Carried out across five stations in different locations, the initiative benefited more than 150 government employees, over 125 members of the public, and more than 110 people with hearing disabilities through its training and awareness programmes.
Saeed al Bada'ei, Director General of Al Tawasul Institute for Training, described sign language as one of the most important human tools for strengthening communication, particularly with people with hearing disabilities, calling it an independent language with its own grammar. He noted that 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf and the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, pointing out that more than 70 million deaf people worldwide use over 300 different sign languages, and said the need to develop these skills in Oman is more urgent than ever, in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Saud al Maawali, Deputy Chairman of the Oman Human Rights Commission, said the day marks an opportunity to assess national efforts protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. He explained that the Commission trained its own staff in sign language and cooperated with the Ministries of Health and Labour to build national capacity, pointing to the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a new undersecretary-level sector within the Ministry of Social Development.
The closing ceremony included a presentation of the initiative's outcomes and a working paper titled 'Technology and Sign Interpretation' exploring the latest technical solutions supporting communication with people with hearing disabilities. The programme concluded with a paper titled 'Sustainable Sign Empowerment System' examining the future of sign communication empowerment efforts, before the ceremony closed with the honouring of contributors to the initiative's success.