Category: Sign language – NZSL
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Official NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language)
This year represents the first major milestone for NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) and the D/deaf community since 2006. Although the D/deaf community is active in outreach, additional efforts are required to increase awareness of NZSL, Deaf culture, and the importance of inclusion in workplaces, communities, and homes. Despite increased awareness, significant gaps remain in…
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The man behind the photos
Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria ( My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.) This well-known quote highlights that language is not only a means of communication but is also central to Māori identity and spiritual awareness. The photos depict many D/deaf individuals, their…
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An Offical language – NZSL in New Zealand
Summary provided by AI Overview. New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) became an official language in April 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act. It is the primary language of the New Zealand Deaf community and uses gestures, facial expressions, and body movements for visual communication. NZSL is independent of English. Key facts about NZSL…
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International Week of Deaf People 2025
Theme for 2025: No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights 22 to 28 September 2025 Each year, Deaf communities around the world come together to celebrate the International Week of Deaf People. It is a time when we can all unite, regardless of our differences, to raise awareness about human rights, particularly for people with…
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It is crucial that we urgently recognise sign language as a global language.
The blogger/historian/researcher would like to thank her mother for sending the article “A visit to Gibbet Hill led to a story” and Brian Cleary, who is deaf with a cochlear implant, for discovering the long-lost book “Gibbet Hill” by Bram Stoker. Jean decided to research Bram’s mother, Charlotte M. B. Stoker, and found the speech…
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I Sign for Human Rights!
#IWDeaf Human rights are a set of interlinked and inalienable rights inherent to every human being, whatever their nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, culture or language. All human beings have the right to exercise their human rights without discrimination. Human rights are civil (right to life), political (right to…
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Reflecting my journey as a deaf blogger/historian/researcher/advocator
Today our celebration of International Sign Language and NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) week came to end tonight. Nevertheless, never end for the work must go on.Today the theme is about “I sign for Human Rights!” as I posted the blog earlier. The last few days back to Monday 21st September to today, I posted…
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Deaf Leadership
#IWDeaf The motto of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is “Nothing about us without us”. It means that any initiative undertaken in favour of deaf people must be done in closeconsultation with them through their representative organisations at every stage. Knowledge empowers deaf people and allows them to be…
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Equal Opportunities for ALL Deaf People
#IWDeaf An inclusive employment environment in sign language is the cornerstone that enables deaf people to thrive and reach their full potential in order to maximise their participation and contribution to society. This inclusion and participation in society is underpinned by government-funded qualified and accredited sign languages interpreters, as well as multilingual workplaces which use…
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The Legal Recognition of National Sign Languages
#IWDeaf Uganda was the first country in the world to legally recognise its national sign language in 1995. Since then, only approximately 50 countries have formally granted their national sign languages an equal status to their national spoken language(s). This is less than 25% of the United Nations 193 Member States. National sign language recognition…