No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights: International Week of Deaf People 2025
September 23, 2025
Every September, communities worldwide come together to celebrate International Week of Deaf People (IWDP)—a global recognition of Deaf culture, sign languages, and the human rights of Deaf people.
This year’s theme, set by the World Federation of the Deaf, is powerful and clear:
“No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights.”
Why Sign Language Matters
Did you know there are over 300 signed languages used around the globe? Each one is distinct—carrying its own grammar, history, and cultural identity.
Sign languages are not a “version” of spoken languages. They are languages in their own right. They connect communities, preserve culture, and give millions of Deaf people full participation in society.
Recognizing sign languages is not just an accessibility measure—it’s a human right.
The Role of Technology
And yet, today’s standard for signed language access in digital spaces is far from enough.
Here’s what the “old way” looks like:
One long video of a web page, document, or resource stored on an external platform like YouTube or Vimeo. This forces users off the source page, breaking continuity, analytics, and user experience.
Embedded signed language videos that sit directly on websites, slowing down performance and eating up bandwidth.
Fragmented, patchwork solutions that treat signed languages as an afterthought—rather than putting them on equal footing with spoken and written translations.
Until now, there has been no inclusive technology innovation that puts signed languages directly on the map, at the source.
That’s why we built PIVOT.
With just one line of code, PIVOT makes signed language translations part of the standard experience—alongside audio voiceovers and written translations. No external links. No bandwidth drain. No barriers.
If you’re seeking true language equity for your language access plan, PIVOT is your answer.
Built by Deaf Leaders
And in the spirit of celebrating IWDP, it’s important to note:
PIVOT is engineered, designed, and led by an all-Deaf team.
We know first-hand the frustrations of outdated systems, and we built PIVOT to remove those barriers—for Deaf communities, for Limited English Proficient (LEP) users, and for global audiences everywhere.
The Bigger Picture
This year’s IWDP theme reminds us that language rights are human rights. By supporting global signed languages, we move closer to a world where Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and multilingual communities can engage equally—whether on a healthcare portal, government website, or workplace training platform.
Because language equity isn’t optional—it’s the future.
And with PIVOT, that future is already here.
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- Katherine Lees, CEO
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