Mexican Sign Language promotion urged for deaf inclusion

In observance of the International Day of Sign Languages, educators and specialists are calling for increased promotion and use of Mexican Sign Language (LSM) to ensure the social, cultural, and educational inclusion of deaf children.

In Morelos, the Centro de Atención Múltiple (CAM) number 7 noted that a lack of LSM knowledge among families and the broader community creates barriers for students. The institution provides specialized pedagogical attention to 28 students from various municipalities in Morelos and Puebla, emphasizing that families and society share a responsibility to provide effective communication tools for deaf youth.

In Sinaloa, interpreter María Cristina Osorio Armenta highlighted the necessity of bilingual education, where LSM serves as the primary language alongside written Spanish. She noted that while medical interventions like hearing aids are common, LSM remains the native language through which deaf individuals express themselves most effectively. There is a reported growing interest among young people to learn LSM as they recognize its importance for societal integration.