São Paulo expands Libras training and bilingual education

In São Paulo, initiatives are expanding to improve communication and inclusion for the deaf community. The State Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SEDPcD), through the Escola da Inclusão, is offering a new edition of a free online Basic Libras course. The program features live classes taught by deaf instructors via Zoom, aiming to prepare hearing individuals to interact with the state's more than 592,000 deaf residents.

Additionally, in the municipality of Limeira, the C. E. I. E. F. Rafael Affonso Leite school provides bilingual education for deaf students from early childhood through elementary school. The school utilizes both Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and written Portuguese as the foundations for learning. As of this year, the institution has also integrated weekly Libras lessons for hearing students to foster a more inclusive school culture and bridge communication gaps between students.