Libras inclusion and deaf education in Brazil

Efforts to promote Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and deaf inclusion in Brazil have expanded from legislative and educational models into broader public services, healthcare, and corporate sectors. In Curitiba, the City Council moved to consider a proposal to include Libras as an extracurricular component in municipal elementary schools to reduce communication barriers. In São José dos Pinhais, the Escola Municipal Bilíngue para Surdos Professora Ilza de Souza Santos continues to serve as a functional model, utilizing Libras as the primary language of instruction while teaching written Portuguese as a second language. Recent initiatives in Arraial do Cabo, Mauá, and Nova Iguaçu have furthered accessibility through remote interpreter systems, medical assistance, and pedagogical projects. Building on these local efforts, the National Policy for Bilingual Education for the Deaf (Pnebs) has emerged as a central framework. Established by the Ministry of Education (MEC), the policy aims to ensure Libras serves as the primary language of instruction (L1) and written Portuguese as a second language (L2). The Pnebs is structured around six pillars: governance, guidelines, curriculum and pedagogical materials, knowledge production and monitoring, professional training, and the recognition of innovative experiences. To support this, the government is utilizing the PDDE Equidade program to provide direct financial resources to schools for infrastructure needs. According to 2025 School Census data, bilingual education is currently present in 119 schools across Brazil, comprising 50 dedicated bilingual schools and 69 schools offering specialized bilingual classes. The public school system leads this initiative with 94 schools and 536 classrooms. Efforts to qualify educators are being facilitated through the National Network for the Continuous Training of Education Professionals (Renafor). Despite these advancements, educators and professionals note that significant barriers persist.