The construction of an inclusive society presupposes the acceptance of human diversity, whose goal is to understand, recognize, and offer equal opportunities for all people by eliminating barriers and celebrating differences and human value.
This process involves changes in educational practices, the dissemination of legislation, and awareness at the educational, organizational, and political levels. In Portugal, it is estimated that around 120,000 people have some degree of hearing loss and 30,000 communicate through Portuguese Sign Language.
These figures show that, although it is a minority community, sign communication is used to promote preventive measures in the fight against exclusion and social isolation. Although the vast majority of deaf people use this language, some challenges are still observed. Currently, there is a need for the presence of Portuguese Sign Language Interpreters in more services and in society, as well as the guarantee of more opportunities and accessibility for this group. The challenges remain, but together we can move towards eliminating these barriers in everyday life.
