Uganda's U-Signup App: Promoting Inclusive Communication in Deaf Education

The National Association of the Deaf in Uganda (UNAD) focuses on education by partnering with the government to establish specialized schools for deaf children and train teachers in sign language, Robert Nkwangu, executive director of the National Association of the Deaf of Uganda, told Sputnik Africa through interpreter Wycliff Bukenya.

They also offer vocational skills training to enhance employability and independence for deaf individuals.

Embracing technology, the association developed the U-Sign app to widen access to sign language education. This app enables users to learn the basics of sign language via smartphones, facilitating easier communication with the deaf community.

The U-Sign app has achieved over 15,000 downloads and is praised for its convenience and comprehensive sections, including healthcare terminology. This feature is especially beneficial for medical practitioners addressing the health concerns of deaf patients.

"Deaf education has been lagging behind because of sign language and this app has helped the teachers understand these concepts of how they can teach the children in class and generally public to really appreciate that persons are part of the ecosystem, and many had whopping interest in learning sign language after looking at this app. And it has created a lot of sensitivity and visibility," Nkwangu said.

In the context of advancing deaf education in Uganda, bridging the communication gap between hearing parents and their deaf children has proven to be a significant challenge. However, leveraging innovative tools like the U-Sign app is bringing about transformative changes.

Parents find immense value in this service, leading to a more profound appreciation of their role in their children's education. The app provides a resource that addresses a critical gap: the ability to learn and use sign language at home. Many families have praised this development for significantly improving the quality of interaction and bonding between hearing parents and their deaf children.

"So, as parents do appreciate and can get the services, [this] has been very, very good and something that [they] thank the app for," Nkwangu underlined.

The challenges with deaf education in Uganda are numerous, particularly due to the lack of sign language proficiency among teachers. Historically, this has been a significant barrier, severely impacting the quality of education for deaf students. The introduction of the U-Sign app, however, is beginning to change this landscape by providing teachers with the necessary tools to learn and teach concepts in sign language.

"The teachers. You see, deaf education in Uganda has been having very many challenges in the performance of deaf education because teachers in schools don't know sign language. And using this app, many teachers are getting concepts on how they can teach these children. The service providers themselves. The app is helping those in the police force, those in the judiciary," the executive director explained.

UNAD's innovative approach with the app can serve as a model for other countries. While the signs used in the app might differ from country to country due to linguistic variations, the underlying technology and instructional methodologies can be adapted and implemented globally. Sharing technical know-how and collaborating on such projects can amplify the impact, ensuring that more deaf individuals receive quality education and services.

Furthermore, there is a growing need for governments to integrate sign language into mainstream education, Nkwangu noted. By incorporating sign language into curricula and ensuring educational materials are accessible in sign language, the reach and effectiveness of educational programs can be significantly enhanced. This comprehensive approach not only benefits deaf children but also promotes widespread sign language proficiency among all students, fostering a more inclusive society.

"We would like this app to be an investment like an income-generating entity for UNAD such that any download has a cost attached to it to help the maintenance of it," he said.

The advancements in deaf education and inclusion through technological innovations and supportive policies are tangible steps towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Recognizing and incorporating sign language as an official language and ensuring its widespread learning and use is essential, Nkwangu said.

"My brothers and sisters in Africa as a region, I’d like to let you know that without sign language, you cannot serve deaf persons. Deaf persons are part of our families, are part of our communities and are part of our countries. They need to enjoy employment, education, health just like any other person. But one thing you must do first to serve deaf persons or being served by deaf persons, you need to have a language, and that language is sign language," he explained.

According to the head of UNAD, embracing these changes holds the promise of a future where deaf individuals can thrive alongside their hearing peers, contributing to a richer, more inclusive society.

"So I humbly request that other countries in Africa, if we can recognize sign language in our local [laws] and in national constitutions, that would be the first step moving forward because Uganda has already done that because sign language is within our laws of the land recognized in the Constitution," Nkwangu concluded.