Spotlight on Comprehensive Projects: Americas Area Sign Languages

Equipping Hands to Bring Good News

Project goal: By 2015, translation work will have started in each Deaf community.

In many areas of the world, the Deaf face unique challenges to experiencing God’s Word. Most cannot understand the language used by the hearing population around them—even in written form. Instead, they communicate with signed languages—each with its own symbols, expressions, and grammatical structure. Now technological advances are allowing translation teams to create sign-language Scripture products such as DVDs that the Deaf can easily access and understand.

In the Americas, there are about thirty Deaf communities in twenty-three countries needing translation and language development. Many of these countries are increasing their official recognition of sign languages and their acceptance of Deaf communities as cultural entities.

Deaf leaders have taken the initiative in expanding translation and language-development work throughout the Americas, developing dictionaries and grammars, and broadening educational opportunities for the Deaf.

Wycliffe will work closely with Deaf communities, churches, and educational institutions to train, mentor, coordinate, and fund these efforts. Equipping Hands to Bring Good News will promote a sustainable approach that empowers the Deaf to lead the work themselves, with the vision of seeing God’s Word transforming Deaf communities throughout the Americas.

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