At 27, Sandra runs a small bakery in Komamboga, a Kampala city suburb. An intelligent and ambitious young woman born with a hearing impairment, Sandra’s greatest challenge is communication barriers due to limited awareness of sign language. Having dropped out of school after Senior Six, she has had to carve her own path in life. Yet in her business dealings, this lack of accessible communication constantly holds her back.
Her colleagues and customers often do not know sign language. Because of this, conversations slip by, and critical decisions are made without her input. Though full of ideas, Sandra is often left on the sidelines because the world around her has not learned to listen differently.
However, with the help of sign language interpreters and digital tools such as messaging apps and captioning software, Sandra continues to push forward. Her dream is to run a thriving business in a world where communication is treated as a right.
Sandra’s struggle is not unique. According to the World Health Organization, more than 430 million people worldwide live with disabling hearing loss, and in Uganda alone, nearly 1.2 million people are affected according to a report by Uganda Bureau of Statistics. This reality highlights the urgent need for inclusive communication.
Global frameworks like the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirm that access to information, whether through sign language, captioning, or other means, is a human right. Uganda’s 2023 National Policy on Persons with Disabilities, was a major step forward, requiring public services to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Yet, for many, especially in rural communities, the gap remains wide.
This year’s theme for the International Week of Deaf People, “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights,” speaks directly to Sandra’s journey. Sign language is a bridge to opportunity, dignity, and equality. While progress is being made, inclusion must go beyond policy; it must be lived out every day.
At Outbox, this belief is at the heart of the 10X Program, run in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The program aims to support young women, including 5% persons with disabilities, by opening access to finance, markets, and digital tools. For Sandra, this means training in sign language-friendly environments, financial linkages that give her a fair chance, and digital platforms that connect her products to wider markets.
As we mark Deaf Awareness Week, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusive communication. By embracing sign language rights and breaking down barriers, we can build a future where entrepreneurs like Sandra are not exceptions, but powerful examples of what is possible when no one is excluded.
