Blog post by Alexandre Bloxs, Policy Manager at the European Union of the Deaf. During a recent training session for the EDF project Accessible Spaces for All, which aims to raise awareness in the tourism sector about the needs of persons with disabilities, Alexandre Bloxs shared some valuable insights on making tourism more accessible for the Deaf community. Here are the key takeaways from his participation.
Before diving into good practices and some useful insights about accessible travel for deaf people, I want to remind you that access to information in sign language is crucial for the deaf community. Further than being a measure of accessibility, national sign languages are full languages with the same linguistic status as spoken languages. They are the natural and preferred languages of deaf people.
In the European Union alone, there are 30 different sign languages, and globally, over 200. This diversity highlights the importance of having information available in sign language, especially when traveling. Whether it’s museums, restaurants, or hotels, creating “sign language spaces” is essential.
Including sign language in tourism: Three main ways
- Deaf museum guides: Museums can employ deaf guides to provide tours in sign language. This ensures that deaf visitors receive information directly in their preferred language.
- Sign language information: Museums and historical sites can incorporate sign language into their exhibits through modern technology. This can include video displays with sign language interpretation or interactive screens. For example, Het Huis van Alijnv in Gent, Belgium, and the Holy Blood Procession in Bruges offer pre-recorded video tours in sign language. The Vatican provides tours in American Sign Language (ASL) and Italian Sign Language (LIS), ensuring high-quality experiences for deaf visitors.
- Deaf-Led tours: Companies can organise tours led by deaf guides. These tours not only provide information in sign language but also create a sense of community among deaf travellers. An example of such a travel company is “Hands-On Travel,” based in the USA, which organises trips for deaf travellers. They offer around 120 trips a year to various destinations, including Scandinavia, Turkey, Italy, and Spain. These trips are led by deaf guides, ensuring an enriching and accessible experience.
Deaf historical museums
The European Union of the Deaf has been actively involved in creating deaf historical museums with information available in sign language. These museums tell the stories of the first deaf schools, the evolution of deaf culture, and the challenges faced by the community. Here comes a list of deaf historical museums in Europe:
- Denmark – Danish Deaf History Society
- Finland – Finnish Museum of the Deaf, Kuurojen Museo
- France – Musée d’Histoire et de Culture des Sourds
- Germany – Museum zur Geschichte der Gehörlosen und Schwerhörigen
- Ireland – Deaf Heritage Centre Ireland
- The Netherlands – Museum of Deaf Education (Museum voor Dovenonderwijs)
- Norway – Norwegian Museum of Deaf History and Culture
- UK – Deaf Museum and Archive
- Slovenia – The House of Sign Language
Deaf-Friendly places around the world
- Starbucks in Malaysia: One of my favourite examples of deaf-friendly spaces is the Starbucks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here, all the staff are deaf, and customers must sign their orders. For non-signing guests, there are iPads to assist with communication. Similar setups exist in Beijing, China, and another location in Malaysia.
- In Indonesia, many deaf individuals work as baristas, making coffee culture accessible to the deaf community. Nepal boasts a deaf restaurant “Sam’s One Tree Café” where all waiters are deaf, providing an excellent opportunity for hearing people to interact with deaf waitstaff and make the dining experience more inclusive.
- Reims, France, hosts a significant deaf festival, called “Clin d’Oeil” featuring movies, art, and theatre, all in sign language. This festival is a fantastic opportunity for both the deaf and hearing communities to engage with Deaf culture.
Conclusion
In summary, there are numerous ways to make tourism more accessible for the deaf community. By creating cultural spaces and experiences that cater specifically to deaf people, we can ensure that they have direct access to information without needing to arrange sign language interpreters. While there are still not many of these opportunities, I hope to see more such spaces and events emerging both in the EU and worldwide.
For any more information or questions, please contact Alexandre Bloxs: alexandre.bloxs@eud.eu.
Photo credit: Lorenza photography and Juan Carlos Martinez de Maya