A unique and important program that supported American Deaf students in science from high school through postdoctoral training has been abruptly dismantled due to cuts in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Known as the Deaf Scientists Pipeline, the initiative was a partnership between the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. It provided Deaf students with not just financial support, but also mentorship, research opportunities, and accessibility services, such as interpreters to support them thrive in fields where they are often isolated. The NIH terminated four of the five grants that sustained the pipeline, slashing nearly $3.6 million in future funding and leaving the last grant under threat.

Morocco has announced plans to establish the first university in Africa and the Middle East that is fully dedicated to educating Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. This was recently announced to be in partnership with Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, the world’s only higher education institution exclusively for Deaf students. The announcement came during a visit to Gallaudet University by Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco. During this visit, she oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The new university in Africa and the Middle East will provide a complete academic path from early childhood education through to doctoral studies. It was said that it will not only focus on accessible learning but also training for Deaf related professions. Karim Essakalli, who is the Deputy President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, explained that this initiative is a continuation of over fifty years of work by the Foundation to promote inclusive and dignified education for Deaf children in Morocco.

Sign language interpreters working in African media are speaking out about poor pay, lack of formal training, and being left out of key programs aimed at supporting the Deaf community. At the first Africa Media Sign Language Interpreter Conference that recently took place in Nairobi, Kenya, interpreters from countries including Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and South Africa shared concerns about being overworked and undervalued, despite their crucial role in making information accessible. Moreen Nambalirwa, the President of the Uganda National Association of Sign Language Interpreters, called for better professional recognition and support. The group also discussed using artificial intelligence to develop tools that translate African languages into sign language, which would help fill in the gap when there are no interpreters available.

Vancouver, Canada, will host the 2025 World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship from May 7 to 17 this year. Men’s teams from six countries will participate: the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Finland, in a round-robin format. The U.S. team, supported by the American Hearing-Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA), won the silver medal at their last international competition. Most of its players were trained at the Stan Mikita Annual School for the Deaf and have competed at school and collegiate levels. Among them is standout Noah Powell, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2024. Before the tournament, the team will hold a training camp in Chicago from May 3 to 7. AHIHA has been promoting Deaf hockey for over 50 years, funded by private donations and the USA Hockey Foundation.

The Tourist Unit of the Michoacán Public Security Secretariat (SSP) provides specialized assistance to visitors in the Historic Center of Morelia and high-traffic areas. During Holy Week, its officers offer traffic and social guidance in several languages, including English and Mexican Sign Language (LSM), to ensure accessible communication with both national and international tourists. The SSP encourages the public to enjoy the holiday season while following safety measures and reminds everyone that the emergency number 911 is available. national and international tourists. The SSP encourages the public to enjoy the holiday season while following safety measures and reminds everyone that the emergency number 911 is available.