Topher Avila, a Deaf passenger, filed a complaint with the US Transportation Security Administration regarding TSA’s treatment at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. prompted changes in the ways the agency treats travelers with accessibility needs. He was pulled aside by a TSA agent but no interpreter was made available for assistance. After about 20 minutes, Avila was allowed to clear the checkpoint. However, just after crossing he was stopped again by TSA who took his backpack and cell phone, leaving him unable to communicate or understand why he was being detained. When he asked for his phone back, Avila said an agent “put their finger in my face.” After more than an hour, Avila’s possessions were returned to him. When he asked the agent who returned the items what had happened, the agent wrote him a note that simply said “policy.” Avila requested to file a formal complaint but the agent would not allow him so Avila posted his experience on social media and it was seen by the airport’s CEO Ghizlane Badawi who contacted TSA. They have apologized and made changes to their internal processes.

Karla Honorio and Giannina Honorio, two Peruvian engineers, got a “Sustainable Cities” award during “KUNAN 2022” competition in Lima hosted by a company, KUNAN which assesses companies and businesses that contribute to the social development of the country. They were recognized for developing a mobile application that can translate voice to text, and vice versa to encourage inclusiveness using technology. Winner Giannina said “That our work is awarded and recognized by them motivates us to move forward, confirms that we have been doing a positive and correct work; but, above all, it allowed us to see that we are not alone, that there are many people who support our vision of improving the conditions of people with disabilities and that together we can achieve a better country”.

The head of the Communications Regulation Commission, CRC is collecting data on Deaf and disabled people around Colombia and their access to TV. Through Econometría consultancy, the survey was done with 1,245 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people with 23 focus groups in parts of the country. There are 459,784 Deaf people in Colombia. Results show 84% of the people interviewed preferred closed captions (CC), followed by Colombian Sign Language (LSC) with 67%. Further research also indicated issues with the size of LSC interpreter on the TV screen and the quality and clarity of the video.

A young Deaf refugee, Lawand, who fled to the United Kingdom (UK) from Iraq, where his family feared his life was under threat, is the subject of a documentary film. The family said they had escaped from northern Iraq after learning that ISIS had threatened to kill disabled children. The family settled in Derby and Lawand was enrolled at Royal School for the Deaf Derby (RSDD) which his family has described as “life-changing”. The feature-length film, “Name Me Lawand” premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and is showing in movie theaters.

Four female chess players from Saudi Arabia competed for the first time at the 1st Asia Pacific Deaf Rapid and Blitz Championships for Open and Women 2023 in Amman, Jordan from February 21st to 28th. The Saudi team were among more than 100 competitors from 20 countries participating in the event which was organized by the Jordanian Deaf Sports Federation and the Asia Pacific Deaf Sports Confederation in the Jordanian capital Amman.