Charlie Kirk, a conservative American political activist, criticized the appearance of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters during emergency press conferences about the Los Angeles wildfires. In a tweet on X, Kirk called the interpreters a "joke" and that their presence, which he says often takes up half the screen, was a “distraction”. He also stated he had "nothing against the hearing impaired" - a term many in the Deaf community find outdated and offensive. On his show, he argued that closed captioning should be enough and that interpreters are unnecessary and distracting during such critical briefings. However, fact-checkers on the internet pointed out that live captions on the YouTube livestream were filled with errors, which proves that captions do not provide accessibility in the same way that sign language interpreters do. 

Tara Warford, a Deaf education assistant at the British Columbia School for the Deaf, has filed a human rights complaint against the Burnaby school district, accusing it of ongoing discrimination for refusing to hire her to work in hearing classrooms. Warford, who works at the BC Provincial School for the Deaf, has applied several times for positions at other schools within the district but says her applications were repeatedly denied without explanation. She claims the district has created a "poisoned work environment" by telling her she is not qualified to work with hearing students, despite offering interpreters to non-Deaf staff working in Deaf classrooms. Warford also alleges that district staff used discriminatory language when discussing her qualifications for positions outside the Deaf school.

Starbucks Malaysia is celebrating its 26th anniversary by opening its fourth signing store, a display of the company's commitment to inclusivity. The fourth Starbucks signing store is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and is said to be designed to provide a welcoming space for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The new store features a team of Deaf baristas, who use sign language to communicate with customers, making the experience more accessible. This initiative is part of Starbucks' ongoing efforts to create an inclusive work environment and ensure equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their abilities.

The Libertad Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted a bilingual performance in Argentine Sign Language (LSA) and Spanish. The show, “VerdeLinda, leyendas para ver” was organized by the National Secretariat of Culture's Accessibility Program. The event highlights Latin American legends and songs in a visually engaging format. The production, led by Natalia Tesone, an actress and LSA advocate, aims to bridge Deaf and hearing communities by creating a shared cultural experience that is accessible in both spoken and signed language. Each performance includes a “post-show” discussion in which the audience is invited to reflect on the experience, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation through shared stories and art.