This morning, 24th September, 2025, IWDP2025 convened a consultation on standardizing UgSL to protect the language’s integrity and improve clarity across services, education, media, and public communication. The work is Deaf-led and aligns with this year’s theme: No Human Rights without Sign Language Rights.
Why now
Recent public use of UgSL has become inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate—circulated by unvetted sources and ad-hoc interpreters—leading to confusion and reduced access. Standardization (while respecting regional variation) sets clear norms for official contexts and strengthens rights in practice.
If UgSL isn’t standardized, risks include:
Miscommunication in high-stakes settings (clinics, schools, courts, emergencies).
Conflicting vocabulary/grammar, making training and interpretation unreliable.
Public mistrust and dilution of UgSL through incorrect “influencer” usage.
Barrier to services: Deaf people face slower, error-prone interactions.
