Iranian Sign Language on the Verge of Official Recognition / Deployment of 9,000 Interpreters and Training of 600 Instructors

According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department, communication is one of the most fundamental human needs and plays a decisive role in the quality of life and social participation. For the Deaf community, however, this need has long faced significant challenges, including a lack of access to qualified interpreters, limited standardized sign language education, and the absence of official recognition of Iranian Sign Language. In recent years, Iran’s Welfare Organization has taken targeted steps to reduce this communication gap and facilitate greater social inclusion for Deaf individuals. Ali Nemati, a rehabilitation expert for the Deaf at the Welfare Organization, emphasized that communication barriers have consistently been one of the most pressing concerns for the Deaf community. He noted that over the past three years, the organization has focused on institutionalizing Iranian Sign Language while creating opportunities for its growth and expansion, aiming to enhance communicative accessibility for Deaf individuals nationwide. Highlighting the organization’s extensive collaboration with the National Network of Deaf Associations, Nemati explained that guidelines and procedures were developed for training and deploying Iranian Sign Language instructors. “During the drafting of these guidelines, we carefully considered the needs and demands of the Deaf community to pave the way for removing communication barriers and facilitating their active participation in society,” he said. Nemati further stated that the core of this initiative is the training and deployment of interpreters. “The key challenge has always been interpreter education and deployment, which is essential for connecting the Deaf community with society,” he said. To date, 600 sign language instructors have been trained, and over 9,000 interpreter assignments have been carried out.