The Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity has highlighted its efforts to support people with hearing impairments on International Sign Language Day, which falls on September 23rd every year. The ministry provides various services, including language skills development and rehabilitation, to 12,026 people with hearing impairments through 125 language centers across the country. These services aim to promote social integration and equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
The ministry's services include early detection and hearing measurement, language and communication skills development, and training using suitable methods. Additionally, six specialized institutions provide rehabilitation and training services for people with hearing impairments. These programs focus on developing hearing and expressive skills, as well as vocational training that matches the capabilities of people with hearing impairments and the needs of the labor market.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity also provides medical assistance, including hearing aids and medical devices, through non-governmental organizations under its supervision. Recently, a medical convoy was organized in collaboration with the "Sanabel Life" foundation and the Port Said Directorate of Social Solidarity, which provided medical examinations for 150 cases. Furthermore, an initiative was launched to provide 1,500 hearing aids to children in Upper Egypt, in cooperation with the Egyptian Bank for Relief and under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Solidarity.
In the field of university education, the ministry continues to support students with hearing impairments, providing 84 sign language interpreters for 587 students in 13 Egyptian universities during the 2025/2026 academic year. The ministry also focuses on providing social protection for people with hearing impairments and their families, directing eligible individuals to social protection programs, including the "Karama" program and monthly assistance.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity works to empower young people with disabilities economically, guiding them towards economic empowerment programs, small and micro projects, and productive families. The ministry also allows them to participate in exhibitions to display their products, encouraging them to work and produce, and supporting economic independence. An electronic platform, "Tahdeel," was launched in coordination with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Labor, to help people with disabilities access suitable job opportunities.
The ministry has implemented training programs to introduce employees at the Ministry of Social Solidarity and those who directly interact with people with hearing impairments to the principles of sign language. Six training programs were conducted, benefiting 145 employees, with plans to expand these programs to include employees at social solidarity directorates nationwide.
Efforts are underway to develop a unified sign language dictionary, which will help standardize sign language vocabulary and expand its use. An electronic platform for official sign language is being created, and services for guiding and counseling families of people with hearing impairments continue, aiming to help them deal with their children and develop their skills.
Key points
- The Ministry of Social Solidarity provides services to 12,000 people with hearing impairments through 125 language centers and 84 sign language interpreters.
- The ministry offers various programs, including language skills development, rehabilitation, and vocational training, to support people with hearing impairments.
- The ministry works to empower people with disabilities economically and provide them with job opportunities through various initiatives and programs.
