On this occasion, more than 70 members of the ULS community received the certification that proves that they have successfully completed the sign language workshops during the year 2021.

Reducing gaps in matters of equality and accessibility for all people is part of the objectives of the General Area of ​​Coordination of Rights and Duties for Comprehensive Training – AGDDFI, which together with the ULS Graduate Monitoring Office, promoted the development of the cycle of 4 Sign Language courses, taught this year.

This initiative is framed within the requirements of Law 21.303, which recognizes sign language as a natural, native and heritage language of the deaf community. In addition, this law adds the definition of a person with a hearing disability, a deaf person, and recognizes the deaf community. ; Therefore, it requires the State to promote, respect, protect and ensure the accessibility of sign language as an accessibility mechanism for this community.

The event benefited 22 participants, who had begun their learning during 2020 and accepted the challenge of perfecting what they learned in the previous stage. They were joined by 52 participants from the first cycle taught during 2021.

For the organizers of the courses, these instances, in addition to complementing the knowledge delivered in previous courses, attempt to provide better tools for members of the university community, in order to promote the development of a more inclusive culture, equitable and accessible to all people. The person in charge of AGDDFI, Mg. Cristian Blanco pointed out that "we want to reinforce the institutional commitment that seeks to break down the communication barriers faced by members of the deaf community and contribute to the construction of an inclusive culture and cultural transformation for a good life." In addition, the person in charge of the Inclusion and equity area, Alejandra Galleguillos, added “We would like to highlight that for the ULS it is very important to provide this social contribution in the training of students with a graduation profile and graduates, thus leaving an installed capacity in our officials, academics. and future ULS professionals.”

On the other hand, Mg. Maximiliano Jiménez, Graduate Monitoring Office Psychologist, wanted to highlight the collaborative work that has been carried out together with the professionals of the AGDDFI, expressing the importance of carrying out these initiatives, in this regard he noted: “It is one of the instances that requires a long-term process that involves almost the entire year of management, and thanks to technology we managed to get more people who could be part of activities linked to inclusion, especially our graduates, who can benefit from being part of talks for free , workshops or courses like the one we just closed.

An inspiring challenge

For the participants, having the opportunity to take these courses means a challenge that allows them to prepare themselves with better tools to really carry out actions that allow them to move towards a conscious and more inclusive society.

María Elena Suárez, teacher and graduate of the ULS, highlighted the commitment that our institution has with all its graduates, and is grateful for the opportunity to sensitize society to be an active agent in this transformation process. She noted, “We are faced with these realities and today I feel more confident and more prepared to address the academic challenge of receiving the first deaf students enrolled in the educational establishment where I practice.”

On the other hand, for Director of Postgraduate and Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Cristian Ibáñez, pointed out that this constitutes a very pleasant experience and thanked: “Thanks to the University for generating these instances. Thanks also to Daniel and Andrés Mella for contributing from their professional field to access to justice for deaf people and to a more just and inclusive society that we are building together" he pointed out.

Written by Paz Montecinos Kam – Chings - Dircom