We, the Deaf community of Manitoba and our allies, are saddened and outraged that we continue to encounter deaf children and youth who are growing up with little to no accessible language. Some deaf children are entering school without a solid foundation of language needed to learn, communicate, and succeed. As a result, many of these children and youth are struggling emotionally, cognitively, socially, and academically.

FYI: Deaf children do not have difficulty learning or acquiring language. They have difficulty accessing language.

Language delays in deaf children are not caused by deafness itself, but by systemic and political decisions that prevent early access to rich, natural sign language environments. When deaf children are denied full access to language, they are prevented from reaching their full potential and are left behind in full participation and inclusion in society.
— World Federation of the Deaf

Why are children in Manitoba, Canada, still arriving at school in 2025–2026 with little to no language?

The medical system continues to devalue and discriminate against American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages. Many medical professionals involved in hearing health and audiology provide biased and harmful guidance to hearing parents of deaf children. Parents are often advised to focus exclusively on hearing assistive technologies (hearing aids and/or cochlear implants) and auditory–speech therapy, while sign language is discouraged or withheld.

Decades of research and lived experience demonstrate that deaf children need early access to sign language, as it is the most accessible and reliable language for full acquisition.

In case you don’t know - ASL is a full, rich language that uses the hands, face, and body to express information and the eyes to receive it, in the same way that the mouth and ears are used for spoken language. Sign languages are processed in the same parts of the brain as spoken languages-this provides the neurological development required during the critical period of a child’s life to prevent language deprivation.

Language deprivation occurs due to a chronic lack of full access to a natural language during the critical period of language acquisition, approximately the first five years of a child’s life. Therefore, a deaf child who is deprived of language during the critical years may be unable to develop language skills sufficient to support fluent communication or serve as a basis for further learning.

The auditory-oral-only and first approach has existed for generations! The Deaf community around the world understands firsthand that this approach does not work for all deaf children, not in the past and not now! The auditory-oral approach is audist and is the cause of preventable brain damage!!

Audism is the belief and discrimination that Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing people are less capable than hearing people. It includes the assumption that deaf people must be encouraged—or forced—to become as hearing as possible, often through decisions made about them without input from the Deaf community.
— Canadian Association of the Deaf

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We, the Deaf community and allies, demand:

1. Publicly funded health, education, and family services that are inclusive of and respectful toward Deaf people and sign languages (ASL, LSQ, ISL).
2. Meaningful consultation with the Deaf community in all decisions related to health and education services for deaf children.
3. An end to discrimination against sign languages within publicly funded programs and services.
4. Sign language access and services offered as standard protocol for all deaf children, beginning at diagnosis.
5. Immediate action by government, public health, and education systems to prevent the ongoing risk and perpetuation of language deprivation in deaf children.

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Human Rights Obligations

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirms:

Article 24 – Education
(b) “Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community.”

Article 4.3 obligates governments to actively consult and collaborate with national associations of deaf people in all legislation, policies, and programs affecting them. This consultation must be accessible and occur at every stage—from development to implementation—ensuring Deaf people’s right to self-determination.

The World Federation of the Deaf emphasizes that denying deaf children early access to sign language is a VIOLATION of their fundamental human rights.

“Nothing about us, without us!”