Bridging the gap: one sign at a time
Libraries move to expand access for deaf Jamaicans
Published:Monday | March 9, 2026 | 12:10 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
The Jamaica Libraries and Information Network (JAMLIN), an arm of the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), has launched a Jamaican Sign Language (JSL) training initiative aimed at strengthening accessibility and inclusion across Jamaica’s library network.
The programme, titled ‘Bridging the Gap: One Sign at a Time’, was officially launched on March 2 during a ceremony held at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
Established in 1979 as the National Information System, JAMLIN functions as a collaborative network linking libraries, archives and information units across Jamaica to facilitate resource sharing, improve access to information, and support national development.
According to organisers, the JSL training programme represents a deliberate effort to remove communication barriers within libraries, while ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons receive equitable service.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD), and other stakeholders, with the aim of equipping library personnel across the island with the practical skills needed to communicate effectively with members of the deaf community.
Long-standing disability advocate and keynote speaker Senator Professor Floyd Morris welcomed the development, describing it as a necessary step in addressing long-standing inequalities faced by persons with disabilities.
“We are living in an environment where persons with disabilities, in general, have been marginalised and discriminated against,” Morris said.
He noted that while Jamaica has committed itself to international human-rights frameworks, gaps remain in the practical delivery of services.
“The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that Jamaica was the first to sign and ratify in 2007, clearly outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities,” Morris said, pointing to provisions on accessibility and freedom of expression, which underscore the importance of sign language as a legitimate means of communication.
Morris argued that access for persons with disabilities should not be perceived as a concession, but as a fundamental entitlement grounded in law.
“A lot of people believe that it is too much to do things for persons who are deaf, blind, [or have] physical disabilities, and don’t realise that they are not granting us a favour. It is a fundamental right based on the UN Charter, based on the Constitution of Jamaica, and based on the Disabilities Act,” he said.
Remove barriers
Enacted to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, the legislation requires public institutions to progressively remove barriers and ensure accessibility in public services, facilities, and information systems.
Morris disclosed that he had already tabled a motion in the Senate seeking to have JSL formally recognised as an official language.
“It is important that sign language be brought on board as an official language for Jamaica. I tabled a motion in the Senate in 2024 calling for the Government to make sign language an official language. If adopted, we are going to see a transformation in the national landscape as it relates to persons who are deaf,” he added.
Morris insisted that the broader objective is to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure full participation of deaf and hard-of-hearing Jamaicans in national life.
“We don’t have second-class, or third-class Jamaicans. What we have are first-class Jamaicans, and deaf persons are first-class Jamaicans as well. We want to unlock the potential of every single Jamaican,” he posited.
Chair of the NLJ board of management Joy Douglas also underscored the institution’s commitment to inclusive access, while clarifying the distinction between the National Library and the Jamaica Library Service.
“Many Jamaicans have not yet made a distinction between the National Library of Jamaica and the Jamaica Library Service,” Douglas said, explaining that while the latter operates public lending libraries across the island, the NLJ carries a broader mandate.
“The National Library holds the nation’s memory, and our mission commits us to enhancing the quality of life and prosperity for all Jamaicans through access to our cultural and historical record,” Douglas explained.
She added: “Ensuring equitable access to Jamaica’s documentary heritage is therefore a mission that the NLJ continues to pursue. This includes members of the deaf community.”
Douglas noted that international advocacy by the deaf rights movement has significantly influenced policies promoting accessibility and inclusion worldwide.
She also highlighted the long-standing role of the JAD, established in 1938, in providing education, interpretation services and JSL training for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
JAMLIN Manager Jasheka Robinson explained that the training initiative was partly prompted by practical challenges encountered within the library system itself.
“We started providing training to staff at the National Library prior to this because we have two staff members who are part of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community,” Robinson said, noting that communication barriers and broader patterns of systemic exclusion highlighted the need for more structured support.
A living language
Robinson emphasised that JSL must be treated as a living language requiring continuous practice and refinement.
“JSL is a language, and we have to treat it likewise. In any specialised or new language, proficiency isn’t a destination you reach and then stop; it is a living skill that requires continuous training, use and refinement,” Robinson said.
To sustain the programme, JAMLIN is building long-term partnerships with the Jamaica Association for the Deaf, the Open Door Access initiative of the Terri-Karelle Foundation, and the Centre for Disability Studies.
“These collaborations transform the skill from a specialised competency into a permanent standard of inclusive service,” Robinson explained.
Robinson emphasised that the initiative goes beyond staff training and represents a broader cultural shift within public institutions.
By integrating JSL into library services, Robinson said, the programme seeks to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing Jamaicans can access information, cultural heritage, and public resources on equal terms with the wider society.