DOrSU Pushes for Sign Language Rights at Deaf Awareness Month Culmination Program
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) joined the nationwide celebration of Deaf Awareness Month 2025 with a culmination program on September 26, themed “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights.”
Organized by the Association of Special Needs Educators (ASNED) under the leadership of its president, Jessil Mamac, the program featured discussions on the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) law, interactive sign-language lessons, and cultural performances that highlighted Deaf identity and artistry. Guest speakers Sunshine S. Calig-onan and Marilou P. Velvestre underscored how FSL protects the rights of Deaf people and expands access to education, public services, and information.
In his message, Asst. Prof. Robie V. Catubigan, Bachelor of Special Needs Education (BSNEd) Program Head, affirmed BSNEd’s full support for sustained FSL learning on campus, emphasizing that basic sign skills and Deaf etiquette are essential competencies for future teachers and student leaders.
The event forms part of a broader push aligned with the university’s GROWTH framework—particularly the pillars of Holistic Development and Culture of Care—which nurtures empathy and communication alongside academic excellence and centers dignity, safety, and belonging in daily campus life.
Building on the momentum, the university is exploring next steps, including developing an FSL resource pool of trained staff and student volunteers, offering regular beginner and refresher FSL workshops, integrating introductory FSL modules into orientations and select courses, and strengthening feedback channels with Deaf students and advocacy groups to guide continuous improvements. These actions aim to make sign-language access a campus standard—from classrooms and student services to public events—rather than a once-a-year observance.
