ABSTRACT
The great majority of deaf people live in the developing world where malnutrition, infectious diseases and accidents are common causes of hearing loss. Deaf persons are commonly labelled with disparaging and superstitious qualities that push them outside human communication and social life, and deny them access to education, work and other equal opportunities that would make them self-supportive and full members of their respective societies. Despite the challenges in the diversity and magnitude of the information needs, including sometimes only occasional contacts to national deaf communities in the target countries, the World Federation of the Deaf launched in 1988 a project entitled Deaf People in the Developing World. Language rights, calling for the recognition of indigenous sign languages of deaf people as their primary and natural language, are one of the fundamental demands of deaf communities worldwide. The persons interpreting for the deaf are usually family members or professionals such as teachers, social workers, priests or missionaries.
