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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
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ABOUT FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE: THE ACCESS RIGHTS PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE
A hospital consultation, a police interview or a school lesson depends on being able to understand and be understood. For a Deaf person who uses Filipino Sign Language, that can require an interpreter and information presented in an accessible form. It should not depend entirely on whether a relative happens to be available to help.
Deaf Awareness Week begins today and runs through November 16. The Filipino Sign Language Act, Republic Act 11106, sets out what public institutions are required to make accessible. The law recognizes FSL in education, justice, health care and government transactions, while preserving each person's choice of how to communicate. Here are five ways the law applies to everyday services.
1
THE PERSON'S COMMUNICATION CHOICE COMES FIRST
The law recognizes FSL as the national sign language and as a medium of official communication in transactions involving Deaf people. It also expressly preserves other forms of communication according to individual choice or preference.
At a service counter, staff should find out how the person wants to communicate instead of deciding for them. Someone may request an FSL interpreter; someone else may prefer writing or another accessible method. Recognizing FSL does not mean requiring every Deaf person to use the same method.
The useful first question is simple: what communication support do you need for this transaction? A companion's presence does not answer that question for the person seeking the service.
WHAT TO WATCH
Whether staff ask the person directly about their communication preference and make arrangements that allow them to participate, rather than conducting the entire transaction through someone else.
2
GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS MUST INCLUDE COMMUNICATION ACCESS
Section 9 directs national agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units to use FSL in public transactions involving Deaf people. It also provides for qualified FSL interpreters and accessible materials whenever necessary or requested at government activities such as meetings, forums and community events.
This reaches beyond putting an interpreter on stage for an awareness program. People also need to understand the instructions, questions and decisions involved in dealing with a public office. When arranging a visit or attending a government meeting, ask the office who will handle the requested communication support and how it will be provided.
The duty applies even where an office still needs to arrange an interpreter. Asking in advance can help establish who will provide the support for the appointment.
WHAT TO WATCH
A specific response to the request: the support the office will provide, the person coordinating it and the arrangement for the actual appointment or activity.
3
HEALTH CARE INCLUDES A REQUEST FOR FREE INTERPRETING SUPPORT
Section 8 says state hospitals and health facilities must take steps to make health services accessible, including free FSL interpreters and accessible materials upon the request of Deaf patients or people with Deaf family members. The same section separately encourages private health facilities to provide access as part of their corporate social responsibility.
A patient needs to understand questions about symptoms, explanations of treatment and instructions after the consultation. A request for support should identify the communication needs for the visit, not just the fact that someone will accompany the patient.
For a planned consultation, ask the facility how it arranges interpreting and accessible information. Ask who can arrange the support if an interpreter is not on duty.
WHAT TO WATCH
Whether the communication arrangement covers the consultation and the information the patient takes home. Confirm what the facility can provide rather than assuming that an appointment booking includes interpreting support.
4
JUSTICE ACCESS STARTS BEFORE A COURT HEARING
Section 6 requires qualified sign-language interpreting in proceedings involving Deaf people, while preserving their right to choose another mode of communication. Its scope includes courts, quasi-judicial agencies and tribunals, as well as police stations, preliminary investigations and proceedings before the barangay's Lupong Tagapamayapa.
That means the issue begins when a person needs to give an account, understand a question or respond to a complaint. It is not something to address only when a case reaches trial. The law calls for qualified interpreting, a more specific requirement than having any available person who knows some signs.
Tell the office handling the proceeding what communication support is needed and ask how it will be arranged. If legal rights or a statement are at stake, raise any difficulty understanding the exchange with the lawyer or official conducting the proceeding.
WHAT TO WATCH
Whether qualified support is available for the actual stage of the proceeding, including the initial interview, and whether the person's chosen means of communication is respected.
5
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION HAVE THEIR OWN DUTIES
Section 4 directs the education agencies to use FSL as a medium of instruction in Deaf education and to teach it as a separate subject for Deaf learners. It also requires the teaching of reading and writing in Filipino, other Philippine languages and English. Teacher training is to be developed with representatives of the Filipino Deaf community.
Families can ask the school how the learner will access lessons, who will provide support and how the learner's communication preference will be respected. The law's recognition of FSL should lead to an explanation of the actual classroom arrangements.
The law also covers access to television news and public affairs. Section 10 provides for FSL interpreter insets that meet television accessibility standards in news and public-affairs programs. Viewers should be able to follow the interpreting when important public information is broadcast.
WHAT TO WATCH
The school's teaching and support arrangements, and whether public-information programs provide interpreting that viewers can actually follow. A statement that a service is inclusive needs to be reflected in how people receive the information.
BOTTOM LINE
The everyday test is whether a Deaf person can understand the service, express their own decisions and take part without being pushed to the side. RA 11106 sets duties for public institutions and preserves individual communication choice. This week's observance is a useful time to ask how those duties work at the school, hospital, police station or government office people actually use.
SOURCES
- National Council on Disability Affairs: Current Deaf Awareness Week announcement, November 10–16, 2026https://ncda.gov.ph/
- National Council on Disability Affairs: Proclamation 829, establishing the annual observancehttps://ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/proclamations/proclamation-829/
- National Council on Disability Affairs: Republic Act 11106, particularly sections 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10https://ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/republic-acts/ra-11106/
- Lawphil: Republic Act 11106, approved October 30, 2018https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2018/ra_11106_2018.html
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