From 12 to 14 August 2025, Nairobi hosted the 5th World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Conference at the Kenya Institute of Special Education, bringing together advocates, researchers, and Deaf leaders from more than 50 countries. 

Under the overriding theme,  “Advancing Sign Language Rights”, this powerful gathering emphasized the intersections of climate change, artificial intelligence, and the resilience of Deaf organisations—all critical in the face of global challenges such as disaster response, social inclusion, and technological disruption.

Key sub-themes explored

• A Changing World — Sign language rights in the context of climate change and disaster risk reduction.
  
  
• Artificial Intelligence & Sign Languages— Addressing both the challenges and opportunities posed by AI.
  
  
• Robust Deaf Organisations — Strengthening organizational resilience through governance, sustainability, and leadership.

During the conference, eKitabu’s Georgine Auma and Umutoni Marie Francoise presented the objectives of the Scaling Inclusive Early Learning with Deaf Children project on creating a sign language-rich environment in Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi. The Evidence Library, a tool and platform developed for this project to mobilize and share knowledge and evidence with researchers, organisations, and governments, was also officially launched during the conference. The evidence library also serves to bridge a critical gap in publications on deaf education in Africa. This platform consolidates original research, related articles, publications, and links to other relevant evidence.

The conference opened with a Women’s Pre-Conference hosted by FEDWEN, under the theme “Strengthening Gender Diversity in Deaf Organisations.” Discussions ranged from Deaf women’s rights, education, and justice, to strengthening the voice of Deaf adolescents, feminist participatory action research, and creating empowering spaces for Deaf women.

Speakers & insights

The conference featured respected experts, including:

• Penninah Vulimu, WFD Disaster Risk Reduction Officer
  
  
• Susana Stiglich, WFD Sign Language Rights Officer
  
  
• Dr. Maartje De Meulder, authority on AI ethics in sign language technologies
  
  
• Shane Feldman, expert on mission-driven organizational growth
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Why it matters

The event served as a crucial platform for aligning technology, advocacy, and policy with the Deaf community's needs. Sessions explored how Deaf organisations can balance innovation with ethics, asking:

• How can Deaf organisations leverage AI without losing human connection?
  
  
• What structures ensure sign language access remains a right during crises?
  
  
• How can inclusive governance strengthen long-term impact?

Conference highlights

Day 1 officially opened the conference, uniting delegates under the theme “Promote sign language rights in climate change action and disaster response.” Key topics included the Kenya Sign Language (KSL) Bill, AI in sign language, and national recognition of sign languages.

Day 2 focused on climate change, disaster response, and building strong Deaf organisations. Sessions highlighted how crises like floods, pandemics, and conflict disproportionately impact Deaf communities, reaffirming sign language as a life-saving right. Leadership, decision-making, and funding solutions were also covered. The day concluded with the launch of the 20th WFD Conference logo.

Day 3 explored the role of Deaf organisations in the AI era—discussing leadership, practical applications, and protecting sign language and interpreter jobs in a changing tech landscape. A major milestone was the launch of an Evidence Library (evidence.ekitabu.com/lib) by eKitabu, a new online hub for Deaf communities to access research, advocacy tools, and language-rich resources.
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A call for inclusion

In his closing speech, the WFD President, Dr. Joseph Murray, thanked the Kenya National Association of the Deaf board, the WFD board, and all staff for their dedication in making the event possible. He emphasized the importance of trusting the process of technological change, reminding participants that while AI and innovation are advancing rapidly, Deaf people must not be left behind.

“We don’t want Deaf people to be behind. They must be included in these matters. When we return to our home countries, let us share new ideas and innovations.”

He also emphasized the importance of inclusivity for Deaf women in rural areas, and announced that the next WFD Conference will be held in Abu Dhabi, 19–23 September 2027, coinciding with WFD’s 75th anniversary.

The 5th WFD Conference closed with an emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and unity—a strong reminder that while technology and climate challenges evolve, the fight for sign language rights and Deaf inclusion worldwide remains at the core of every response to these challenges.