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In Mexico, approximately 2.3 million people have a hearing disability. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, one in four people in the world, almost 2.5 billion, will have hearing loss due to lack of healthcare access. Since June 10, 2005, Mexican people have celebrated the National Day of Mexican Sign Language (LSM, its Spanish acronym) to promote and create an inclusive, equitable environment for people with this disability.
At the Ford Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant, the department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — along with Mario Sánchez, communication coordinator at the plant — made a series of short videos, eight episodes total, that teach everyday LSM concepts in just two minutes. If you want to learn a new language and immerse yourself in a new way of living, you should take this perfect opportunity to do so. The videos are available only in Spanish, and you can watch them here.
If you don't speak Spanish, don't let that stop you: These videos are designed so that you can learn visually without needing to understand the language. Remember that learning LSM is an important skill that can add value to your daily life.
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Live sign language translation at a National Event
An amazing fact is that all the protagonists of these videos are people with hearing loss who currently work within the plant and represent a significant number of the deaf workforce. Also, people at the plant are taking courses with experts on the subject to be prepared for a third shift in which more personnel with hearing loss will be integrated.
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Other plants in Mexico are implementing these same initiatives. For example, at the Irapuato Plant, more than 200 employees have been taking classes to learn how to communicate through LSM. At the end of last year, the group was able to perform a Christmas song to celebrate Christmas Eve. In addition, we at Ford of Mexico have also implemented simultaneous sign translation in town halls and national events that are broadcast in all our facilities.
Inclusion through sign language promotes the integration of people with disabilities. It enriches interaction and collaboration with the entire workforce as Ford strives for excellence by reducing communication gaps. Let's contribute to creating a better world.
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