Strategy for Catalan Sign Language 2026-2028 approved by government

The Catalan government has approved the Strategy for Catalan Sign Language (LSC) 2026-2028, the first comprehensive planning mechanism for action from authorities in this realm.

The strategy is promoted by the Department of Language Policy and is structured around 7 objectives and 45 measures that involve a dozen departments.

It has an initial budget of €2 million for 2026.

Among the planned measures are the attention in sign language on the 112 emergency services number using video call, an interpreter program for signing students in high school, and vocational training or the extension of intermodal bilingual education outside Barcelona.

The president of the Federation of Deaf People of Catalonia (FESOCA), Esther Viñas, applauded the fact that the strategy has finally been approved, although she lamented that it has come “late.”

“The deaf community has been waiting for this document for 16 years,” Viñas pointed out.

Emergency services

The 112 emergency number plans to deploy LSC care through two complementary channels: video calls with interpreter managers and the SVisual platform.

In the healthcare sector, attention in sign language on the 061 health emergency number will be strengthened, a 15-hour course on care for deaf signers will be created for public administration staff, and awareness-raising actions will be promoted among healthcare professionals.

Interpreters in high school

In education, a temporary program to support LSC interpreters for high school students will be created.

In the 2026-2027 academic year, the offer of the intermodal bilingual educational modality will be extended outside Barcelona.

The curriculum for LSC primary and secondary schools will be updated, with educational materials for signing children produced.

It's also planned to expand the training of teachers and educational services, and extend LSC learning to the entire educational community of centers with signing students.

Outside the mandatory system, courses for adults are being strengthened, especially for families with deaf or deaf-blind children.

Content creation

The strategy foresees dedicating a special effort, financed with €250,000, to projects that promote the creation of content, dissemination, and applied research of LSC.

In the audiovisual field, subsidies for audiovisual formats in LSC and for interpretation in events and training will be reinforced.

In culture, LSC will be incorporated into sectoral accessibility plans, such as cinemas, performing arts, and music, museums, archives, libraries, and heritage facilities.

In sports, support will be given to federations to help deaf signers participate in competitions.

June 3 will be declared Catalan Sign Language Day.