The Dominica Association of Persons With Disabilities (DAPD) is opening access to a comprehensive six-week sign language training program starting in May 2026, designed to break down longstanding communication barriers between the general public and community members who rely on sign language as their primary mode of communication. The training program is structured to serve a wide cross-section of Dominican society, with targeted outreach to professionals whose daily work brings them into regular contact with the public: frontline service providers, medical and healthcare staff, primary and secondary school educators, tourism and hospitality employees, and workers across public and private sector organizations. Members of the general public who are interested in learning the skill are also invited to register for the course.
Judy Sango, president of DAPD, explained that the core mission of the initiative extends far beyond just teaching basic signs. The program is rooted in a broader goal of advancing full social and economic inclusion for non-verbal Dominicans and people with hearing impairments. By equipping more people across the island with foundational sign language skills, the association aims to foster more respectful, independent, and empowering interactions for community members who use sign language daily.
Sango emphasized that the training will deliver mutual benefits for both course participants and sign language users. For example, business owners and hospitality workers who complete the program are likely to draw more customers from the sign language community, who will actively seek out establishments where they can receive equal, respectful communication without barriers, rather than going to businesses that lack this accessibility. “I believe upon completion of the course it will benefit both participants and those who use sign language as a daily means of communication,” Sango noted.
In a call to action for Dominican residents, Sango encouraged all interested people to sign up, framing the course as a critical step toward building a more equitable society that leaves no one behind. The program is scheduled to run from May 7 to July 23, 2026, with classes held from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at DAPD’s headquarters in Goodwill. The total registration fee for the full six-week course is $250 Eastern Caribbean dollar, and interested applicants can contact the DAPD office directly at 440 0842 to secure a spot or request additional information about the curriculum.