A unique educational project has successfully concluded in Volyn — a sign language course for employees of emergency and law enforcement services. The course was organized by the NGO “Gesture of Help,” which has been implementing inclusive initiatives for many years to support people with hearing impairments.

The final stage of the program included an exam, during which participants demonstrated their ability to communicate in Ukrainian Sign Language. The exams were conducted by deaf instructors who use sign language daily — they evaluated whether the tasks were presented in a clear and accessible way, asked follow-up questions, and awarded grades.

One of the main tasks was to choose a topic and present it in a way that would be fully understandable to people with hearing loss. Among the topics were: a personal story, hobbies, the profession of a rescuer or police officer, rules of conduct during a fire, and what to do when explosive objects are discovered.

As a result, 54 participants — including 24 employees of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Volyn Oblast, 25 officers from the Volyn Regional Police, and 5 volunteers — successfully passed the exam and received a Certificate of “Acquired Practical Skills in Ukrainian Sign Language.” The program was developed in line with national standards and approved by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service (Order of January 31, 2025).

At the end of the exam, all participants performed a song about Ukraine in sign language, dedicating it to the defenders fighting for the country on the frontlines.

The significance of such courses is especially relevant now, as more and more people are losing their hearing due to war — as a result of explosions, concussions, and trauma. By learning sign language, rescuers and police officers are taking an important step toward building an inclusive society, where every individual has the right to be heard. Initiatives like this promote the real implementation of barrier-free access and respect for human dignity.