Accessible Healthcare for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in South Africa
The Deaf-Care Healthcare Initiative (DCHI) is a national healthcare, technology, and social justice initiative designed to eliminate communication barriers in healthcare for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals across South Africa. By integrating South African Sign Language (SASL), digital health tools, and institutional partnerships, DCHI enables equitable access to healthcare services in hospitals, clinics, emergency services, and educational environments.
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Focus Areas:
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Health Equity & Inclusion
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SASL-Integrated Care
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Technology-Enabled Access
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National Scale & Sustainability​​
Strategic Partnership
In Partnership with the Albert Luthuli Institute (ALLI)
DCHI is anchored in a long-term collaboration with the Albert Luthuli Institute (ALLI), supporting its 10-year social justice strategic agenda. This partnership ensures strong governance, policy alignment, and national institutional credibility.
National Impact
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National NPC-led initiative
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Multi-sector partnerships (health, technology, education)
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Scalable across provinces
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Designed for public health system integration
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DCHI delivers a fully integrated,
Deaf-centered healthcare ecosystem:
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Access: SASL-first digital and in-person communication pathways
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Communication: On-demand SASL interpretation and clinician training
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Care: Technology-enabled clinical support tools
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Equity: National rollout aligned with public health policy
Our Soulution
Empowering Lives
Dedicated to Deaf Care
For millions of Deaf and Hard of Hearing South Africans, healthcare settings remain inaccessible due to communication barriers, limited interpreter availability, and systemic exclusion. These gaps lead to misdiagnosis, delayed care, and violations of patient dignity.
DCHI responds to South Africa’s recognition of SASL as the 12th official language by operationalising linguistic inclusion within the healthcare system — turning policy into practice.
