22/01/2026
Hello friends ๐ค
Iโm sharing this with a sincere heart and a gentle reminder, especially for people who are learning or teaching sign language online.
For a long time, I have been advocating for proper respect and recognition of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and the Filipino Deaf community. FSL is our national sign language. It is closely connected to Deaf culture, identity, and real-life experiences. Because of this, Deaf community members are the most appropriate and authentic people to teach FSL.
Filipino Sign Language is not just hand movements. It is a full language with its own rules, history, and culture. Deaf people are not just users of FSL, we are the culture bearers and rightful educators of this language.
Recently, I have seen many sign language teaching videos on social media made by hearing individuals. I understand that some intentions may be good. However, it becomes concerning when signs are taught without clear explanation of where they come from such as whether the signs are FSL, ASL, BSL, or another sign language. This can cause confusion, especially for learners here in the Philippines. As a Deaf person, I remember growing up confused about which signs I should learn and use. Only when I became an adult did I fully understand that each country has its own official sign language, shaped by its own culture and community. That clarity is very important.
Recently, I have noticed hearing content creators, including Kai Signs who regularly post sign language tutorials and have gained many followers. With a large platform comes responsibility. When sign language content is shared without:
- proper credit to Deaf creators
- clear identification of which sign language is being used (FSL, ASL, etc.)
- collaboration with or acknowledgment of the Deaf community
this leads to misrepresentation, confusion, and the invisibility of Deaf educators, especially when Deaf creatorsโ content is copied or used without recognition. Many people may not know this, but sign languages are not universal. Teaching signs without naming their language can mislead learners in the Philippines and create the false idea that anyone can teach sign language without cultural or linguistic knowledge.
Filipino Sign Language (FSL) is legally recognized as the National Sign Language of the Philippines. This is not an opinion. This is the law.
Under Republic Act No. 11106 (The Filipino Sign Language Act of 2018):
* FSL is officially recognized as the language of the Filipino Deaf community
* Deaf people have the right to use, protect, and promote FSL
* Deaf people must be involved and prioritized in FSL teaching, training, and sharing
FSL cannot be separated from Deaf culture, identity, and lived experience.
Because of this, hearing individuals are not the main authority to teach FSL, especially on public platforms, unless they are properly trained, culturally aware, and working with or clearly crediting Deaf educators.
When a hearing creator:
- teaches signs without saying if they are FSL, ASL, or another language
- gains followers while Deaf creators are ignored or uncredited
- uses or copies Deaf-created content without acknowledgment
- calls themselves a โsign language tutorโ without Deaf collaboration
this becomes a Deaf rights issue, not just a content issue.
Teaching sign language without correct language rules and cultural context causes confusion, spreads wrong information, and goes against the purpose of the FSL Law to protect Deaf language, ownership, and representation.
To be very clear:
โ Learning FSL to communicate with Deaf or hard of hearing people is encouraged
โ Teaching FSL publicly without proper knowledge, credit, and Deaf leadership is not ethical
True allyship means:
โข supporting Deaf-led education
โข clearly crediting Deaf sources
โข collaborating instead of replacing
โข knowing when to step back and give space
If you truly want to learn ASL or FSL, that is your personal choice. You may choose to learn FSL, ASL, or even both but only if your real intention is to communicate with Deaf or Hard of hearing communities. However, if you learn ASL, FSL, or both and then decide to create your own page or platform to teach signs, you take on a big responsibility. Teaching sign language means being accurate, respectful, culturally aware, and accountable to the Deaf community. If you are learning FSL, ASL, or any other sign language, it is important to also learn about the culture, history, and experiences of Deaf communities. If you donโt know these yet, itโs better not to teach or share signs online. Learning with respect and understanding is very important.
This message is not about harassment or personal attacks.
It is about respecting the law, respecting Deaf rights, and respecting the community that owns the language.
If we truly support accessibility, inclusion, and education, then Deaf voices must be centeredโnot overshadowed. ๐ค๐ค
Photo credited by:
Lago Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association Inc - FB page.
