The International Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Dignity and inclusive education of deaf people in sign language.

Abstract

Despite the entry into force and ratification by Spain, in 2008, of the International Convention on the rights of people with disabilities, there are different non-compliance with its provisions within the Spanish legal system.

One of the repeated non-compliance refers to the educational system of people with disabilities, as revealed to the Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI), the most representative public utility association at the state level of disability, and entity in charge of supervising the application of the Convention in Spain. To this end, CERMI has issued repeated reports since 2017, highlighting various situations that do not comply with the provisions of the Convention.

In the strict field of deaf people, non-compliance refers not only to the lack of educational inclusion, but also to the absence of a bilingual educational offer that includes sign language, despite the fact that the Law that recognizes Sign Language signs, it already required it.

From these actions related to the educational system for deaf people, several conclusions can be drawn, along the lines of considering the actions of the educational administrations competent in this matter as discrimination in accordance with the Convention.