Organization: DyvoGra Social Enterprise
Title: Ukrainian sign language online tutorial for children and cargivers
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
Ukrainian Sign Language online tutorial for children and caregivers
Description:
In March 2026, to mark World Hearing Day and support its theme “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children”, DyvoGra Social Enterprise, in partnership with the NGO “My Family” (Brovary, Ukraine) and the NGO “Surdo School” (Odesa), will develop and disseminate the first Ukrainian visual guide to 60 essential manual signs for children and caregivers.
To promote Ukrainian sign language and the use of manual signs as an alternative form of communication, the DyvoGra team, in partnership with the Non-governmental organisation “My Family” (Brovary, Ukraine), will create schematic images and video tutorials for the 60 manual signs in March 2026.
To date, signers and aided communicators have lacked visual schemes in Ukrainian to support sign language learners. To contribute to the international UN initiative, World Hearing Day 2026, Social Enterprise DyvoGra and NGO “My Family”, supported by professionals from NGO “Surdo School” (Odesa, Ukraine), are creating images showing how to sign simple words for everyday communication.
In wartime Ukraine, timely and accurate communication is vital for children’s safety and access to education. With rising war-related injuries and low AAC implementation, this project fills a critical gap by providing the first visual tutorial for Ukrainian sign language, led by national AAC experts.
All 60 images will be followed by detailed videos to show signers and caregivers how to sign. All videos have explanations of how to sign from several positions. Videos and signs will be available for free on the websites of the AAC community of Ukraine and DyvoGra Social Enterprise. The trainer – Aliona Tkachenko, Ukrainian sign language interpreter, a co-founder of the NGO “Surdo School”, Odesa
The list of manual signs is available below. Currently, the project is seeking donor support. This activity targets not only community of persons with hearing disabilities, but the general public and national policymakers, to raise awareness about hearing loss.
We believe that promoting Ukrainian sign language and manual signs as an alternative and augmentative communication for children and young people with hearing loss, as well as their caregivers, will have a tremendous impact on the community. In wartime Ukraine, timely and accurate communication is essential for children’s safety, well-being, and access to education. Due to war-related injuries and displacement, the number of children with hearing and communication difficulties is increasing, while the implementation of AAC remains very low. There is currently no Ukrainian resource with illustrated sign language for children and caregivers. By creating the first free visual guide to basic manual signs, DyvoGra and NGO “My Family” will strengthen early communication, inclusion, and school readiness for children with hearing loss. Beyond direct beneficiaries, the initiative will raise public awareness, promote a culture of sign language, and stimulate further support from institutions and donors for hearing care and inclusive education.
Our work fully aligns with the principles of the World Hearing Forum by promoting equity, accessibility, early communication support, and community-based solutions for children with hearing and communication difficulties. focuses on prevention of secondary disability, early intervention, inclusion in education, and empowerment of families, teachers, and health professionals through open-access, evidence-based resources.
Project Manager – Dr. Hanna Usatenko, psychologist, researcher, founder of DyvoGra Social Enterprise and the head of the NGO “My Family” (Brovary, Ukraine).
Primary site: EUR – Ukraine
Region: EUR
Secondary sites:Ukraine
Impactful Story:
Alyona Tkachenko grew up in a family where a close relative had hearing impairment and relied on sign language for everyday communication. This experience inspired her to study sign language and later become a sign language teacher, translator, and advocate. Through World Hearing Day–related activities and awareness initiatives, Alyona has helped children, caregivers, and educators better understand alternative communication and the importance of early communication support. She is also a co-founder of Surdo School, an educational initiative that provides training in sign language and promotes accessible communication for children and families in Ukraine.
General Photos
Manual sign “play” in Ukrainian sign language, video
Manual sign “play” in Ukrainian sign language, picture
Types of Engagement:
Live event: No
Screening: No
Traditional media: No
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: persons with disabilities (including hearing loss), children and adolescents, older adults, migrants or refugees, rural or remote population, carefivers and hepling professionals
Met with individual policymaker: No
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: Yes
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: Yes