06 Oct 2026

Access to sign language is a fundamental human right, yet it remains inconsistent and often inaccessible in Botswana, according to sign language interpreter and inclusion advocate, Mr Lesley Baleseng.

In an interview on the state of sign language services, Mr Baleseng highlighted the systemic gaps that continued to marginalise individuals with hearing impairment across the country.

“Access to communication is a right, not a privilege, but right now, that right is not fully realised,” he said.

Addressing a common misconception that sign language is universal or informal, he explained that in reality, sign language was a fully developed linguistic system with its own grammar, structure and cultural context.

“Sign language is the first language of deaf people, it follows all the rules of language, grammar, linguistics and everything, the difference is that it is visual,” he said.

He further said like spoken languages, sign languages varied across countries and even within regions, adding that cultural influences shaped how signs were expressed, leading to dialects and variations.

“For example, South African Sign Language has regional differences influenced by local cultures and spoken languages, language and culture go hand in hand,” he said

Despite the existence of sign language in Botswana, Mr Baleseng said access to it, particularly in essential services, remained limited.
He pointed out that many service providers lacked proficiency or awareness of sign language, creating daily communication barriers for individuals with hearing impairment.

“There is no consistent system in place, sometimes there’s no interpreter at all and even when there is, the quality may not be sufficient,” he said.

He explained that those challenges were particularly evident in critical sectors such as education, healthcare and public services, where effective communication was essential.

He said without proper access, individuals with hearing impairment were often excluded from information and opportunities that hearing individuals took for granted.

To illustrate the issue, Mr Baleseng compared the experience of individuals with hearing impairment to that of a person placed in a foreign country without understanding the language.

“Imagine living in a world where everything is communicated in a language you do not understand, that is the reality for many deaf people in a hearing dominated society,” he said.

He stressed that lack of access was not due to the absence of sign language itself, but rather the failure to integrate it into national systems and policies.

He therefore highlighted the importance of early exposure to sign language, particularly for children with hearing impairment, saying without early language stimulation, cognitive and social development can be affected.

“In an ideal situation, deaf children would be exposed to sign language from an early age, that allows them to develop language naturally, just like hearing children do with spoken language,” he added.

He noted that hearing impairment can occur at different stages, whether congenital or later in life and that language needs may vary accordingly, however saying access to sign language remained crucial across all cases.

He further said while interpreters existed in Botswana, access to them was often informal and inconsistent.

He therefore called for stronger systems, better training and formal recognition of sign language as an essential service.

“Sign language is still treated as optional, but it is essential communication,” he said, insisting that access to communication must be recognised and implemented as a basic human right for all. ENDS