April 24 is Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) Day
April 24 is Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) Day, a date that marks the official recognition of Libras as a legal means of communication and expression in Brazil. The celebration was established by Law No. 10,436, enacted on April 24, 2002, and regulated by Decree No. 5,626/2005, which established guidelines for the teaching and use of Libras in public and private institutions.
Libras is a visual-motor language, with its own grammatical structure, used by the Brazilian deaf community as its main form of communication. It plays a fundamental role in promoting social inclusion, ensuring access to information, education and public services for deaf people.
The choice of April 24 as the celebration reflects the importance of the legal recognition of Libras and symbolizes the historical struggle of the deaf community for their linguistic and cultural rights. The date also serves as a moment to reflect on the advances and challenges that still exist in promoting accessibility and equity for deaf people in Brazil.
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