Connected & Signed In: Digicel Foundation Celebrates Special Needs Awareness with Focus on Deaf Empowerment
Special Needs
Kingston, Jamaica – October 10, 2025 - The Digicel Foundation is celebrating Special Needs Awareness Month this October, with a special focus on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community under the theme “Connected and Signed In.” The Foundation will host a series of activities designed to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and empower members of the Deaf community through technology, education, and entrepreneurship.
As one of Jamaica’s leading foundations for persons with disabilities, the Digicel Foundation has invested USD $12.3 million in the special needs sector since its inception in 2004, positively impacting over 171,000 lives. This year’s Deaf Awareness campaign underscores the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to ensuring accessibility and inclusion for all Jamaicans.
The Special Needs Awareness activities will include a Tech Empowerment Session at the Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf, where students will be introduced to assistive devices and technological tools designed to support their learning and communication. The Foundation will also host a Fireside Conversation at the University of the West Indies, Mona, bringing together young Deaf adults to share their experiences and discuss pathways to inclusion and employment.
At the Digicel Headquarters in Downtown Kingston, the Foundation will host Deaf Artisan Day, offering staff and guests the opportunity to explore and purchase unique handmade creations from Deaf artisans across the island. Rounding out the month’s activities will be Lunch & Learn: Sign Language, a virtual crash course for Digicel employees to learn basic Jamaican Sign Language (JSL) phrases and promote more inclusive communication within the workplace.
Throughout the month, the Digicel Foundation will also collaborate with several key partners, including Open Door Jamaica Foundation, Convey, Ready to Sign, the UWI Mona Disability Centre, and the Jamaica Deaf Association, to continue raising public awareness about Deaf culture and communication.
Beyond these awareness efforts, the Foundation’s partnership with Digicel Jamaica continues to support accessibility through tailored mobile plans for persons with disabilities. These include extra data for the Deaf and extra voice minutes for the Blind, with subscribers registered through the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) eligible for these plans. Customers on these plans receive 10GB of bonus data or additional voice minutes, valid for the duration of their purchased plan.
Speaking on the Foundation’s commitment to inclusion, Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, shared, “Inclusion at the Digicel Foundation is a commitment. Through our partnerships, programmes, and awareness efforts, we aim to build bridges and empower the Deaf community to thrive in every sphere of life. ‘Connected and Signed In’ is our vision for a Jamaica where no one is left behind.”