Poland has a recorded history of DHH (Deaf or Hard of hearing) people, dating back to 1817.
[1] Piotr Gąsowski was the first Deaf person to learn PJM from his teacher Jakub Falkowski.
[5][6] Its main goal is to bring the Deaf and hard of hearing community together and give them the support they need.
[5] The Polish Association of the Deaf is a privately run NGO but receives monetary support from the government.
[5] The members continue today to push for greater equality between the Deaf and hearing communities in Poland.
[10] SALTO went to houses and schools in the communities and gave them basic supplies such as writing utensils, food, and water.
[10] SALTO-YOUTH provides opportunities to capture attention from authorities to give the DHH people a voice.
Overall, they create a safe space for the participants to try out human rights education methods and tools with their community.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires that the countries involved submit periodic reports, to which Poland has complied.
There have been reports of a high rate of sexual violence against both men and women in the DHH community in Poland (as of 2018).
[12] In 2013, many opportunities like jobs and or important events were not easily accessible to the Deaf people of Poland.
[14] The 4 Step Program has offered basic human and civil rights to the DHH community by giving people the aid they need to apply for a job.
[15] It is widely acknowledged that language deprivation among Deaf children prevents many individuals and children from acquiring the necessary skills to succeed in society and in the classroom[16] as a result of insufficient exposure to sign language input during early childhood.
[18] Hearing loss can affect a person's social skills and ability to communicate, which can lead to language deprivation.
[19] Around the world, Deaf children rarely have access to preschool and are often included in typical classrooms with assistants.
[19] Poland's Ministry of National Education initiated and funded a project to develop Polish school textbooks adapted to the needs of Deaf students.
[20] In the past 30 years, Poland has experienced significant social and educational changes, influencing both students with special needs and ideas about their place in society.
[27] The survey found that a lack of access to hearing technology was a major barrier to employment for DHH people.
[28] Interpreters of sign language work in a variety of translation environments, conditions, situations, and bases.
[34] PJM is at risk, due to the lack of education and exposure early on, as shown in the Language Depravation section.
[36] The disappearance of PMJ and increased use of cochlear implants has raised concerns for the DHH community in Poland.