Health information is often inaccessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals in many other parts of the world. In Lebanon, efforts to integrate sign language interpretation and captioning into health media infrastructure are complicated by economic and cultural factors and the lack of a unified Lebanese SL. Viewed through the lens of positive peace and the Eight Pillars framework from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the gap in accommodations for DHH individuals is a form of structural violence. An estimated 8,000 people in Lebanon, a country of a few million people, are affected. The consequence is limited health knowledge and literacy that in turn undermines positive health behaviors and outcomes. The feeling of being marginalized and less empowered to make decisions about personal and family healthcare fuels frustration and low trust in institutions. 

I am a doctor interested in the intersection of medicine and peacebuilding. As part of a team of medical professionals at Lebanese American University (LAU), I was involved in a focus group study and extensive literature review of healthcare challenges facing DHH individuals in Lebanon, as well as identification of potential solutions. On this basis, the Board of LAU-MC implemented a strategic plan enhancing hospital accessibility. The result was a proposal for an accessible digital platform for DHH individuals through a library of 300 videos on 50 health topics, each in one of six forms of Lebanese Sign Language (SL). Each 10-minute video will feature a physician explaining a health topic, a SL interpreter, and Arabic captioning. This involves agreements from physicians, interpreters, and post-production editing.

My participation in the Bridges to New Horizons program was instrumental in transforming this health awareness initiative into a peacebuilding project. We used the Eight Pillars of Peace framework from the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) to focus the project’s purpose on the free flow of healthcare information, and a Spiral Dynamics/ValueMath model to help consider community needs and values. Required use of project management tools in the Bridges to New Horizons program helped define priorities, clarify outreach to key stakeholders and potential partners, and identify adaptations that would be needed based on risk scenarios. The trauma healing perspective of the program emphasized the critical need for a community-centered approach.

Mindful partner selection was key: for instance, physicians from the LAU Medical Center and interpreters from nonprofit organizations (NGOs) that support and advocate for DHH individuals. In essence, the project served as a bridge between representatives of the healthcare community and the DHH community. In a matter of a few months, partnerships were established with LAU, IRAP, and Lebanon Deaf Foundation. Pilot videos received positive feedback.

We aim to continue expanding our network of partner NGOs to ensure wider channels for outreach and dissemination. As a future vision, we aim to engage other Departments at LAU, Institut de Reeducation Audio-Phonetique (IRAP), and the Lebanese Federation of the Deaf (LFD) to shape decisions on healthcare information video content, translation, and how best to raise awareness among students and professionals involved in creating health-related media.