We created SignaPlay in response to a deeply personal and urgent need: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) children are entering school without sufficient linguistic foundations, a crisis we witnessed firsthand during social service at a special education school in Jalisco, Mexico. This early gap severely limits their cognitive, emotional, and academic development. The root of this issue is the lack of early exposure to sign language—only 2% of DHH children have access to sign language during their critical first five years of life, while 72% of hearing parents are unaware of it. This language deprivation leads to systemic exclusion and long-term disadvantages, including an alarming 70% unemployment rate among DHH adults worldwide. SignaPlay was born from the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to communicate and learn from day one. We use cutting-edge technologies like AI and AR to create interactive, culturally relevant sign language learning experiences for families and children. Our innovation is not just about teaching a language; it’s about restoring dignity, enabling inclusion, and building the foundations for lifelong success. By empowering families to become active participants in their child’s language journey, SignaPlay ensures that no child is left behind due to communication barriers.
In practice, our innovation, SignaPlay, is a digital learning platform that delivers early sign language education through interactive, personalized experiences. At its core is Lexsi, our AI-powered signing avatar designed with state-of-the-art motion capture and computational linguistics to accurately demonstrate sign language, facial expressions, and grammar. Lexsi guides users—primarily Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) children and their hearing families—through immersive lessons using Augmented Reality (AR), role-playing, and scenario-based learning to enhance engagement and retention. Parents and children access SignaPlay via tablet or smartphone, allowing them to learn anytime and anywhere. The curriculum is age-appropriate and grounded in established sign language literacy standards. It includes linguistic assessments to track children’s development and tailor lesson pathways to their needs. Importantly, it’s designed for inclusive family learning, empowering hearing parents—often unaware of sign language—to build communication skills alongside their child. In local communities, SignaPlay is implemented through schools and family support centers, often in partnership with education authorities and Deaf-led organizations. Workshops and onboarding sessions support adoption and ensure cultural sensitivity. In the field, we’ve tested SignaPlay with pilot families in Mexico, and through partnerships with Gallaudet University and local NGOs, we’re preparing for broader deplo
SignaPlay has been spreading through a combination of strategic partnerships, community engagement, and institutional integration. We began with grassroots outreach in Mexico, working directly with DHH families and special education schools to test and refine our MVP. As impact and demand grew, we partnered with key stakeholders like Gallaudet University, government agencies in Jalisco, and education nonprofits to facilitate broader distribution. We also leveraged accelerators and grant programs (MIT Solve, IDB, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, Santander X) to increase visibility and credibility, which helped us access schools, family centers, and NGOs across Latin America. Additionally, word-of-mouth within Deaf communities, supported by localized workshops and training sessions, has helped foster trust and organic adoption. In parallel, we’re preparing a B2B/B2G strategy to integrate SignaPlay into public education systems and CSR initiatives. This dual approach—bottom-up community engagement and top-down institutional integration—is enabling scalable and sustainable spread.
We’d love for you to try SignaPlay! 🚀 Just reach out to us through our website at other.tech or email us directly at hello@other.tech. Whether you’re a parent, educator, organization, or simply curious, we’ll get you started with early access, a walkthrough of our platform, and all the support you need to begin your SignaPlay journey. We’re excited to hear from you!
