ninewhitebanners:

Namiraa Baljinnyam lost her hearing at 14 years old, and attended Mongolia’s only school for the deaf, Number 29. Students at Number 29 were forbidden to use sign-language in class, the school taught only lip-reading, which was very difficult for students who had not learned to speak before going deaf. At age 16, Namiraa resolved to help other deaf students, and went on to get degrees in linguistics, education, and deaf education.

With her three degrees, she applied to teach at Number 29, but the school does not allow deaf teachers. In October, Namiraa received a $300,000 grant to open her own school. She focuses on teaching sign language to young children and their parents.

Mongolia has its own sign language.