spokhand in EchoMag: Our Mission at the Core of Sign Language

EchoMag is one of the oldest Deaf publications in the world. Founded in 1908 by Alexandre Lemesle under the original name L’Écho de Famille, the magazine has played a central role in shaping and amplifying the voices of the Deaf community in France for over a century.

Published monthly, EchoMag is managed by the nonprofit Presse Édition Surdité. It offers general information and cultural content, with a strong focus on society, politics, and Deaf life. It regularly features interviews with Deaf leaders, activists, and creators. Since 1996, the magazine has been known as L’Écho Magazine, continuing its long-standing commitment to Deaf history, language, and visibility in French society.

In its April 2025 issue, EchoMag published a full-page article about spokhand and our growing impact in the world of sign language and AI.

spokhand’s Mission: Building the World’s Largest Sign Language Dataset

At the core of the article is spokhand’s mission: to build the largest sign language dataset in the world. This dataset serves as the foundation for AI-driven services, including a sign language translation engine that can convert text or audio into sign language through realistic 3D avatars.

The aim is not simply to create technology, but to make sign language visible, present, and functional in all areas where information is shared — from education to healthcare, public services to media, and beyond.

The article outlines how our non-profit organization, based in the United States, was created to tackle a major barrier still facing Deaf communities worldwide: the lack of direct access to information in their natural language. Sign language is a visual, spatial language — and current systems often fail to include it at all. By using artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively, spokhand addresses this gap with long-term ambition.

A Deaf-Led, Culturally Rooted Team

EchoMag highlights one of spokhand’s key strengths: its team. Over 80% of the members are Deaf or CODA, combining personal experience with expertise in AI, linguistics, development, and sign language pedagogy. This gives spokhand a unique ability to innovate from within the Deaf community itself.

From Campaigns to Global Reach

The article also revisits a recent communication campaign where 3D avatars of public figures, like Michael Jordan or Santa Claus, signed in different sign languages. The campaign reached millions, showing the expressive power of sign languages and the potential of AI for cultural visibility.

Growth Through Strategic Partnerships

EchoMag underlines the importance of spokhand’s partnerships — with Deaf associations, universities, and key supporters like Archimed, a French investment fund. These collaborations strengthen our dataset and ensure long-term scalability, reinforcing that accessibility is a collective issue, not a marginal one.

A Long-Term Vision

spokhand’s goal is clear: make sign language visible, usable, and integrated into everyday digital life. EchoMag shares our belief that sign languages are not disappearing — they’re evolving. With AI and meaningful data, we’re working toward a world where language builds bridges, not walls.