IVLP Gold Star Event – Pioneers for the Deaf Community in Chile: Actions for the Rights of Deaf Women

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the World Affairs Council and CRDF Global hosted a virtual event with International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Gold Star alumna Vianney Sierralta to discuss the impact of the IVLP on her work supporting members of the deaf community in Chile. You can watch the recording of our conversation with Vianney below!

Vianney is Chile’s leading advocate and activist in the field of rights of the hearing impaired. The World Affairs Council first welcomed Vianney to Seattle in 2017 as a participant in "Women Leaders: Drivers of Social Change" IVLP. Since returning to Chile, Vianney made history in January 2020 by becoming the first deaf lawyer in Chile. She proudly states that “Chileans now have an advocate and a lawyer within the judicial system who will fight for your rights and equal opportunity for the hearing impaired both within and outside the courtroom.” Vianney has focused her efforts on helping the deaf community gain greater independence in their daily lives while educating the Chilean government, the judicial system, and the general population about the needs of deaf men, women, and children. As a leading expert on disability rights, Vianney has been conducting training for members of the national judicial academy while collaborating with the judicial branch on policies that promote equal access to the justice system for the hearing impaired.