kuurot

Kuurot is a Finnish term that refers to people who are deaf. In Finnish, kuuro (deaf) can function as a noun, and kuurot is the plural form used to describe the group of deaf people. The word is commonly used in everyday language as a neutral descriptor of a demographic rather than a medical condition.

In Finland, the deaf community often uses Finnish Sign Language, Suomen viittomakieli (SVK), as its primary language. SVK is distinct from spoken Finnish and has its own grammar and idioms. The Deaf community has its own cultural practices, networks, and media, and many kuurot participate in organizations that advocate for accessibility, sign language rights, and inclusion in education, work, and public life.

Education and public services for kuurot have evolved over time from segregated approaches toward greater inclusion and recognition of sign language rights. Legislation and policy in Finland support the use of interpreters, captioning, and accommodations in various settings. Organizations such as Suomen Kuurojen Liitto (the Finnish Association of the Deaf) work to advance services, rights, and awareness for the deaf community and SVK users.

Contemporary discussions around kuurot often touch on the balance between oral methods and sign language, the role of assistive technologies, and accessibility in media, education, and government services. The term kuurot is a neutral descriptor in Finnish, comparable to “the deaf” or “deaf people” in English; it may be used to refer to the community as a whole, which has its own language and culture within Finnish society.