An estimated 75,000 people with hearing loss live in Ivory Coast, where everyday activities such as shopping, attending school or obtaining medicine can become hugely difficult when communication support is unavailable. In Abidjan, psychologist and sign-language interpreter Israël Mansaré helps deaf and hard-of-hearing people communicate with those who cannot use sign language. Among those he assists is carpenter Gildas Zamble, whose needs he translates from sign language into speech. Mansaré says deaf people have the same need to express themselves and be understood as everyone else; he points out that sign language is a fully developed language with its own vocabulary, grammar and spelling. However, Ivory Coast has too few interpreters to meet demand, with hundreds more reportedly needed. Mansaré’s work demonstrates how interpretation can reduce isolation and make society more accessible and inclusive.