by Sarah Janning-Picker (WFTGA National Trainer and Area Representative)

At the end of 2024, Hamburg Guides launched a dedicated training initiative together with three deaf participants, developed in close collaboration with the local Deaf Association. The idea was sparked by an already active deaf guide, whose commitment and enthusiasm encouraged others to begin their own training journey.

Of the four initial participants, one chose not to take the final examination but still attended every session. Over roughly one year, we met three to four times per month, focusing strongly on hands‑on practice supported by professional sign-language interpreters. We were fortunate to secure sponsorship for interpretation during the training period. Since written language accessibility varied among participants, theoretical content was partly adapted and self‑studied at an individual pace.

The three deaf trainees demonstrated extraordinary dedication. Beyond the regular sessions, they organised additional practice meetings, guiding each other and deepening their knowledge collaboratively.

During their final examinations—conducted on tours through Hamburg’s Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage, most modern and amusement district —it became clear how confidently and accurately they had mastered the material and how convincingly they presented their tours.

To the best of our knowledge, these three graduates are the first officially trained and certified deaf guides in Hamburg—probably even beyond. We are incredibly proud of this step toward greater inclusion and grateful that we were able to walk this path together.

At the moment, we are exploring how membership in the professional association can be structured in a way that is sustainable and fair. One of the key challenges is ensuring that interpreter support can be properly integrated, including the financial aspects that come with it.

Although the training programme was slightly more compact than the standard track, it included all essential components: didactics, methodology, guiding skills in theory and practice, and legal foundations.

This experience reminded us that every challenge has a solution when we approach it together—and that inclusion grows stronger when we keep moving forward as a team.

If you have questions, would like to exchange ideas, or are considering similar initiatives in your region, I, Sarah Janning‑Picker, am very happy to support you – contact: sarah@wftga.org