Andy Signs Productions
What does your company do?
Andy Signs is a trailblazing organisation committed to breaking communication barriers through the integration of South African Sign Language (SASL) into mainstream media, entertainment, and public platforms. Founded by accessibility advocate Andiswa Gebashe, our mission is to make SASL visible, respected, and standard, not treated as an afterthought.
We are not a charity. We are language specialists. Our focus is not simply on helping the Deaf community, though that is a beautiful by-product of our work. At our core, Andy Signs is about ensuring that SASL holds equal space in South Africa’s cultural and creative landscape. From interpreting presidential addresses to consulting on Netflix productions, and from hosting live award shows to producing educational content for SABC, we lead conversations about access by placing SASL in spaces where it has been missing for too long.
Our work proves that accessibility can be artistic, powerful, and profitable, and that South Africa is richer when all of its languages, including SASL, are seen and heard.
What is your biggest success?
Our biggest success has been establishing South African Sign Language (SASL) as a visible, credible, and celebrated part of South Africa’s mainstream media and entertainment industry. From interpreting for President Cyril Ramaphosa during the pandemic to providing SASL coaching for Netflix’s iNumber Number, and integrating SASL into Takalani Sesame for Deaf children, Andy Signs has shifted the conversation from charity to cultural integration. In 2024, we expanded accessibility at the Feather Awards by training and deploying 30 Deaf hospitality staff, and our founder was honoured by the Premier of Gauteng for her work in accessibility. These moments prove that our vision, to normalise accessibility, is not just possible, it’s happening.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
Our biggest hurdle has been the slow pace at which accessibility is embraced institutionally. While everyone agrees that SASL inclusion is important, few budgets or systems are designed to prioritise it. Many government and corporate partners are willing but stuck in processes that delay action, especially when it comes to creating formal call-outs or securing long-term funding. As a result, we often provide our services at discounted rates or as in-kind contributions just to keep the visibility of SASL alive. We've had to fight not just for access, but for respect, for SASL as a full, legitimate language deserving of space, planning, and investment in every public-facing platform.
