To mark World Deaf Week, AP-HP inaugurated new facilities for the Unit for Information and Care for the Deaf (UNISS) at the Pitié-Salpêtrière AP-HP Hospital on September 25, 2026. Established 30 years ago, UNISS is the first medico-social structure in France fully accessible in French Sign Language (LSF).
UNISS is dedicated to supporting deaf individuals throughout their healthcare journey, developing care services tailored to their needs, and reducing inequalities in access to healthcare. Its bilingual, multidisciplinary team, comprising both deaf and hearing professionals, offers consultations directly in LSF. Furthermore, a mobile team of interpreters and inter-mediators ensures access to all specialties within the hospital.
Since its inception, nearly 5,000 patients have been assisted by the unit. Currently, it serves approximately 800 patients annually and performs close to 8,000 medical procedures. The new, more spacious and better-equipped premises will support the expansion of its activities, particularly in psychiatry, adapted physical activity, and support for deaf women who are victims of violence.
Beyond direct care, UNISS actively contributes to research on the health of deaf individuals and the training of healthcare professionals. This inauguration signifies a new phase in AP-HP's commitment to ensuring adapted and equitable healthcare access for the deaf community.
