La Parole Aux Sourds

What La Parole Aux Sourds does

La Parole Aux Sourds is a French non-profit association (Loi 1901, SIREN 530 864 529) founded in 2009 in Paris by sisters Déborah and Gabrielle Portnoï, both CODA (Children of Deaf Adults). The organization develops and delivers services that bridge communication between the French deaf community, which uses French Sign Language (LSF), and the hearing population. Its core offerings include an e-learning platform for written French adapted for deaf learners (covering administrative letters, contracts, retirement, taxes, and emails), bilingual LSF-French digital stories and nursery rhymes for deaf and hearing children, French Sign Language training for individuals and enterprises, deaf-awareness consulting for companies and institutions, and a free remote administrative assistance service delivered via webcam. Supporting infrastructure includes the SignerZ e-learning platform for structured LSF instruction, the Édisourdes publishing house producing educational brochures, and the Maison Turquoise facility for deaf parents and children. Underlying technology is video-first educational content (LSF performances with French subtitles/voiceover), a self-serve web platform, and remote Skype-based service delivery rather than any disclosed proprietary AI/ML stack.

The organization's revenue model is primarily donation-driven and institutional-grant funded, supplemented by freemium e-learning pricing (free initial French course with premium LSF content available at competitive pricing via SignerZ) and in-person corporate training and awareness sessions. Go-to-market is community-led: the CODA founder network drives word-of-mouth within deaf communities, while digital content marketing (website, Facebook, YouTube), downloadable brochures, and in-person events (school/library storytelling, corporate sensitization, TEDx participation) build institutional and B2B engagement. Backed by regional and municipal government support (Île-de-France, Ville de Paris), foundation funding (Fondation Bettencourt), Ashoka social entrepreneur recognition, and corporate sponsors (SFR, GECINA, MAIF), the association operates with a lean team of roughly five people comprising founders, board members, trainers, and volunteers. The company_description_short: Paris-based French non-profit association founded in 2009 by CODA sisters that delivers e-learning French courses, LSF training, bilingual LSF-French stories, deaf-awareness consulting, and remote administrative assistance to bridge communication between deaf signers and the hearing community.

Name

La Parole Aux Sourds

Legal name

La Parole Aux Sourds

Website

https://laparoleauxsourds.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paris-based French non-profit association founded in 2009 by CODA sisters that delivers e-learning French courses, LSF training, bilingual LSF-French stories, deaf-awareness consulting, and remote administrative assistance to bridge communication between deaf signers and the hearing community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deaf Accessibility and Sign Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Translation and Interpretation Services (541930)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Inclusive Classroom Support Platforms (EDAFAKAI), Language & Cross-Cultural Training (BPACANAL), Interpretation, Translation & Language Access Training (Community Interpreting) (EDAAADAJ)

Keywords

• Sign language education
• Deaf accessibility services
• French language e-learning
• Deaf awareness training
• Bilingual LSF content

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Funding: Association receives donations from individuals and organizations. 2023 plans include continued publication and distribution of brochures, resumption of activities at Maison Turquoise, awareness sessions, deaf/hearing networking events, and showcasing deaf artists through deaf.shop boutique.
2. E-learning Courses: Free French language courses provided via e-learning platform. Some premium content may be available through the Signerz platform at competitive pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Parole Aux Sourds is a non-profit association that provides French language e-learning courses adapted for deaf learners, bilingual LSF-French digital stories for deaf and hearing children, French Sign Language (LSF) training for individuals and enterprises, and free remote administrative assistance for deaf signers. It also offers deaf-awareness consulting and publishes educational brochures on deaf culture through its sub-brand Édisourdes.

Product overview

La Parole Aux Sourds operates as a non-profit association (Loi 1901) offering a portfolio of accessibility services focused on communication between deaf and hearing individuals. The core offerings include: E-learning de français (French language e-learning courses for deaf individuals), Contes bilingues LSF-Français (bilingual stories in French Sign Language), Formation LSF (French Sign Language training for all audiences), Sensibilisation et conseil (deafness awareness and consulting services), Aide Administrative (free remote administrative assistance), and published educational materials through its sub-brand Édisourdes. These services are interconnected as part of a holistic approach to breaking communication barriers between the deaf and hearing communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Édisourdes: Publishing house created to edit and publish brochures on themes related to deafness, sign language, and deaf culture
• SignerZ
• Maison Turquoise

Products and services

• E-learning de français Online written French language courses designed for deaf individuals to improve mastery of written French, covering administrative letters, contracts, retirement, taxes, and emails through modules adapted to daily procedures.
• Contes bilingues LSF-Français Bilingual stories in French Sign Language (LSF) with French subtitles and voiceover, designed to foster imagination in deaf children and raise awareness among hearing children, delivered digitally and through live storytelling by a deaf-hearing duo.
• Formation LSF French Sign Language courses for hearing people, deaf individuals, parents of deaf children, and curious learners, also delivered to businesses adapted to specific needs and taught by qualified deaf instructors.
• Sensibilisation et conseil surdité Awareness sessions, consulting, and information services about deafness for businesses, universities, institutions, and associations seeking to make their services accessible to deaf customers and employees.
• Aide Administrative Free remote administrative assistance service for deaf and hard-of-hearing signers, delivered entirely via webcam through scheduled Skype appointments to help with administrative procedures.
• Médico'Signes Brochures and resources addressing medical and healthcare communication in French Sign Language, designed to improve accessibility for deaf patients in medical contexts.
• Brochures Édisourdes A series of illustrated brochures on themes related to deafness, sign language, and deaf culture, published by the Édisourdes publishing house and covering topics such as French Sign Language, types of deafness, COVID-19 communication, and the LGBTQIA+ deaf community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free administrative assistance provided remotely to deaf signers via webcam
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Île-de-FrancemajorOthersRegional government institution providing institutional support to the association's activities in the Paris region.
• Ville de Paris (Mairie de Paris)majorOthersParis city government providing municipal support for association activities in the capital.
• SFRminorOthersTelecommunications company providing corporate sponsorship support.
• GECINAminorOthersReal estate company providing corporate sponsorship support.
• Fondation BettencourtmajorOthersPrivate foundation providing philanthropic support for cultural and educational initiatives.
• AshokamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal fellowship of social entrepreneurs. Ashoka affiliation indicates recognition as a social enterprise with innovative impact model.
• MAIFminorOthersInsurance company providing corporate sponsorship support.
• SignerzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform for LSF e-learning courses. La Parole Aux Sourds directs learners to Signerz for structured French Sign Language training aligned with CECRL standards. Course created by deaf trainers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Lingvano: App-based sign language learning platform with structured lessons and live coaching. Comparable as a consumer-facing digital product that monetizes sign-language instruction at scale via subscription.
• SignAll: Tech company building automated sign language translation using computer vision. Comparable as a technology-enabled provider working on deaf-hearing communication, though focused on interpretation technology rather than language instruction.
• The ASL App: Mobile-first sign language learning app focused on ASL. Comparable as a digital sign-language learning product aimed at hearing learners wanting to acquire conversational proficiency, paralleling La Parole Aux Sourds / Signerz's LSF courses in a different sign language.

Broad incumbents

• WebSourd: Major French deaf-media organization providing LSF-translated news and information. Comparable as a French deaf-accessibility organization operating at significantly larger scale across media, education, and translation services.
• Éducation Permanente en LSF (various French public university programs): French universities (e.g., Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Université de Lille) offering accredited LSF training, interpreter diplomas, and deaf-studies programs. Comparable as established, certification-issuing LSF training providers against which La Parole Aux Sourds competes for paying learners.
• Association des Sourds de France (ASF): Long-established national federation of deaf associations in France. Comparable as the incumbent umbrella organization advocating for deaf rights, delivering community services, and providing deaf-awareness training across France.

Direct peers

• Sourdline: France-based deaf information and remote interpretation service covering administrative, legal, and medical procedures. Directly comparable as another France-based service helping deaf users navigate administrative systems remotely, similar to La Parole Aux Sourds' free Skype-based administrative assistance.
• Signerz: Strategic e-learning partner that delivers structured LSF instruction aligned with CECRL standards. Directly comparable as the digital distribution channel through which La Parole Aux Sourds reaches paying LSF learners, with course content authored by La Parole Aux Sourds' deaf trainers.
• IVT (Inter Service Visualisation et Traduction): French provider of LSF visual translation, interpretation, and accessibility services for enterprises and public institutions. Directly comparable as a France-based supplier of professional deaf-accessibility services for organizations needing to communicate with deaf clients and employees.

Regional players

• Hands In Touch International: International deaf-services organization offering sign-language training and deaf-community resources outside France. Comparable in mission (deaf accessibility, sign-language education) and target learner base but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/laparoleauxsourds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-parole-aux-sourds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about La Parole Aux Sourds