Standing in Silence: China's sign language lawyer defends the deaf

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He calls the world of China's deaf population "a corner where the sun doesn't shine". For several years, sign language lawyer Tang Shuai has worked single-handedly in taking a stand for the voiceless. Tao Yuan has his story.

This court video shows a deaf defendant explaining she did not steal a cellphone. In court transcripts, her plea was recorded as a confession - that she stole a gold iPhone 6.

It's a scenario Tang Shuai encounters all too often. He's a sign language lawyer, well likely the only one in China.

TANG SHUAI SIGN LANGUAGE LAWYER "Because China does not have a perfect, unified sign language system, we are seeing miscarriages of justice in many cases involving the deaf community."

Here's what he means. There are two types of sign language in China. The standardized sign language is taught in schools and used by most court interpreters. But day-to-day, most deaf people use the natural sign language.

Tang Shuai understands both, and knows just how different they are.

TANG SHUAI SIGN LANGUAGE LAWYER "There's a huge barrier between the two. When people's freedom and lives are at stake, there's no room for any guesswork or misinterpretation."

For Tang, the issue is personal. Both of his parents are deaf. He was born healthy, a miracle baby in his parents' eyes, who should be kept away from the world of silence.

TANG SHUAI SIGN LANGUAGE LAWYER "My parents had my grandparents raise me. They never taught me sign language and didn't allow me to hang out with deaf people. They felt inferior, that deaf people were the lowest of the low."

But Tang mastered sign language, by secretly learning from any deaf person he could find, even strangers. Now, he says he understands his parents' decision, because much of how they felt then is still the norm for deaf people today.

TANG SHUAI SIGN LANGUAGE LAWYER "The whole country is promoting the rule of law. But the deaf community is still a dark corner where the sun doesn't shine. Many deaf people still have zero legal awareness. One client even asked me how he could get a divorce."

One person, for 20 million deaf people in China, Tang has a plan.

These associates of his will be the first among China's deaf population to take the national judicial exam. Only weeks to go, they feel the pressure, but also a strong pride.

"We are confident. We've prepared hard for it."

"We'll be the first deaf lawyers and will be able to help other deaf people."

Their reach may be short for now. But together, they are forming a growing voice for the voiceless. TY, CGTN, Chongqing.