Memorial Explicativo solicitado por la Comisión Conjunta para la Revisión Continua del Código Penal de Puerto Rico del Senado para la vista pública "Protección, Manejo y Conservación de Evidencia Digital en Casos Penales".

Press Release

Exhortation to the deaf community and their families to complete registration to strengthen the information available on this population in Puerto Rico

 San Juan, Puerto Rico — March 18, 2026. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), in collaboration with the Deaf Community Liaison Office and several agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico, urged deaf people, people with partial hearing loss, deafblind people and their families to participate in an online registry that will allow the collection of key information about this population in Puerto Rico.

The initiative is developed in accordance with Executive Order OE-2026-002, issued by the governor of Puerto Rico, Jennifer A. González Colón, which instructs the Institute of Statistics, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the University of Puerto Rico, the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, the Deaf Community Liaison Office and other entities, to carry out a formal effort to collect information about the deaf community in Puerto Rico and its characteristics, including the communication methods used.

As explained by the executive director of the Institute, Dr. Orville M. Disdier, community participation is essential for reliable information to guide public decision-making and the development of initiatives aimed at this population. “Having reliable information is essential to be able to develop public policies and services that respond to the real needs of the community. That's why we invite deaf people, those with hearing loss and their families to participate in this registry. Their participation will strengthen knowledge about this population and support informed decisions for the benefit of the deaf community in Puerto Rico,” said Disdier.

It takes three to five minutes to complete the registration. Participation is encouraged to:

• Deaf people
• People with partial (mild to moderately severe) hearing loss
• Deafblind people
• Families and caregivers who support people with these conditions

Interested persons can complete the registration at the following link: surveymonkey.com/r/deafspr

Information and guidance

Individuals or organizations interested in receiving guidance or collaborating in the dissemination of this information can contact:

Deaf Community Liaison Office (OECS)
Phone: 787-725-2333 ext. 203
VRS: 787-773-1487
Email: oecs@dpi.pr.gov
Website: www.dpi.pr.gov

Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics
Telephone: 787-819-0730
Email: preguntas@estadisticas.pr

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BE PART OF THE REGISTRY OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY

"Your history matters. Puerto Rico needs to get to know you."

¿Who should register?

• Deaf people: deaf people and those with partial auditory loss (mild to moderately severe)
• Deafblind: people who have combined hearing and vision loss
• Family and caregivers: person who can support registering their loved one

"Make yourself visible. Be the change."

Register today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/sordospr

For more information write to: preguntas@estadisticas.pr

www.estadisticas.pr.gov

Para establecer el reconocimiento oficial de la Lengua de Señas Puertorriqueña (LSP) como la lengua natural de la comunidad sorda en Puerto Rico, establecer como política pública la garantía a la inclusión, la diversidad y el respeto a los derechos lingüísticos de todas las personas, mandatar un censo dirigido a recopilar información estadística sobre la comunidad sorda en Puerto Rico, y para otros fines relacionados.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. BRFSS Prevalance and Trends Data [online]. 2025. [accessed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:40:15 GMT].

URL: https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/brfssprevalence.

Graphic: Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

Note: Adults 18 years of age or older.

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Today, March 4th, World Obesity Day, is an opportunity to reflect on a public health challenge that continues to grow in many parts of the world, including Puerto Rico.

According to data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the prevalence of obesity in Puerto Rico shows an upward trend over the last decade among adults aged 18 and over, going from 26.3% in 2011 to 36.2% in 2024.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics promotes access to information that allows us to better understand the challenges we face as a society and to support informed decision-making.

On World Obesity Day, we're sharing this graphic to promote informed conversation and analysis of available data.

Learn more about this day at: https://www.worldobesityday.org

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To amend Article 2 and add Articles 5-A and 5-B to Act No. 97-2000, as amended, known as the “Puerto Rico Vocational Rehabilitation Act”, for the purpose of empowering the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration to review and update transportation subsidy tables for students participating in its programs; establish a periodic review mechanism and interagency agreements; and for other related purposes.

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