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The Nation Newspaper | Deaf still getting 'raw deal'
THE LACK OF A SCHOLASTIC EDUCATION
or any skills training,
plus a void in access
to certified interpreters are among the major hurdles preventing the deaf from becoming productive, integrated members of
Barbadian society.
These were some of the conclusions reached during the Barbados Deaf And Hearing-Impaired Community's third annual three-day educational and training workshop, held at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) auditorium recently.
The community, supported by the United States Embassy, Guardian General Insurance and Barbados Shipping & Trading among other sponsors, brought two deaf trainers from the United States to facilitate this year's workshop.
Returning for his third time was Professor Wayne Mnich, associate professor at the University of Indiana, who himself is deaf, and deaf educator Darin Turner, who was here for the first time.
With population estimates of more than 1 500 deaf people in Barbados, Professor Mnich noted: "This is a tremendous waste of potentially outstanding manpower that Barbados is losing due to its inability to give the deaf an adequate scholastic education, or any form of skills training."
With such a vacuum in accommodating an entire segment of society "that simply uses another language", Mnich said it was imperative that Government acted to rectify this gap.
During the workshop, Mnich and Turner "interpreted" the National Anthem and demonstrated the signs to perform it.
"In several places of the Anthem, the word 'we' is used. If 'we' is understood to mean all citizens, then it includes the deaf and hearing impaired. And if this is true, then the deaf have a right to equality.
"We are not talking about a revolution here, but to use the democratic process of meeting those in authority that can effect change, and educate them on deafness and the needs and rights of the deaf," he said.
Among the rights the trainers emphasised the deaf must strive to gain were the right to an education equal to what hearing children received, and the right to receive that education in correct sign language, which was the first language of the deaf.
The deaf and hearing impaired need to strive for the right to the interpreter of their choice and for the right to drive, since statistics have proven deaf drivers are among the safest in the world. Currently, the deaf are not allowed to drive in Barbados.
"Giving up is not an option if the deaf and hearing impaired want to be successful," both trainers stressed.
The trainers suggested launching a "deaf services desk" as a means of providing the deaf and hearing impaired with specialised services, such as interpreting.
THE LACK OF A SCHOLASTIC EDUCATION
or any skills training,
plus a void in access
to certified interpreters are among the major hurdles preventing the deaf from becoming productive, integrated members of
Barbadian society.
These were some of the conclusions reached during the Barbados Deaf And Hearing-Impaired Community's third annual three-day educational and training workshop, held at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) auditorium recently.
The community, supported by the United States Embassy, Guardian General Insurance and Barbados Shipping & Trading among other sponsors, brought two deaf trainers from the United States to facilitate this year's workshop.
Returning for his third time was Professor Wayne Mnich, associate professor at the University of Indiana, who himself is deaf, and deaf educator Darin Turner, who was here for the first time.
With population estimates of more than 1 500 deaf people in Barbados, Professor Mnich noted: "This is a tremendous waste of potentially outstanding manpower that Barbados is losing due to its inability to give the deaf an adequate scholastic education, or any form of skills training."
With such a vacuum in accommodating an entire segment of society "that simply uses another language", Mnich said it was imperative that Government acted to rectify this gap.
During the workshop, Mnich and Turner "interpreted" the National Anthem and demonstrated the signs to perform it.
"In several places of the Anthem, the word 'we' is used. If 'we' is understood to mean all citizens, then it includes the deaf and hearing impaired. And if this is true, then the deaf have a right to equality.
"We are not talking about a revolution here, but to use the democratic process of meeting those in authority that can effect change, and educate them on deafness and the needs and rights of the deaf," he said.
Among the rights the trainers emphasised the deaf must strive to gain were the right to an education equal to what hearing children received, and the right to receive that education in correct sign language, which was the first language of the deaf.
The deaf and hearing impaired need to strive for the right to the interpreter of their choice and for the right to drive, since statistics have proven deaf drivers are among the safest in the world. Currently, the deaf are not allowed to drive in Barbados.
"Giving up is not an option if the deaf and hearing impaired want to be successful," both trainers stressed.
The trainers suggested launching a "deaf services desk" as a means of providing the deaf and hearing impaired with specialised services, such as interpreting.