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allAfrica.com: Ghana: Integrate the Deaf Fully Into Society, Says GNAD (Page 1 of 1)
The challenge of the deaf to discern and interpret sound, and similar difficulty on the part of the hearing to understand 'Sign Language', the language of the deaf, have created a wide communication gap between the two groups. A major setback that arises as a result of this gap is the low level of education among the deaf, through no fault of theirs.
To assist the deaf to communicate effectively, devices such as computerized visual texting systems have been developed for use at educational and other institutions.
Unfortunately in Ghana, the interest in usage of Sign Language and rate of its literacy is very discouraging, while the alternative assistive technological devices are either non-existent or beyond the affordability of the majority of deaf.
These concerns were raised by Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare, President of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), on the occasion of the International Week Celebration of the Deaf in Accra. It was on the theme: "Overcoming the Communication and Stigmatization Challenges of the Deaf-the way forward". According to him, the theme captures the concerns of the deaf and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in general.
Even though adequate laws exist to guarantee the rights of PWDs, he said not much have been done by way implementation.
"PWDs continuously face numerous challenges and prominent among these are ignorance, neglect, superstition, prejudice, discrimination and fear, on the part of the wider society. These have led to the isolation of persons with disabilities and delayed their development. As a result of these, the deaf in Ghana have been denied adequate education, right to political participation, health, employment and other social activities," he observed.
Mr. Asare also called on the Special Education Division of Ghana Education Service to organize Sign Language Workshops for teachers in the Schools of the Deaf and also urged the University of Winneba to improve on the teaching of Sign Language to the trainee teachers of the deaf.
He also called on the Ministry of Health to ensure a compulsory screening of all newly born babies to enhance early detection of any disability for early treatment.
The National Administrator of GNAD, Mr. Ebenezer Addo Asamoah, appealed to hospitals, police stations and court rooms to use the services of interpreters to enhance the full integration of the deaf in the Ghanaian Society.
The challenge of the deaf to discern and interpret sound, and similar difficulty on the part of the hearing to understand 'Sign Language', the language of the deaf, have created a wide communication gap between the two groups. A major setback that arises as a result of this gap is the low level of education among the deaf, through no fault of theirs.
To assist the deaf to communicate effectively, devices such as computerized visual texting systems have been developed for use at educational and other institutions.
Unfortunately in Ghana, the interest in usage of Sign Language and rate of its literacy is very discouraging, while the alternative assistive technological devices are either non-existent or beyond the affordability of the majority of deaf.
These concerns were raised by Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare, President of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), on the occasion of the International Week Celebration of the Deaf in Accra. It was on the theme: "Overcoming the Communication and Stigmatization Challenges of the Deaf-the way forward". According to him, the theme captures the concerns of the deaf and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in general.
Even though adequate laws exist to guarantee the rights of PWDs, he said not much have been done by way implementation.
"PWDs continuously face numerous challenges and prominent among these are ignorance, neglect, superstition, prejudice, discrimination and fear, on the part of the wider society. These have led to the isolation of persons with disabilities and delayed their development. As a result of these, the deaf in Ghana have been denied adequate education, right to political participation, health, employment and other social activities," he observed.
Mr. Asare also called on the Special Education Division of Ghana Education Service to organize Sign Language Workshops for teachers in the Schools of the Deaf and also urged the University of Winneba to improve on the teaching of Sign Language to the trainee teachers of the deaf.
He also called on the Ministry of Health to ensure a compulsory screening of all newly born babies to enhance early detection of any disability for early treatment.
The National Administrator of GNAD, Mr. Ebenezer Addo Asamoah, appealed to hospitals, police stations and court rooms to use the services of interpreters to enhance the full integration of the deaf in the Ghanaian Society.