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Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt :
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Minister Anthony Roberts said yesterday the National Consultation to standardise sign languages will help improve education of the hearing impaired.
Speaking at the Ambassador Hotel, Roberts said the consultation signals “an awakening of the national consciousness to the needs of our deaf and hearing impaired brothers and sisters.”
Roberts added that Govern-ment was dedicated to ensuring each person is given the opportunity to realise his or her true capacity and potential.
He noted the proposed dictio-nary will contain both American and Trinidad and Tobago signs. “In order to be an effective teaching tool, a DVD containing Trinidad and Tobago signs will accompany the dictionary,” he said. He also noted that discussions were currently going on with the Ministry of Education to have the dictionary be placed on the book lists of every school that catered to the needs of the deaf and hearing impaired students.
“When completed, the Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language will give credibility and create consistency to the signs which you have developed.
It will improve your quality of education and afford you an opportunity to communicate more easily with your peers and the wider community,” he explained. He reminded the audience that he indicated some time ago that he was prepared to learn sign language and also to introduce it to members of staff of the Ministry of Social Development.
“Today I am pleased to report that the initiative to conduct introductory courses in Basic Sign Language for our members of staff and myself has started. This training will enable our Ministry to provide better service to our deaf and hearing impaired clients,” he said.
He added that the Ministry will be pursuing a project that will facilitate the signing of local news and educational programmes on television. Eulyn Dove, a representative from the TT Association for the Hearing Impaired, considered this exercise “history in the making.”
She continued, “Language is not static it is constantly evolving and sign language is no exception and with the standardisation of sign language better communication between the hearing and the hearing impair-ed would be the result.
She believes that “the hearing impaired have come this far through faith and perseverance.”
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Minister Anthony Roberts said yesterday the National Consultation to standardise sign languages will help improve education of the hearing impaired.
Speaking at the Ambassador Hotel, Roberts said the consultation signals “an awakening of the national consciousness to the needs of our deaf and hearing impaired brothers and sisters.”
Roberts added that Govern-ment was dedicated to ensuring each person is given the opportunity to realise his or her true capacity and potential.
He noted the proposed dictio-nary will contain both American and Trinidad and Tobago signs. “In order to be an effective teaching tool, a DVD containing Trinidad and Tobago signs will accompany the dictionary,” he said. He also noted that discussions were currently going on with the Ministry of Education to have the dictionary be placed on the book lists of every school that catered to the needs of the deaf and hearing impaired students.
“When completed, the Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language will give credibility and create consistency to the signs which you have developed.
It will improve your quality of education and afford you an opportunity to communicate more easily with your peers and the wider community,” he explained. He reminded the audience that he indicated some time ago that he was prepared to learn sign language and also to introduce it to members of staff of the Ministry of Social Development.
“Today I am pleased to report that the initiative to conduct introductory courses in Basic Sign Language for our members of staff and myself has started. This training will enable our Ministry to provide better service to our deaf and hearing impaired clients,” he said.
He added that the Ministry will be pursuing a project that will facilitate the signing of local news and educational programmes on television. Eulyn Dove, a representative from the TT Association for the Hearing Impaired, considered this exercise “history in the making.”
She continued, “Language is not static it is constantly evolving and sign language is no exception and with the standardisation of sign language better communication between the hearing and the hearing impair-ed would be the result.
She believes that “the hearing impaired have come this far through faith and perseverance.”