GEORGIO?RUSSELL
FN News Reporter
The Grand Bahama Deaf Association (GBDA) will be observing Deaf Awareness Week beginning tomorrow.
Association members believe the needs of the hearing impaired are not being met within the community. They are hoping the week of events will bring about a change.
Tomorrow, the GBDA will host a church service for the deaf at Church of the Good Shepherd located in Pinder's Point. Following the service, the group has organized a luncheon which will take place at Zorba's restaurant.
For the rest of the week, the GBDA will visit various primary schools and educate the students on alphabetical sign language.
Though the GBDA, which comprises of roughly 40 members, will recognize Deaf Awareness Week, they feel that the deaf in the community are not being recognized.
Nicola Knowles, interpreter and advisor for the association, explains that the deaf go "un-noticed" in Freeport. The unmet needs, as she describes it, burden those that are deaf in the community and prevents them from excelling.
"There are some higher skilled jobs that they are able to do but are overlooked because they are hearing impaired," she said.
Knowles went on to acknowledge an instance she says she has witnessed within schools.
She said: "At my school, there are two students failing due to the lack of interpreters. Some of them may want a college education but are unable to."
Johnathan Cooper, who is hearing impaired, presides the GBDA. He explained the struggles that the deaf face within society along with an attempt to relieve them.
"We are unable to find jobs, housing, etc. We have also sent our concerns out but have not gotten anything straightened out," he said.
Cooper explains that due to the lack of interpreters in the Bahamas, Knowles being the only one, the deaf are left at an unfair advantage.
"I personally went to the doctor, and could not understand what was going on," he said. "We should have doctors that are trained to work with the hearing impaired."
Cooper explained this could all come to fruition if the government passes a "disability bill" that he claims has been pending for 23 years.
Knowles and Cooper both felt as though the public should be more sensitive to the hearing impaired and realize that they are functioning, equal, and play a part in the community just as every other citizen.
