International Week Of The Deaf: Safeguarding Deaf People In Times Of Crisis
Hello everyone,
The discussion topic for today in celebration of international week of the deaf according to World Federation of the Deaf is Safeguarding Deaf People In Times Of Crisis
With the event of our most recent crisis, the covid 19 pandemic has really shown us the need for new ways to guarantee inclusivity when passing down information. Under the event of different crises, including infectious diseases, natural disasters and armed conflicts, deaf people all over the world experience language deprivation, audism and socioeconomic disadvantages.
Audism is the belief that the ability to hear becauses on superior to those who can not hear.
There was an interview conducted by IWDP, and something I gathered was the importance of inclusivity.
Nigel Howard spoke about how interpreters needed to be shown during broadcasts about the pandemic on news channels. Not just occasionally, but everytime. It's important that deaf people can easily access this information, and know where to get support.
And it's not just about news channels, but other programmes as well.
''In the back of my head, I'd think about the deaf children having that exposure seeing a deaf person using ASL on TV. Then they'll be able to speak for themselves when the educational/medical community denies their access to ASL and focuses on oralism. The children will be able to point out that that a deaf person is signing on TV and there is nothing wrong with that!
It validates them, heightens their self-esteem and helps them know it's okay to be deaf".
It's also important not just to have an interpreter on TV, but for deaf people to be involved in the decision making process. Especially about how to best provide support and access for their community.
You can watch the interview, HERE.
Questions
Does your national government provide interpreters for television broadcasts? Is it only occasionally?
What do you think your government can do to be more inclusive especially regarding communication of information to deaf people?
How do you think individual owned businesses can promote inclusivity and make their services accessible to everyone including deaf people?
Has there been a time when you did not feel included when trying to access support or service? e.g healthcare, education, etc. What do you think could have been done better?
After watching the interview, what are your opinions?
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Yes safeguarding Deaf people. Learn sign language and given chance to learn. They still understand us. Thanks 7 cups of tea your staff so great and listeners. Xx
I wish more people know sign can talk to them and now live place can’t read lips because different way talk only can read lips people know really really good like family and some people back my kaiaulu can but one thing is go places doctor and stuff wish them know sign have interpreters more because some times no one and then not know what saying to me
Provincially, the Deaf community requested an ASL (I think that's the language) interpreter for the COVID-19 updates and that was brought in fairly quickly. So the province didn't do it on their own, but at least they responded quickly. He was there for the majority, although there were a few where he could not and I assume it was too short of a time-frame to bring someone else in. I can't fault the province too much for that, as there were even times that they had planned to have someone from the healthcare system speak and then it did not happen. Would be ideal if they at least had vetted a backup, but depending on timeframes a backup won't also be available either.
I do wish they did more closed captioning for the Q&As. The information beforehand always was, plus a fully written version was up on the provincial website. I found oftentimes the Q&As had better information that the briefings though. The closed captioning is helpful to me (not deaf) as sometimes something is misheard plus I like to seek out keywords to verify some of the information after.
Nationally, I think it varies and there are so many channels, streams, etc. that I suspect it's more available than what a hearing person may realize. There is also the verbal/written bilingual aspect so we are already getting interpreted versions at times, although some speakers will state something in English and then again in French. I think federally if there is a translator it is typically LSQ. With COVID I actually didn't pay as much attentional to the national ones as they were less relevant than the provincial ones, unless crossing the national border, or travelling via train or plane.
When I was younger before there were so many options, federally there was regularly a sign language interpreter. Then I did hear it was not ASL, I think it was LSQ although there are multiple sign languages used in Canada, not just the 2. Being fairly west, I tend to only hear about this on a national level as I think for sign language locally it's almost exclusively ASL but not knowing any of them I could be wrong.
For most TV programs, it's not very common to see a sign language interpreter, but a closed captioning option is mandatory. I think CC is likely accessible to more people although will not cover everyone.
I regularly do come across issues with inclusion because rare disorders are rarely considered with a lot of policies, it's rather frustrating. Even with something like COVID, access to things like Paxlovid we were an afterthough, months after others with comparable risks were included in the criteria.