Deaf miss AIDS messages, say activists

RIGHTS activists have called for a programme to address HIV/AIDS among persons with hearing difficulties reports Francis Kagolo, of New Vision (23/09/11)


The activists said the deaf stood a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS due to lack of knowledge.

The Uganda National Association for the Deaf (UNAD) advocacy coordinator, Joseph Mbulamwana, said of the over 700,000 deaf Ugandans, only about 10% could read and write.

This, he said, had limited their knowledge about the causes of HIV/AIDS, preventive measures and effective ways to live positively.

Mbulamwana said over 90% of the deaf shunned voluntary counselling and testing services due to lack of sign language interpreters at health facilities.

“There is a lot of information but it does not benefit the deaf. Many of them continue to be infected and miserably live with it unaware,” he said.

Mbulamwana added that the situation was getting worse as sections of the public thought the deaf were safe and run to them for unprotected sex.

Mbulamwana made the remarks in an interview with New Vision about this year’s national deaf week which started on Monday.

The celebrations, which are held every third week of September are meant to boost awareness about the problems faced by the deaf.

This year’s celebrations are going on in Ibanda district under the theme: “Are we Planning for the Deaf?”. They end on Friday.

Vision Group, in support of the deaf, offered UNAD free airtime in form of talk shows on Radio West, TV West and Bukedde TV to debate their grievances and advocate for the rights of the deaf. The talkshow on Bukedde TV, code named Akabbinkano was aired on Tuesday at 11:00pm.

The shows were meant to debate the grievances and advocate for rights of the deaf.

“It is hoped that after these shows, the population will be well aware of the problems faced by the deaf in trying to access their rights and that measures will be put in place,” said Doreen Pachuto Vision Group’s legal officer.

Stella Kentutsi, the executive director of the National Forum of People Living with HIV/AIDS, said the deaf had not received the necessary attention.

Mbulamwana said despite the existence of favourable legislation, a number of institutions were reluctant to offer equal treatment to people with hearing impairment.

He cited the sh3b Government grant given annually to districts meant to help persons with disabilities, that in some cases went unutilised.

Scotland’s Largest Deaf Organisation Expands

Two of the oldest organisations working with deaf people in Scotland, Deaf Action and Tayside Deaf Association, were delighted to officially recognise their merger on 16 March writes Andrew Edmundson in the Dundee Messenger (22/08/11).


Between them, the two charities have nearly 300 years of experience in working with deaf 
people and providing services to promote independence.

In September 2010, Deaf Action and Tayside Deaf Association announced their intention to merge; creating the largest deaf organisation in Scotland. On Wednesday 16 March over 140 people, including Councillors, health representatives, organisations and clients gathered at Discovery Point, Dundee to celebrate the launch of Deaf Action in Tayside.

The merger of Deaf Action and Tayside Deaf Association comes at a very important time; this is a difficult period for the third sector, as it is for local governments, companies and individuals themselves. Budgets are being squeezed that will affect the services many people depend on. In this environment Deaf Action and Tayside Deaf Association are delighted to be joining their history, resources and experience together to deliver stronger services for deaf people.

At the launch event, Petra Claydon, a Deaf BSL user and young mum spoke passionately of her feelings of frustration at being unable to communicate throughout her education with hearing colleagues and today with young mums at the school gates. "After discovering the Training Services available from Deaf Action and working with their staff, I am delighted that I am now in a position to deliver Deaf Awareness Training and British Sign Language Training to hearing people. It is courses like this that address the very same communication difficulties I have faced in my life," explained Petra who is now working with Deaf Action in Tayside to provide training courses to others.

Bill Nicol, a member of the Perth lip reading group, stressed what the group meant to him; "The lip reading classes cost very little to sustain but they provide members with much more than the skills of lip reading. People diagnosed with a hearing loss can very quickly become isolated; by attending lip reading classes people get valuable support, advice and companionship, it is important that these services continue and develop."

Liz Scott Gibson, Director of Deaf Action commented "We are overwhelmed by the number of people that came out to support our work. We are looking forward to continuing the great work done here and to developing innovative services to meet the needs of deaf people today". The celebrations came to close with an inspiring performance from Claypotts Primary School Signing Choir.

It is estimated that 1 in 5 people in Scotland are affected by some degree of hearing loss – that approximately 62,000 people in the Tayside region. Deaf Action is the leading provider of services for deaf people in Scotland and has a long history of providing services for and working with Deaf British Sign Language users as well as those who are deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing.

Deaf people march to demand sign language in courts and TV news

Around 150 deaf people marched to the House of Representatives on Monday to push for the passage of two bills mandating the use of sign language in court proceedings and television news programs.

Members of the Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC) arrived at the Batasang Pambansa compound at 4 p.m. and attended plenary sessions after marching from a mall on Commonwealth Avenue to call for the passage of House Bills 4121 and 4631.

A sign language interpreter was flashed on a large screen inside the plenary hall to accommodate the deaf visitors — a first in the lower chamber’s history.

“The 120,000 documented deaf… Filipinos will definitely benefit from such practices, making it possible for them to [comprehend] timely and relevant information," the group said in a letter to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The group was also able to gather during the past months more than 100,ooo signatures endorsing their call for the enactment of these measures.

HB 4121, authored by Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares, requires local networks to use sign language insets in their news programs.

Use of interpreters in court

The PDRC lamented how major Metro Manila news programs do not use subtitles or sign language insets, despite provisions in Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

“Although some regional stations have started utilizing sign language insets with the help of non-government organizations, this practice is unfortunately not carried out by their mother stations," the group said.

HB 4631 meanwhile provides for the use of interpreters in all court proceedings and public hearings.

The group said the measure should be immediately passed to address the “high" incidence of criminal cases involving deaf persons.

Casiño said in a privileged speech that Congress should make sure that the rights of hearing-impaired Filipinos are protected.

“Deaf Filipinos need empowerment and charity… They merely demand equal realization of their rights," he said. — VS/HS, GMA News

Hundreds sign petition to bring back teacher of the deaf

Parents of deaf children in Southampton have collected 1,500 names on a petition calling for the reintroduction of a part-time teacher of the deaf reports the BBC (09/09/11).

Southampton City Council will debate planned cuts to visiting teachers of the deaf on 14 September.

Parents of deaf children, supported by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), will attend the debate.

The council said it welcomed the chance to "advise them of the service we provide and to hear their views".

NDCS said the city currently has the worst level of school back-up for deaf children in England.

Vital service

Jo Campion, of the NDCS, said: "The success of this petition shows that urgent action is needed."

She added: "Deaf children in Southampton face the worst level of specialist support we have seen in this country and it is absolutely vital that the city's council reverse the cut."

Tracey Pettit, whose nine-year-old son William is deaf, said: "We are overwhelmed at the level of support that residents of Southampton have given our petition to save services for deaf children.

"It shows how much everyone cares about the right of deaf children to thrive in school and beyond."

Deaf children and their families in Southampton faced poor support before the council made its latest cut as one post was frozen last year due to budget constraints, the NDCS said.

There are now two part-time specialists in the city, working the equivalent of one full-time post between them to support 165 deaf children.

The charity is currently involved in a campaign across the country to oppose cuts to educational services for deaf children.

Southampton City Council said it had increased resources for deaf children in mainstream education.

Councillor Jeremy Moulton, the city council's cabinet member for Children's Services, said there had been "no cut to service this year and we actually have plans to increase provision in the new school year and every deaf child that is entitled to help will receive it.

"This debate will help show our commitment to the quality of service that the council provides to all children with hearing impairments - which is above and beyond that of many other councils," he added.

Deaf centre loses council funding

The Centre for Deaf People in Bristol is to lose its funding from the city council reports the BBC (08/09/11)

The authority says the centre, which has been based in the city for 125 years, does not provide a good quality service. The city council said it is making £240,000 of cuts to voluntary sector grants.
 
John Maslen, the centre's chief executive, said staff had given the best quality service they could offer. The centre, which offers social activities, employment and training, is now threatened with closure.

Funding is due to end on 1 November. The centre looking into how it can raise money itself.
'Devastating news' Mr Maslen called for a rethink. "It's devastating news," he said. "We have worked tirelessly to make sure that we give the best quality service we can offer. We're all well aware of the savings that have to be made in the country and the local authority and are sympathetic to it. Dialogue has been very sparse with little consultation and we are deeply disappointed and devastated that there hasn't been more full and proper budget saving consultation prior to this announcement."


Alison Comley, strategic director of health and social care at Bristol City Council, said there was a voluntary sector budget of just over £4m which covered about 50 different organisations.
She said last year the council worked with the organisations to discuss how best to make the £240,000 savings. The Centre for Deaf People was not able to provide information on "a number of areas", she said. "We're not planning to cut services to the deaf community," she said. We're not in a position to offer a grant to this organisation but we've got every intention to reprovide the services through a tendering process. It may well be the Centre for Deaf People want to bid for that work."