Deaf people in developing countries

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1 by David Justice & Davin Searls I magine not being able to communicate with your family or friends because you are unable to read, write or speak instead, you rely solely on basic hand gestures. Where would you go to school? How would you find a job and earn a living? Who in your community would have the patience to interact with you? Without developing a language, you would face all of these challenges, and many more. This is the unfortunate reality for the million deaf people living in developing countries, at least 90 percent who have no education at all, according to the WFD (World Federation of the Deaf) Deaf People and Human Rights Report, January Deaf people in the developed areas of Europe, North America and Oceania have greater opportunities through language accessibility, interpreting services and disability rights. This environment allows them to contribute to society on par with members of the hearing community; they can attend college and become doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, or follow any profession they please. Deaf people in developing countries, however, are still fighting for these rights. While an uphill battle, several organizations and humanitarians from around the world are working to create a better life for deaf people. Non-profit Discovering Deaf Worlds plants the seeds of empowerment globally so those who are deaf can have opportunities and live successful lives. Deaf people in developing countries 3737 Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW), based in the US, is one of these organizations dedicated to empowering and advocating for deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in developing countries. The organization strives to advance the capacity of local deaf communities around the globe to meet their social, educational and employment needs. It achieves this through joint venture programs and partnerships with educators, employers and NGOs.

2 38 On this page: Top: Chinese middle-school students at the end of the school day. working on a Nepali farm. Success stories Since 2007, the non-profit organization DDW has traveled around the world to research the pressing issues and services available to deaf people in nine countries in Asia, Oceania and Central America. Altogether, DDW has connected with more than 100 deafrelated worksites, organizations and schools advocating for the rights of deaf people. Through its travels, DDW learned that even the most skilled deaf people in China are rarely hired for jobs, and must often resort to thievery or employment in the black market to survive. Many deaf villagers in the remote Himalayan Mountains of Nepal never develop a language and live in complete isolation. Impoverished families throughout India often perceive deaf children as a burden and may abandon them on the streets to fend for themselves. In general, Governments, educational systems and the general population throughout the world tend to be unaware or neglectful of these issues. While this may paint a somber picture of deaf people in developing countries, DDW also On next page: Main photo: A deaf girl witnessed the election of Raghav Bir Joshi, the first deaf politician in all of Asia in Nepal, was dazzled by deaf Chinese dancers performing the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva, observed the emergence of Ker Sign Language in Cambodia, and visited a restaurant in India run almost entirely by deaf people when s the last time you went to a restaurant and had a deaf waiter/waitress? Story after story, a common theme emerged deaf people who were once abused and neglected became successful fighting for their rights and sometimes becoming the sole breadwinners of their family when given the opportunity. Hard work by DDW It is DDW s aim to provide deaf people with these opportunities, which allow them to give back to their community and lead successful lives. Here s how DDW is doing so: First off, it is important that DDW continues traveling to developing countries to assess issues and solutions, exchange ideas and raise awareness. The goal is to continue

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4 On this page: Top: Co-founders David Justice and Christy Smith.... It is DDW s aim to provide deaf people with these opportunities, which allow them to give back to their community and lead successful lives developing connections and build a network of deaf advocacy organizations. Christy Smith, co-founder of DDW, said, [DDW] is a bridge through which international deaf communities and advocacy organizations can connect with one another, and more importantly, learn from one another. We believe that problems can be solved collaboratively and successful change can be replicated. Most importantly, DDW provides resources to already successful international programs, whether they need educational materials, training or teacher stipends. By delegating the majority of hands-on work to local community members, DDW fosters the expansion of local capability in these countries. In other words, rather than starting programs from scratch, DDW supports the efforts of deaf advocacy organizations already established in these countries because they are the ones who better understand the cultural context of their communities. This enhances the community s ability to bring about change. DDW also

5 Most recently, DDW has partnered with a socially-conscious travel company called GoPhilanthropic and will begin offering unique travel opportunities that combine culture, adventure and a way to contribute to international deaf communities. Beginning in Fall 2010, participants will have opportunities to hike through jungles of Costa Rica, visit the Temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or experience a floating boat market in Thailand, while meeting with deaf leaders, learning about the issues and contributing to local efforts to find a solution. On this page: Top: A few of the Shuktara youth. A deaf school in India Bottom right: DDW is working hard to make a lasting impact, for as Mohandas Gandhi once said, You must be the change you want to see in the world and we are seeing that change, one day at a time. promotes the work of these organizations through film and other media. For example, Shuktara is a home for 20 deaf and/or disabled young adults who once lived on the streets in Kolkata, India. Because many of them were abandoned by their families as young as six years old, they received no education, and therefore have minimal language skills. DDW and Shuktara are now collaborating on a language development program where deaf teachers will work with these youth to improve their Indian Sign Language and general communication skills. Ultimately, these young adults will become role models for future generations of street children in Kolkata. To view a trailer of Discovering: Shuktara, a 30-minute documentary about these young adults, you can visit our website listed on the right. In addition to the Shuktara home, DDW intends to establish joint ventures with deaf advocacy organizations in Nepal, Cambodia and other developing countries. While DDW is a recently established grassroots organization run entirely by volunteers, people from around the world have recognized our mission and have flooded our inbox with inspirational stories, and requests to visit and document their local deaf communities. 41 David Justice is the co-founder of Discovering Deaf Worlds, while Davin Searls is the executive director. To donate, view more information on hosting a DDW presentation, or sign up for our free e-newsletter, visit www. discoveringdeafworlds.org.