Dr Joyce Nalugya (ACGMHD, NAPADEC) Ms Sarah Ojirot (SL Interpreter) DeafNET s:

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1 Dr Joyce Nalugya (ACGMHD, NAPADEC) Ms Sarah Ojirot (SL Interpreter) DeafNET s:

2 Objectives Understand DeafNET and her work on the African continent Create awareness on Deafness Appreciate how training Deaf people in information technology and ethics can improve their quality of life

3 Sign language interpreters introduce Ms Sarah Ojirot Professionals with special training to interpret information from spoken language into sign language and from sign language into spoken language for access to public services, education and participation. Sarah works with the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), an umbrella organisation bringing together all categories of disabilities. She is an advocate for access to quality information by the Deaf, SL interpreters to be included in the Government public service structure and quality education of the Deaf in Uganda

4 About DeafNET African organisation established in 2006 in partnership with the Foundation Friends of Effatha (the Netherlands) and the National Institute for the Deaf (South Africa). Secretariat is in Worcester, South Africa Its main objective is: Deaf Education and Social Development

5 DeafNET Vision To be a world class network of knowledge and expertise in the interest of people in Africa who experience hearing loss and related communication barriers

6 DeafNET MISSION To particularise, exchange and disseminate knowledge and expertise on issues relating to people who experience hearing loss and related communication barriers To empower them, their families and their communities through research and training To promote the improvement of health, well-being and quality of life of people with hearing loss and their families through accessible, available, affordable and appropriate services, training and media

7 DeafNET Empowers Deaf people in Africa to represent themselves. This is achieved through relevant and useful training as well as excellent support. Training programmes include: - Leadership and Management - Social Competency (SOCOMO)= social competence model - Sign Language Curriculum Development

8 DeafNET In order to achieve her objectives DeafNET works through her networks, the Africa Contact Group for Mental Health and Deafness (ACGMHD) and international partnerships in alignment with the UNCRPD. (UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities)

9 AFRICA CONTACT GROUP FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND DEAFNESS (ACGMHD) The purpose of the ACGMHD is to unite efforts to improve the quality of life of Deaf people and their families in Africa. DeafNET provides the Executive Secretariat, administration and budget management, in accordance with the rules applicable for the ACGMHD. Has representation in all African regions (Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, Central and the Indian Ocean Islands) Collaborates with the National Associations of the Deaf

10 Understanding Deafness Deafness may be defined by medical, cultural and social models(corker 1998).

11 Deafness the medical model Medically, deafness is seen as an auditory impairment that limits access to sound and thus may be described as a hearing impairment. This may happen at any point in life due to genetic inheritance, disease, infection, illness or injury Something to be remedied/treated The goal being to restore hearing in such a way as to enable the individual to function in as unimpaired manner as possible.

12 Deafness the cultural model The group identifies with a Deaf culture and the use of sign language. (Lane et al. 1996; Padden and Humphries 1988). Deafness is defined as a way of life for a group of individuals that do not view their deafness as a disability and instead are proud to be Deaf with a capital D.

13 Deafness- the social model Attention turns to the ways in which society disables those who are deaf (Corker 1998; Derrida 1976). Example, A deaf person is disabled by a loud speaker announcement at a railway station not because they are deaf, but because that announcement is not accessible in a visual form also. The roots of disability do not lie in impairment per se, but/and in the ways in which the social context fails to adapt to enable the participation of its citizens (Oliver 1990; World Health Organization (WHO) 2001).

14 WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF RESOLUTION ON TECHNOLOGY ICT is creating the strongest effect on the life of a Deaf person. The use of various communication methods/ tools such as text telephones, pagers, , cell phones, videophones, and most notably the Internet has revolutionized interaction opportunities for Deaf people. To avoid the marginalization of Deaf people, investments must be made in information and communication technology that will have increasing impact and status for future Deaf people. Position Paper on Technology & Accessibility

15 WFD Vision 2020 on Technology By 2020 all Deaf people have full access to communications, language, and information, and full interaction through provision of information technologies.

16 WFD has adopted 11 guiding principles. The first 2 principles 1. Provide barrier-free national policies that include the communication needs of Deaf people, which, in turn, assure their rights to maximum fulfilment of life. 2. Deliver services in a manner that guarantees universal, full and equitable access to information and communication technology.

17 Conclusion Modern information and communication technology is very important to deaf people. Integrating information ethics training for the Deaf people will go along way in improving their quality participation Since every country has deaf people its time to unite efforts to improve their quality of life by involving them in IT and ethics training.

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19 Watch this video Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing IT Professionals DeafTEC

20 DeafNET Bees in Uganda

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