Dear Editor,
The fourth week of September is Deaf Awareness Week, and it couldn't come at a better time than when communication access — a human right of deaf persons was recognised at the PNP's 75th anniversary celebration. Lo and behold, there was a sign language interpreter beside the prime minister.
The theme for this year's Deaf Awareness Week is Equality for Deaf People. It does not celebrate the anatomy of the ear or celebrate finding a cure for hearing loss. It recognises and celebrates life as a deaf person. It cherishes sign language as the mother tongue of the deaf and communication access as a right. It's about the fact that the time has come for the Government of Jamaica to recognise this right.
We must now break the habit of inconsistency and only providing access during the election. Sign language interpreting should be mandatory for all public announcements, for all emergency announcements, and for all news that are intended for the people of Jamaica from the Government.
Kudos to the PNP and TVJ for setting an example, and I implore all governments and media houses to always recognise two very important rights of deaf persons: communication access and equality.
Jamaica Deaf Advocacy Team
Hope Estate
DeafAdvocacyJa@gmail.com
Deaf awareness on the rise
-->
The fourth week of September is Deaf Awareness Week, and it couldn't come at a better time than when communication access — a human right of deaf persons was recognised at the PNP's 75th anniversary celebration. Lo and behold, there was a sign language interpreter beside the prime minister.
The theme for this year's Deaf Awareness Week is Equality for Deaf People. It does not celebrate the anatomy of the ear or celebrate finding a cure for hearing loss. It recognises and celebrates life as a deaf person. It cherishes sign language as the mother tongue of the deaf and communication access as a right. It's about the fact that the time has come for the Government of Jamaica to recognise this right.
We must now break the habit of inconsistency and only providing access during the election. Sign language interpreting should be mandatory for all public announcements, for all emergency announcements, and for all news that are intended for the people of Jamaica from the Government.
Kudos to the PNP and TVJ for setting an example, and I implore all governments and media houses to always recognise two very important rights of deaf persons: communication access and equality.
Jamaica Deaf Advocacy Team
Hope Estate
DeafAdvocacyJa@gmail.com
Deaf awareness on the rise
-->