Many have recently had much to say about women’s rights but few seem to show interest in discussing the suffering women continue to endure. I am referring particularly to the rights of deaf women to lead a normal life and integrate into mainstream society instead of remaining a marginalized and neglected segment of our society.
Being myself a deaf woman, I believe that to a large extent this group of women has been ignored by a society that has little concern for their vulnerability. This vulnerability is reflected in an inability to communicate easily with others. Because the deaf can only communicate through sign language, even this is seen by some as a privilege, and they insist we should learn how to read and write like others. These people tend to ignore the fact that even among the physically sound, there are many who don’t depend on reading and writing to communicate with others. Because they have not been denied the blessing of hearing, these people can’t imagine the difficulties which face the deaf who are trying to integrate into society.
The problem is that the deaf see almost no serious effort to address the problem of communicating with others. Even at schools, some of the deaf may graduate without learning how to read and write. The problem is particularly evident at vocational training and rehabilitation centers. Many of the deaf girls attending these institutions fail to benefit from the opportunities as their teachers face huge difficulties trying to convey the relevant information.
The problem would not exist if the teachers were fluent in sign language. But even the director of supervision in the special education department resists introducing sign language and instead wants the deaf to rely on written material. This will surely prove very difficult since it may not be possible to find someone ready to write down everything for the deaf all the time. Much time and energy is lost because students write down everything they want to ask and then they must wait for the teacher to read and understand what is written before writing a reply.
What a needlessly convoluted process that frustrates all who use it. By having no access to sign language, we have been denied the only means available to us to communicate with others. Sign language is internationally recognized language and is a basic right for the deaf.
Our public places lack the necessary signs and hearing aids that would help the deaf who suffer when traveling or going from one place to another. Hospitals, schools and airports are examples. At airports we don’t hear our names or any announcements about our flights. At hospitals we don’t hear our children’s names being called when their turn comes to see the doctor. At markets and shops, we find difficulty trying to explain to the salesmen what we want because they can’t understand us.
I hope that the public will appreciate and understand our situation and help us to get our basic rights.
