'Parents of deaf children should be trained in Sig...

'Parents of deaf children should be trained in Sign Language'

Michael Mashiri

Organisations that advocate and deal with hearing impaired persons have said more can still be done to ensure people living with the condition are catered for.

This comes as the world marked International Week of the Deaf, which was held from September 18 to 24.

The celebrations, which are an annual event, took place on September 23 under the theme “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere”, which emphasises the unity sign languages promote.

Founder of Signs of Hope, Samantha Sibanda, said there was need ensure that the Deaf children receive proper education.

“There is so much that needs to be done, including seeing to it that the right to Sign Language by Deaf persons is guaranteed.

“About 90% of children born deaf are from hearing families. There is need to give parents of Deaf children training in Sign Language,” she said.

Sibanda said there was need for the government to come up with a Sign Language Act that would assist in dealing with varied hurdles encountered by the hearing impaired on a day-to-day basis.

“I echo the sentiments of Hon. Senator Ishmael Zhou to have a Sign Language Act that will govern and guide all things Sign Language,” she added.

Founder of the Sunrise Sign Language Academy SSLA, Douglas Mapeta, reiterated Sibanda’s sentiments of having informed parents when it comes to Deaf children saying many parents were not conversant with Sign language.

He added that the pace relating to the inclusion of Deaf persons should be hastened.

“The impact of commemorating is the need to have public institutions trained in Sign Language. Communities should engage in Sign Language awareness and Deaf inclusion.

“Sign Language is one of the 16 officially recognised languages in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“Inclusiveness is taking slow steady milestones through capacitation programmes by Sunrise Sign Language Academy with MOHCC. During the recently held Harare Agric Show, SSLA partnered with Ministry of Local Government to have the Deaf included in access to information,” he said.

The World Federation of the Deaf, a federation of 135 national federations of the deaf, suggested the idea for the day on behalf of around 70 million deaf people around the world. The Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, with 97 other UN Member States, sponsored resolution, which was unanimously adopted on December 19, 2017.

The date of September 23 was chosen to honour the day in 1951 when the WFD was formed.