Aww!! I attended a workshop titled "Advocate For DeafBlind Community" and "Inclusivity In Empowering Community Interpreters and The Deaf Communities In Kenya and Nigeria" on September 28, 2024. It is organized by RC Deaf Missions Malaysia (RCDM), which offers different workshop topics every weekend in September to commemorate International Sign Language Day. It is located at MAHSA Avenue, Kuala Lumpur. Anyway, I missed a few workshops in the previous few weekends due to a vacation and family obligations. However, this did not deter me from attending the last workshop, which was held on September 28, 2024. As a result, my good friend and I spent the entire day at the workshop.
It was a pleasure to welcome a Deaf Speaker from Korea, Park Min Ho, who is a Deafblind leader and Korean Sign Language Instructor in the morning. He shared his experiences, perspectives, and contributions to the Deafblind community in Korea. There is little awareness of the Deafblind community. That is why he shared it to raise awareness. It would be helpful to learn more about the Deafblind Community, as Malaysia lacks awareness due to the small percentage of Deafblind people. It is not comparable to Korea, which may have approximately 1000 deafblind people. However, Park Min Ho stated that the percentage of the Deafblind population in Korea cannot be confirmed or guaranteed.
Furthermore, he explains the distinction between Deaf-Blind and Blind-Deaf. As he stated, it is a significant difference. Normally, people assume that these are the same terms, but they are not. In addition, he stated that there are different schools for the Deaf, Blind, Mental, and Physical, but there is no school for the Deafblind in Korea. He shared his experience because he had a Deaf friend who later became blind. From that situation, he didn't know how to help his friend or those who were in the same situation at the time, so he started learning more about deafblind issues, as there is a lack of awareness about the deafblind community in Korea. There aren't many interpreters who are willing to assist and accompany deafblind people. Since then, he has realized that it is essential to learn about the deafblind community because they require more attention and assistance due to their difficult situation and challenges than the Deaf community.
Furthermore, he stated that there are two methods of communicating with deafblind people: Tentacle Sign Language and Tentacle Braille Language. He even showed a video about it during his PowerPoint presentation. According to him, when using Tentacle Sign Language, an interpreter would sign while holding hands because they still know how to use sign language. As we all know, braille is a printing system for the blind in which each letter is represented as a raised pattern that can be read by touching it with the fingers. The best example is using tentacle braille language to point at the back body of a deafblind person.
Even how to guide a Deafblind person through walking and communicating. He stated that an interpreter must commit their time and contribution to accompanying a deafblind person due to the heavy-duty and responsibility that comes with being present 24 hours a day. A Deafblind can't do anything because of their difficult situation in which they can't see and hear simultaneously. I believe many of us are aware of Helen Keller, a famous deafblind woman in history.
It is a very rare case of Deafbuild due to the small percentage of the Deafblind group; however, the purpose of this workshop is to raise awareness about the deafblind community, as there are several Deafblind who require assistance and companionship. Even there is a lack of interpreters who are willing to take on the heavy responsibility. Thus, this workshop has truly touched us, particularly a friend of mine, Jason who became deafblind and attended this workshop to learn more about the Deafblind community. Everyone was surprised and moved by his true story about how he unexpectedly became Deafblind.
However, he was delighted to see us and grateful to Calysta for being his BIM interpreter during the workshop. He gained a better understanding of the deafblind community. Overall, it is a very good exposure for us to learn more and raise awareness about the Deafblind community.
Even Jason is delighted to see me after a few years. The last time we met was before the COVID-19 era. My junior, Edward, and Jason introduced each other, and Jason talked about his experiences and life.
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Photo credited to Calysta
In the afternoon, three speakers, Aliyu Mai (Deaf Speaker), Bernard Oduor Otieno (Hearing Speaker), and Emmanuel Munyasi (Deaf Speaker), shared their experiences with empowering interpreters and encouraging Deaf people to contribute to the Deaf Community in their country.
Honestly, they faced difficult challenges due to a lack of interpreters and awareness about the Deaf community. Kenya and Nigeria have a high rate of poverty. As a result, they encountered numerous challenges in their efforts to improve the Dcommunity.
Because of their country's poor education and environment, the majority of deaf people have little interest in improving the Deaf community. However, there are a small number of deaf people, such as Aliyu Mai, who have education and studied at Gallaudet University. Aliyu talked about a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-sponsored activity carried out by Gallaudet University. It aims to improve education, employment, and empowerment for Deaf and Deafblind people, allowing more deaf people to receive a better education and improving the Deaf community.
Bernard Oduor Otieno and Emmanuel Munyasi shared their experience and the challenges that they faced in their lives. There are a few challenges, such as a shortage and limited availability of qualified sign language interpreters in various services such as hospitals, courts, and educational institutions. Not only that but there aren't many interpreters who are willing to give their time and dedication to helping and improving the Deaf community. As a result, raising awareness about the importance of empowering more interpreters and investing in training programs to increase the number of qualified sign language interpreters, as well as improving education, employment, and empowerment for the Deaf, is critical to ensuring a better future for the Deaf community.
Aside from that, the Deaf community faced limited opportunities for sports participation, as deaf people were unable to participate in sports due to a lack of inclusive programs and trained coaches. They hope to see more inclusive sports programs for deaf athletes, as well as training for coaches and organisers in deaf-friendly sports techniques and communication methods.
Finally, I would like to thank you so much to the Deaf speaker, Park Min Ho, who shared about his experience with the deafblind community, and Aliyu Mai (Deaf Speaker), Bernard Oduor Otieno (Hearing Speaker), and Emmanuel Munyasi (Deaf Speaker) for highlighting the importance of empowering interpreters and the Deaf community. Thank you so much RC Deaf Missions Malaysia, who hosted the special workshop.
If you are interested in learning more about RC Deaf Missions Malaysia, please visit their social media platforms listed below.
Website : https://www.rcdeafmissionsmalaysia.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/rcdeafmissionsmalaysia
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/rcdeafmissions
Don't forget about my upcoming post.
Please stay tuned.
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