The Deaf Bulletin 2013 Issue 2
The precarious future of a deaf child and the futility of life for the deaf adult.
Zimbabwe has not offered much to the deaf community in Zimbabwe. For the deaf child, the future is bleak as the education system has not worked as a gateway out of poverty. Due to a system that is not sensitive to the needs of deaf children, their educational outcomes re-main poor thus relegating them to life on the streets and vocational trades where they may not have competencies or proclivities.
Imagine a society that understands that deaf students need special equipment for them to learn effectively, a society where necessary accommodations are made and where the national budget takes into account the need to provide specialized equipment for the deaf. As under-standing of deafness is limited in Zimbabwe, what we have understood, we have rejected, ignored, and at worst stigmatized. Inability to communicate with the hearing world has resulted in the deaf in Zimbabwe being voice-less. Once the deaf child is out of school, the futility of life begins. Often seen as beggars, society does not expect them to achieve much. Are computers only for hearing people, can deaf people in Zimbabwe not be not be accountants, health professionals, secretaries, computer programmers, engineers, social scientist among many professions in the world. While vocational training is noble, we need to begin to think outside the box.
Below are few examples of deaf people that have made it in a variety of professions in their countries:
Jason Sobel is deaf and he is a doctor at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Philip Zazove, is a hearing-impaired doctor at the University of Michigan. Now there are about 20, according to American Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss.
Dr Judith Ann Pachciarz is a deaf doctor in California and teaches medical students, it took 17 years between the first time she applied and being accepted in medical school, while waiting she acquired a masters and a PhD. She was the medical director of the world games for the deaf in 1985.
Kashveera Chanderjith is South Africa’s first deaf chartered accountant .
Other topics covered in this bulletin are:
- Sign Language for the deaf: a human right.
- Change Your Attitude towards the Deaf and Hard of Hearing!
- Yes, it’s sign language! – Poem by L. T. Nkomo
- Motivational talk with Pastors Mr and Mrs Museredzo.