The Deaf Bulletin 2014 Issue 8
International week for the Deaf: 21-27 September 2014.
The time has come again for Deaf Zimbabwe Trust to celebrate the achievements and challenges of the Deaf and hard of hearing in Zimbabwe. Under the theme, Strengthening Human Diversity, Deaf Zimbabwe trust seeks to increase awareness of the importance of Sign language to the Deaf and the Deaf culture. This provides an opportunity to raise awareness among the hearing community of the uniqueness of the Deaf and their special needs in access to health, education, religion and other spheres of life.
It is important for the hearing community to look at Deafness in a positive light, emphasizing that difference is not a problem but can provide possibilities and assets which can be used if they can be harnessed. This recognizes that each deaf person is unique, with strengths that can make a positive difference in society. Recognition of diversity provides policy makers with an opportunity to make the necessary changes that will enable the Deaf community to achieve their potential in life.
The Zimbabwean government has taken a number of measures to improve the lives of the Deaf and hard of hearing. The new constitution provides that sign language is an official language. The new constitution provides progressive provisions for the support of persons with disability. All these need to be made real in the lives of the Deaf and hard of hearing in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is comprehensive in its approach to empowering persons with disabilities and the task is to domesticate the laws.
Other topics covered in this bulletin are:
- Education as trans-formation tool.
- Who is senator Mashavakure.
- Current news corner: The month of September in the news.