Path
- Index
- Trainee Report
- 5th Trainee
- Fazlul Haq
Fazlul Haq - Trainee Report
Issues that persons with hearing impairment face
I applied to this program to gain knowledge and experience in order to deal with the following issues.
1. Education for persons with hearing impairment
There are 14 schools for persons with hearing impairments in Sri Lanka. Although they are good, there is not much speaking training and, unfortunately, lessons taught using sign language are not always available. At some schools, simple sign language and body language are used as auxiliary measures at classes, but these are not sufficient to convey all that is required to communicate complex ideas. If teachers with an excellent command of sign-language were available, more advanced education could be provided to children with hearing impairments.
2. Sign-language interpreter
Sign language interpreters can work in many areas of life, for example, in a court. In these case, the government is supposed to bear the cost for the sign-language interpreter at the court. In other cases, the person with hearing impairment incurs the cost. In addition, there are only five such interpreters in Sri Lanka. Of course, family members and friends volunteer themselves to serve as interpreters. Unfortunately, as they are not professional, they often make mistakes in translation. In many occasions such as at interviews with doctors or in hunting parties, we have to ask friends or family members to be interpreters. In such situations, persons with hearing impairments cannot feel at ease in everyday life.
3. Driving License
Persons with hearing impairments are not allowed to drive. Our job opportunities are very limited in Sri Lanka, but a driving license would increase the chance of employment for persons with hearing impairments. So, knowing it is illegal, many persons with hearing impairments drive to work without a license. Since it is illegal, if the police find persons with hearing impairments driving a car, they would be arrested.
4. Enlightenment of persons with hearing impairment
In many situations other than those described above, we are discriminated against and disadvantaged. At 12 branches of the Sri Lanka Central Federation for the Deaf, each representative is working hard to deal with this discrimination and prejudice. Unfortunately, many persons with hearing impairments who live in rural areas fall prey to grief and envy of those who do not have hearing impairments, and move into a state of self-isolation. This is caused by the lack of information and knowledge for persons with hearing impairments. I believe it is important to make them proud of themselves and confident in the use of sign-language and have them become involved with various activities to improve their social status. However, it is not easy and I have always been troubled by what is the best way to initiate such activities.
[The training in Japan]
1. Home stay and Japanese people
I spent the New Year at Mr. Azuma's house. Mr. Azuma and his family warmly welcomed me, not as a guest but as a family member. I had an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, including Japanese traditional New Year celebration dishes and the Kimono. During the night, persons with hearing impairments in the community took me to different places in the area and entertained me. Also, during the home stay period, I met many kind people. Especially, those whom I met in Aomori and Iwate prefectures, who are the warmest and with whom I felt a strong bond.
2. Education
I noticed that there are also many problems in the education for people with hearing impairments in Japan. For instance, not many teachers with sign-language ability are available, so in many cases, the classes are conducted in the spoken language. I was also surprised to learn that many schools for children with hearing impairments are consolidated with schools for children without hearing impairment - this may be because the number of children with hearing impairments has declined. Alternatively, the increase in the number of children who are in integrated education may be because their parents are not flexible and want to avoid the schools for children with hearing impairment that remain.
I was so impressed that I would not forget the day I first visited NPO Tatsunoko Bilingual learning Center for Deaf Children. There, the teachers who are also persons with hearing impairments teach children with sign-language. At other schools, children are very eager to talk with me. This difference is whether they have learned through an ensured way of communication at school.
3. Sing-language interpreter
There are many sign-language interpreters in Japan. I also think that the sign language circle is a very good idea. At the same time, I realize that there are some problems there. First of all, they only use Japanese sign language at the circle. In Japanese sign language, only hands are used while we wiggle our eyebrows or open our eyes widely or slightly to express our thoughts and ideas. I was also surprised to find out that people without hearing impairments administer such circles. Some participants have not been able to improve their sign language after 5 or 10 years of attending such circles. I wonder if it is because the circle is operated by persons without hearing impairments? At the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with disabilities and the Setagaya Welfare Technical Center, very effective curriculums are organized to develop sign language interpreters. The sign language I saw at the circles is just imitating what is written in books, but at these specialized schools, the sign language taught to the students is exactly the same form as persons with hearing impairments use in their daily life.
The development of qualified sign language interpreters is the most urgent issue. I want to introduce the same curriculum to schools in Sri Lanka to train interpreters. At the beginning, we will be able to train only a few persons, but in the future we would like to develop as many interpreters as possible.
4. Driving license
In Japan, persons with hearing impairments can drive if they wear hearing aids. I learned that this was the fruit of a long campaign to improve the daily lives of persons with hearing impairments. After I return to my home country, I will ask the authorities to engage in activities to improve the situation for us. Even if the government allows us to drive under certain conditions, I will reject it. For example, on the driving license, “Hearing Impairment” rather than “Hearing Aids required” should be indicated. I will make it my goal to make the availability driving licenses for persons with hearing impairments a reality.
What I want to work on after I return
(Newspaper for persons with hearing impairments)
I have read newspapers for persons with hearing impairments. Various topics relating to persons with hearing impairments are covered and I found that all articles are very informative. I think if we had a similar information source in Sri Lanka, it would be very helpful for persons with hearing impairments. Persons without hearing impairments also need to widen their knowledge about persons with disabilities. This kind of newspaper would help them understand our situation. And those who show interest in our world can also work with us to improve our situation. I now want to issue a newspaper for persons with hearing impairments in Sri Lanka. First, I will promote the positive effect and usefulness of such newspapers to my colleagues in the organization that I belong to so that they can understand its necessity. Taking full advantage of what I have learned from the training in Japan, I have made an action plan and a project proposal. Through this project, I was able to gain a clear image of the newspaper production process as well as its effectiveness. And I was also able to prepare a presentation on the newspapers' project to our organization. Once I get everyone's consensus, I will submit the proposal to the authorities. One day, I want to issue a newspaper for persons with hearing impairments in Sri Lanka.
In closing,
Japan is a beautiful country with four seasons, hot springs that eased my body, snow that I saw for the first time in my life, and activities such as skiing. I will not forget the past 10 months I spent in Japan. Thank you so very much to the people at the Duskin AINOWA Foundation, staff at JSRPD and those who helped me during the training.