Exclusion during Deaf Awareness Month

I experience exclusivity and exclusion during the annual Deaf Awareness Campaign because stakeholders often overlook the needs of deaf individuals who don't use sign language.

This raises a crucial question: "To what extent are the rights of all persons who are deaf recognized, promoted, and respected in South Africa?"

This time of year seems to focus on Deaf culture and sign language, neglecting those who use alternate communication methods like texting, speech reading, assistive devices, technology, and captions. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and South African legislation emphasize the rights of persons who have sensory impairments, regardless of their preferred communication method.

With 4-5 million people having a hearing disability in South Africa, and approximately 600,000 being SA Sign Language users, it's crucial to acknowledge the diverse needs within the field of deafness.

Daily, I see how functionally deaf individuals are ignored. It's time to ask: What does Deaf Awareness mean? Is it about fairness and rectifying past injustices? Not by overlooking those who don't identify with the Deaf community. All communication methods deserve equal treatment and promotion. Unfortunately, this isn't my experience during Deaf Awareness Campaigns.

Over four decades, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by hearing-impaired and deaf individuals who don't use sign language. While breakthroughs have been made, misconceptions about diversity in hearing loss, government and non-profit non-involvement, systemic barriers, and a lack of commitment to fairness mean it will take many more decades to achieve equal opportunities.

There's no significant political will to change the situation. In some areas, we're in the same vulnerable position I experienced 42 years ago.

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