Principal Advocates for Sign Language in School Curriculum
Principal Ann Oduor of Nyangweso School for the Deaf highlighted that limited knowledge of sign language poses a significant barrier between deaf individuals and the broader society.
She emphasized that even basic sign language skills could greatly enhance communication, especially in interactions involving the deaf.
Oduor proposed the integration of basic sign language into the school curriculum to foster better communication between the deaf and the rest of the population.
She noted that most people rely solely on spoken language, inadvertently excluding the deaf community from meaningful interactions.
Misconceptions and Discrimination
Speaking during an awareness procession in Homa Bay town, the principal observed that deaf people often face discrimination due to widespread misunderstandings.
Some individuals mistakenly believe the deaf are temperamental, which worsens the challenges they face in society.
Oduor also pointed out the communication difficulties between deaf children and their parents, particularly those who lack sign language skills.
She stressed that some deaf children, especially those from underprivileged families, struggle to access education.
“Children who are deaf have language barriers when communicating with their parents. Some parents with deaf children do not understand sign language,” she said.
She noted that in some cases, siblings of deaf children receive better educational opportunities while deaf children are left behind.
Lack of Opportunities for the Deaf
Parents often avoid sending their deaf children to school, believing there are no job prospects for them as adults.
Furthermore, Oduor mentioned that even deaf adults face difficulties when accessing services from government offices due to the staff’s inability to communicate in sign language.
Derick Obudho, a teacher at the school, echoed Oduor’s sentiments, urging Kenyans to learn basic sign language to communicate more effectively with the deaf.
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He pointed out that the deaf community struggles to access essential services due to the lack of sign language proficiency among government employees.
Principal Advocates for Sign Language in School Curriculum
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