Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, speaking during today’s launch. (T. Barker/BGIS)

Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing now have the opportunity to communicate with agencies they visit to transact business.

They will do so through on-call interpreters using phones. The interpreter will communicate using sign language for the person who is deaf or hard of hearing, and communicate the information back to the business place with whom they are interacting.

This is being made possible through the Deaf Empowerment Programme, which was launched today by Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, to mark the international World Sign Languages Day.

“The Deaf Empowerment Programme is a consolidation of services for the deaf and hard of hearing, offered through the NDU [National Disabilities Unit]. It seeks to fully facilitate full inclusion of the deaf [person] into all aspects of society by focusing on addressing their most urgent needs – from the provision of communication services, to focusing on vocational rehabilitation services – with the intent to ensure that persons with this sensory impairment are able to function effectively,” Mr. Humphrey stated.

Explaining that the new initiative will enable persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate better, he said: “At present we are aiming to employ about five interpreters who will be on call. And, as long as the person who is deaf or hearing impaired needs them, then they will make that call and then they can communicate the issues that they have.”

Minister Humphrey noted that the critical agencies would involve those in health care such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, polyclinics and the Welfare Department to allow persons to access the necessary support services.

He added that they will also be working with the Barbados Licensing Authority, the National Housing Corporation and the National Insurance Department.

According to him, the major components of the programme are communication support, sign language training, interpreting services, advocacy and consultation. In addition, there are plans to look at information and referral services, guidance and counselling, telecommunication services, employment training and placement.

Director of the NDU, John Hollingsworth, said Barbados joined the international community to launch the programme that would assist deaf and hard of hearing persons to communicate with agencies.

“At the end of the day, we hope to remove some of the major barriers that they face through this programme. They indicated to us, at the National Disabilities Unit, that this is one of the major challenges that people face in Barbados – communicating with agencies – especially when it is an emergency, or when there are compulsory services that they are seeking to acquire,” he said.

At the same time, residents are being encouraged to take advantage of the free sign language courses being offered online through the National Training Initiative online. “There is a wide array of opportunities to learn sign language in Barbados,” stressed Mr. Hollingsworth.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest