Uniform sign language planned for Africa

[Harold Schiffman]

All:

I have received this response from UNAD about the proposal for a
universal sign language for Africa. They are opposed to the idea, for
the reasons they adduce, so I am forwarding their response to this
list.

HS


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: UNAD <unad at infocom.co.ug>
Date: Feb 1, 2008 4:05 AM
Subject: Uniform sign language planned for Africa
To: Harold Schiffman <hfsclpp at gmail.com>




Dear Harold,

UNAD got this information form World federation of the Deaf, we would
like to response to it.

For many reasons, we find the idea of a " Uniform Sign Langauage
planned for Africa" as very very strange!!! There is no way UNAD
community / Uganda can support it. If the idea ever took off, we would
do everything possible to fight/ undermine it. Becasue there are
International Signs that Deaf people often use when they convence at
international events.

>>From the email, it would appears that African Rehabilitaion
institution (ARI) wants to support Deaf people in Africa but does not
seems to know how to do it. let ARI consult World Federation of the
Deaf and Deaf people in Afrcia to find out how the Deaf coummunity
wish to be supported/ assisted in developing the region.

UNAD would be happy to participate in such a consultation process  as
we believe in the slogan "NOTHING FOR US DEAF PEOPLE WITHOUT US". UNAD
believes that Its very important to consult Deaf people themselves to
decide for how they should be supported regarding developmental
issues.

Best Regards


Alex Ndeezi
Executive Director UNAD















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