UN consultation on disability inclusion--the perspective of deaf people and sign language linguists is needed

Mon Mar 25 17:47:21 UTC 2013

Last week, while waiting for the bus in Ghana I met a woman who is 
working on a PhD about inclusive theological education Africa.  She was 
excited to talk with someone who understood the needs of the 
"disabled."  I took this as a chance to discuss pitfalls of inclusive 
with sign language users.

I gave her an example from a cellphone repair course I attended in 
Kumasi, Ghana the previous day.  All the participants were Deaf, but the 
school was thinking about adding in the physically challenged to help 
save the teacher's time.  I explained even in the Deaf only class the 
teacher didn't understand how Deaf need to learn.  At one point in class 
he projected a list on the wall and told them to copy it, then began to 
teach on a different topic.  I was asked to interpret since the 
professional wasn't there so I felt compelled to stop the teacher and 
explained the students can either copy or watch the interpreter, but not 
both.  Clearly no one had advised him in this way before.  Later, he 
told them to watch him disassemble a phone and began to explain what he 
was doing.  Again, I reminded him about watching two things at once.  In 
both cases, the Deaf would have missed something important.  I stressed 
that the nature of sign language and the visual approach required by the 
teachers when teaching the Deaf makes inclusive education as currently 
being presented very difficult, if not impossible.

I think many, many Deaf in developing countries will be further isolated 
and drop further (if that's possible) behind if the current version of 
inclusive education is mandated.

-Jason

On 3/25/13 4:36 PM, Albert Bickford wrote:
> Dear colleagues:
>
> (Before you get upset about the use of the word "disabled" on this 
> email list, please read on!)
>
> I have just become aware that the UN Department of Economic and Social 
> Affairs (UNDESA) and UNICEF are beginning preparations for a 
> high-level meeting on disability and development this September.  They 
> have organized an online forum for preliminary discussion of the 
> matter.  So far, the special perspective of deaf people and sign 
> language linguists has not been represented.  As a result, there is a 
> distinct possibility that approaches and strategies proposed for 
> persons with disabilities generally may be misapplied to deaf people, 
> ignoring the crucial role that sign language plays in the lives of 
> deaf people and deaf communities.
>
> I believe that people on this forum may want to express their views in 
> the online consultation that is currently taking place. See the email 
> quoted below for details on how to participate.
>
> Please note that discussion closes in just a couple days, so if you 
> want to say something, act now.
>
> -- 
>
> Albert Bickford
> SIL International
>    Linguistic Services Coordinator, Global Sign Languages Team
>    Director, SIL-UND
>
> Please use different email addresses for different topics:
>    sign languages:linguistic_services_gslt at sil.org
>    SIL-UND:director_silund at sil.org
>    other:albert_bickford at sil.org  
>
> late May through early August:
>    2901 University Ave Stop 8217, Grand Forks ND 58202; 701-777-0575
> mid-August through mid-May:
>    16131 N. Vernon Dr., Tucson AZ 85739; 520-825-1229
>
> -------
>
> Dear members of the  WorldWeWant2015.org  <http://worldwewant2015.org/>  website,
>
> In many countries, the realization of the Millennium Development Goals 
> (MDGs) has not been achieved for persons with disabilities. This 
> clearly highlights the importance of ensuring that development 
> processes are inclusive of persons with disabilities and their 
> perspectives for the still ongoing efforts to accelerate and expand 
> progress on the MDGs and in the definition of the new development 
> framework that will succeed the MDGs, after 2015.
>
> On 23 September 2013, the UN General Assembly will hold a High-level 
> Meeting on disability and development, with the overarching theme/"The 
> way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 
> and beyond"/, at UN Headquarters in New York.
>
> To ensure that the post-2015 agenda is inclusive of disability, the UN 
> Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF 
> is holding an online moderated consultation to gather views from a 
> broad range of stakeholders on how to include disability in the 
> post-2015 development framework, in order to contribute to the ongoing 
> work for the High-level Meeting.
>
> Building on the earlier online discussion on "Addressing Inequalities 
> and Persons with Disabilities in the Post-2015 development agenda", 
> held on this site in November (read thesummary report here 
> <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fnode%2F304822%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>:http://www.worldwewant2015.org/node/304822 
> <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fnode%2F304822%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>) 
> this consultation aims to take a closer look at the particular 
> challenges faced by per! sons with disabilities in different regions, 
> and identify the specific measures and actions to be taken by 
> different stakeholders to promote a disability-inclusive society and 
> development.
>
> In this context, we would like to invite you take part in this online 
> consultation, starting on*8 March***and running for three weeks 
> until*28 March*.
>
> *To participate, please visit the 
> site****www.worldwewant2015.org/enable 
> <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fenable%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>****and 
> log-in or register here 
> <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fregister%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>***(http://www.worldwewant2015.org/register 
> <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fregister%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20W%21%20orldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>). 
> Simultaneous consultations will take place in English, Arabic, 
> Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.  The site is 
> compatible with screen readers, however, if you are unable to access 
> the site, please email your response to:enable at worldwewant2015.org 
> <mailto:enable at worldwewant2015.org?subject=RE%3A%20INVITATION%3A%20Online%20consultation%20for%20a%20disability%20inclusive%20development%20agenda%20towards%202015%20%26%20beyond>. 
> Please note that the forum is moderated, therefore your post will not 
> appear immediately but will be posted within twenty-four hours.
>
> The recommendations emerging from your contributions will be 
> incorporated into a report on the consultations to inform the 
> preparation of the outcome document for the UN High-level Meeting on 
> 23 September 2013.
>
> The consultation aims to be as broad and open as possible, in order to 
> enable a multitude of voices to be heard from Governments, UN system 
> organizations, academia, media, private sector and civil society 
> organizations, including persons with disabilities and their 
> organizations (DPOs).
>
> Please invite your colleagues, partners and networks to participate!
>
> Warm regards,
>
> *United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and 
> UNICEF in collaboration with the United Nations Promoting the Rights 
> of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD)*
>
> Contact: enable at worldwewant2015.org 
> <mailto:enable at worldwewant2015.org?subject=INVITATION%3A%20Online%20consultations%20for%20a%20disability%20inclusive%20development%20agenda%20towards%202015%20and%20beyond%20>
>
> Discussion web site:http://www.worldwewant2015.org/enable 
> <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fenable%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>
>

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