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

Tue Mar 26 16:49:42 UTC 2013

Dear colleagues,

Let me call your attention to a relevant conceptual issue:

We keep on using generic terms such as Deaf, deafness or deaf to refer to diverse linguistic communities or identities. By doing so we provoke confusion amongst ourselves and the laymen. Regrettably, this confusion has lead to the proposal of language policies that put signing deaf communities in very difficult circumstances.

Very schematically, the WFD should propose different policies for different kinds of deaf people:

--Signing deaf
--Speaking deaf
--Semilingual deaf

Bilingual can be better grasped on the basis of understanding the integrated ontogenesis of signing and speaking deafness. Audio-logically based characterizations such as "hard of hearing", "deaf mute" or even "Deaf" should be avoided or discarded altogether.

--Policies addressing the needs of the signing deaf can be stated solely on the basis of their linguistic identity and needs. 
--Policies addressing the needs of the speaking deaf can be stated solely on the basis of their linguistic identity and needs.
--The need and nature of bilingualism and bilingual policies may be derived from the identities and needs of the signing and speaking deaf.
--Policies addressing the need to prevent or reduce the existence of semilingual deaf may than fall within the frame of social and linguistic policies.

This approach allowed the Mexican deaf community to avoid the pitfall of being antagonized with the speaking deaf, and left the medical institutions and clinical spokespersons without reasonable arguments (2000-2005) to resist bilingual policies.

In any event, I believe that intellectuals and deaf community leaders have the responsibility to improve their understanding, their naming and their elaboration of alternative policies, prioritizing alliances with other linguistic minorities and subordinating disability issues to such alliances.

For example, it is about time for us to state clearly that special and bilingual education policies are incompatible. ¿Does the UN promote bilingual special education for any spoken linguistic minority? ¿Why should the signing deaf be forced to remain under a special education frame, be it bilingual or inclusive?

I know that I am saying to many things in very few lines. I am only trying to open a space for reflexion and argumentation.

Boris Fridman Mintz.

------------------------------------------------- 

On Mar 26, 2013, at 4:04 AM, Ulrike Zeshan <UZeshan at UCLAN.AC.UK> wrote:

> Hi, yes, this has just come through to the WFD expert group on sign language.
> Ulrike
>  
>  
> From: linguists interested in signed languages [mailto:SLLING-L at LISTSERV.VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU] On Behalf Of Adam Schembri
> Sent: 26 March 2013 03:50
> To: SLLING-L at LISTSERV.VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SPAM] Re: UN consultation on disability inclusion--the perspective of deaf people and sign language linguists is needed
>  
> Have you forwarded this to WFD, Albert? 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On 26/03/2013, at 2:47 PM, "Albert Bickford" <albert_bickford at SIL.ORG> wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Jason.  That's precisely why it is important that deaf people (and others who understand these issues) must speak into the UN process about the need to think about language issues when considering deafness.  People who are used to thinking about disabilities generally, but who don't understand deaf language and culture, will almost certainly argue for "inclusion" in ways that result in isolation for deaf people.  Anecdotally, for example, I know of a case in Papua New Guinea where people were arguing for mainstream education on the basis of UN pronouncements about disabilities, but a successful counter-argument was made on the basis of UN pronouncements about indigenous languages and the right to education in a language the child understands.  In other words, the people who are thinking about disability need to be made aware of the linguistic/cultural perspective on deafness, and to think about issues from a deaf perspective.
> 
> I submitted a post to the forum this evening, which hopefully will be approved by the moderator within 24 hours. That's something, but it will be more effective if deaf people speak for themselves.  There is already a post (obviously by a hearing person) that advocates inclusion of deaf children in the same schools with hearing--an alternative perspective needs to be presented.
> 
> (In writing these messages, I'm also aware that there may not be agreement even within the deaf community about such matters.  Some deaf people may favor mainstreaming in education rather than separate classrooms where a sign language is used.  Where there is disagreement, then that is all the more reason for deaf people to speak up and help the world development community to understand the complexity of the issues and the diversity of views.)
> 
> 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
>  
> On 2013/03/25 10:47 AM, Jason Hopkins wrote:
> 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 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 the summary report here:http://www.worldwewant2015.org/node/304822) 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 and log-in or register here (http://www.worldwewant2015.org/register). 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.  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
> Discussion web site: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/enable
>  
>  
>  

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