SIGN LANGUAGE AWARENESS: BREAKING THE BARRIERS
BETWEEN DEAF AND HEARING PEOPLE
“I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the
pedigree of nations” (Samuel Johnson, as quoted in Boswell 1785). ‘Deaf’ people
mostly have profound hearing loss, which implies very little or no hearing. They often
use sign language for communication; they usually communicate through spoken
language and can benefit from hearing aids. Pampanga High School is one of the public
schools who cater Special Education for our hearing impaired students.
Using Sign Language, Deaf people can easily communicate with the hearing
people. As one of the educators who teach SPED students, I believe with the saying “If
hearing people can sign, it brings deaf and hearing people closer together”. But what if
it becomes the barriers when teachers and parents do not have a personal background
on sign language literacy? Language barrier between the deaf and the hearing cultures
is of primary importance, because the near fact that if the language and the cultural
differences are understood, then hearing people will not perceive the deaf as a disabled
group.
Pampanga High School, SPED Department offers Sign Language Training for
Parents, Receiving Teachers and Hearing students every year. The purpose of this is to
bring within the preview of the hearing people the importance of Sign Language
awareness in bridging the gap between Deaf and hearing communities particularly the
parents, teachers and regular students. For this school year, PHS-SPED Department
will celebrate National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week on July 1822, 2016. Teachers will facilitate Sign Language Training for the whole week. Come and
join us as we celebrate NDPR Week. Let us ingrain respect, equality and importance of
each learner with special needs. Taken from the Vessels of Honor that says: “There are
no disabilities from the hand of God – only differences in design”
REMEDIOS M. DIZON
Secondary School Teacher
(Pampanga High School)