DeafSADeafSA

Presentation to the Presentation to the

Joint Constitutional Review Joint Constitutional Review Committee Committee

IntroductionIntroduction

DeafSA represents about one (1) million Deaf people in South DeafSA represents about one (1) million Deaf people in South Africa Africa

Recognised internationally by Recognised internationally by inter aliainter alia the World Federation of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) the Deaf (WFD)

Founded in 1929 Founded in 1929

Provides services to the Deaf community on a national level Provides services to the Deaf community on a national level

Registered in terms of the Non Profit Organisations Act Registered in terms of the Non Profit Organisations Act

1994 DeafSA transformed: 1994 DeafSA transformed: – constitutional change constitutional change

– Deaf majority members serving on all the organisation’s Deaf majority members serving on all the organisation’s management structures management structures

– self-representation enabled DeafSA to be accepted as an self-representation enabled DeafSA to be accepted as an ordinary member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) ordinary member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)

DeafSA’s MissionDeafSA’s Mission

““To promote the interests of the Deaf and To promote the interests of the Deaf and hard of hearing effectively on a national hard of hearing effectively on a national

level in Southern Africa.”level in Southern Africa.”

Purpose of PresentationPurpose of Presentation

To give effect to one of DeafSA’s objectives as listed in our constitution, To give effect to one of DeafSA’s objectives as listed in our constitution, which is: which is:

To pro-actively facilitate and successfully lobby for the acceptance, To pro-actively facilitate and successfully lobby for the acceptance, recognition, development, utilisation of resources/interpreter service of recognition, development, utilisation of resources/interpreter service of

South African Sign Language, as a medium of communication with Deaf South African Sign Language, as a medium of communication with Deaf persons, as the 12th official language.persons, as the 12th official language.

DeafSA regards this objective as a key towards effectively promoting all DeafSA regards this objective as a key towards effectively promoting all other interests of Deaf people other interests of Deaf people

LegislationLegislation

DeafSA has thus far contributed towards the following legislation and DeafSA has thus far contributed towards the following legislation and codes of good practice: codes of good practice:

Recognition of SASL as Deaf people’s primary mode of Recognition of SASL as Deaf people’s primary mode of communication in terms of the South African Constitution Act No communication in terms of the South African Constitution Act No 108 of 1996.108 of 1996.

Recognition of SASL as a medium of instruction for the purpose of Recognition of SASL as a medium of instruction for the purpose of educating Deaf Children – SA Schools Act. educating Deaf Children – SA Schools Act.

Education White Paper 6 (DoE 2001).Education White Paper 6 (DoE 2001).

Codes of Good Practice for People with Disabilities – Codes of Good Practice for People with Disabilities – Telecommunications and Broadcasting Industries (ICASA March Telecommunications and Broadcasting Industries (ICASA March 2006).2006).

White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy, whereby White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy, whereby the disability in general is premised on the social model away from the disability in general is premised on the social model away from the previous the previous medical model (Office of the Deputy President 1997).medical model (Office of the Deputy President 1997).

Codes of Good Practice on the Employment of People with Codes of Good Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities (DoL 2002).Disabilities (DoL 2002).

Developing and Promoting Developing and Promoting South African Sign LanguageSouth African Sign Languageee

Comprehensive business plan detailing the process of developing Comprehensive business plan detailing the process of developing and promoting SASL with the ultimate purpose of having SASL and promoting SASL with the ultimate purpose of having SASL recognised as the12th official language. recognised as the12th official language.

National Deaf March during which a memorandum was handed to the National Deaf March during which a memorandum was handed to the Minister of Education to demand that SASL be used as a medium of Minister of Education to demand that SASL be used as a medium of instruction at all schools for the Deaf in line with the SA Schools Act instruction at all schools for the Deaf in line with the SA Schools Act - Educational Task Team (ETT) was established.- Educational Task Team (ETT) was established.

Successfully registered the unit standard for SASL as an additional Successfully registered the unit standard for SASL as an additional language with SAQA.language with SAQA.

Position Paper for SASL and SASL Interpreter Services. Position Paper for SASL and SASL Interpreter Services.

Training of SASL interpreters:Training of SASL interpreters:

– Registered course with SAQA (NQF Level 5)Registered course with SAQA (NQF Level 5)

Accreditation of SASL Interpreters according to International Accreditation of SASL Interpreters according to International Practices.Practices.

What is SASL?What is SASL?Visual language.Visual language.

SASL was developed naturally and Deaf people have used SASL to SASL was developed naturally and Deaf people have used SASL to communicate for centuries in spite of its history of oppression by communicate for centuries in spite of its history of oppression by the wider society. SASL will continue to exist for many more the wider society. SASL will continue to exist for many more centuries to come, in line with the saying:-centuries to come, in line with the saying:-

““As long as there are Deaf people, there will be Sign Language.”As long as there are Deaf people, there will be Sign Language.”

SASL is a fully-fledged natural language, which developed through SASL is a fully-fledged natural language, which developed through use by a community of users namely Deaf people.use by a community of users namely Deaf people.

It has its own grammatical rules (syntax).It has its own grammatical rules (syntax).

SASL is a true language SASL is a true language

SASL can express the entire range of human experience. SASL can express the entire range of human experience.

Sign Language is not universalSign Language is not universal

Status Of Sign Languages Status Of Sign Languages Around The WorldAround The World

WFD encourages the national federations of the Deaf (including DeafSA) to work towards official recognition of Sign Languages for the purpose of communication accessibility for Deaf people.

The countries in which Sign Languages have been accepted, recognised and/or protected are listed below:

Austria Hungary Spain

Belgium Ireland Sweden

Canada Italy Switzerland

Colombia Lithuania Thailand

Cyprus New Zealand The Netherlands

Czech Republic Norway Uganda

Finland Poland United Kingdom

Flanders Portugal United State

France Slovakia Venezuela

Germany Slovenia

Why Recognizing SASL as a Why Recognizing SASL as a 12th official language?12th official language?

““Often individuals and groups are treated unjustly and suppressed by Often individuals and groups are treated unjustly and suppressed by means of language. People who are deprived of linguistic human means of language. People who are deprived of linguistic human

rights may thereby be prevented from enjoying other human rights, rights may thereby be prevented from enjoying other human rights, including fair political representation, a fair trial, access to education, including fair political representation, a fair trial, access to education,

access to information and freedom of speech, and maintenance of access to information and freedom of speech, and maintenance of their cultural heritage”.their cultural heritage”. Overcoming Linguistic Discrimination, ed. Overcoming Linguistic Discrimination, ed.

Tove Skutnabb-Kangas and Robert Phillipson (Berlin 1995).Tove Skutnabb-Kangas and Robert Phillipson (Berlin 1995).

Bill of Rights.Bill of Rights.

Responsibility to ensure that Deaf people are not deprived of their Responsibility to ensure that Deaf people are not deprived of their human rights on the basis of their disabilityhuman rights on the basis of their disability..

SASL holds the key to a Deaf person’s enjoyment of virtually all SASL holds the key to a Deaf person’s enjoyment of virtually all his/her human rights.his/her human rights.

While Deaf people are considered a minority group, at the count of one While Deaf people are considered a minority group, at the count of one (1) million they are a much larger group than some of the users of the (1) million they are a much larger group than some of the users of the currently official languages. currently official languages.

South Africa, as a caring society, can no longer continues to South Africa, as a caring society, can no longer continues to ignore such a large group.ignore such a large group.

Constitution of South AfricaConstitution of South Africa

Not only committed to correcting the past marginalisation, but also to Not only committed to correcting the past marginalisation, but also to listen to the people’s outcry and compete as strongly as possible with listen to the people’s outcry and compete as strongly as possible with the rest of the world.the rest of the world.

A quote of four (4) pertinent points from the preamble to the A quote of four (4) pertinent points from the preamble to the constitution is listed below:constitution is listed below:

– ““...Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on ...Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;

– Lay the foundation for a democratic and open society in which the Lay the foundation for a democratic and open society in which the government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by the law;equally protected by the law;

– Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; andeach person; and

– Build a united and democratic South Africa to take its rightful Build a united and democratic South Africa to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.”place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.”

RecommendationsRecommendations A Task Team composed of representatives from of DeafSA and A Task Team composed of representatives from of DeafSA and Department of Arts and Culture should be established with immediate Department of Arts and Culture should be established with immediate effect for the purpose of monitoring the process of promoting and effect for the purpose of monitoring the process of promoting and maintaining SASL, which includes implementation of various projects. maintaining SASL, which includes implementation of various projects.

Parliament should effect constitutional amendments so that SASL Parliament should effect constitutional amendments so that SASL becomes a 12th official language with immediate effect or within a becomes a 12th official language with immediate effect or within a period of six (6) months calculated from October 2006. period of six (6) months calculated from October 2006.

The Department of Arts and Culture should provide funds for the The Department of Arts and Culture should provide funds for the development of SASL training materials, which include visual SASL development of SASL training materials, which include visual SASL dictionaries. This process should start by not later than March 2007.dictionaries. This process should start by not later than March 2007.

The Department of Arts and Culture should provide the necessary The Department of Arts and Culture should provide the necessary funds for the development of curriculum for the training of SASL funds for the development of curriculum for the training of SASL instructors so that SASL instruction becomes a recognised instructors so that SASL instruction becomes a recognised profession. This process is to start by March 2007.profession. This process is to start by March 2007.

The Department of Education should liaise with the tertiary education The Department of Education should liaise with the tertiary education institutions for the purpose of revising the curricula for public service institutions for the purpose of revising the curricula for public service professionals such as Doctors, Social Workers, Paramedics, professionals such as Doctors, Social Workers, Paramedics, Police, etc., to include Police, etc., to include inter aliainter alia SASL and Deaf Culture. These SASL and Deaf Culture. These curricula should become effective from 2008.curricula should become effective from 2008.

Recommendations (Continue)Recommendations (Continue)A comprehensive inter-departmental training programme for all the A comprehensive inter-departmental training programme for all the public service personnel on SASL and Deaf culture should be carried public service personnel on SASL and Deaf culture should be carried out with funding from each government department, with effect from out with funding from each government department, with effect from January 2007. January 2007.

As a short-term solution relevant to point f) above, SASL interpreters As a short-term solution relevant to point f) above, SASL interpreters should be made available at as many public service institutions, as should be made available at as many public service institutions, as possible, with immediate effect so that Deaf consumers can receive possible, with immediate effect so that Deaf consumers can receive services in SASL. Funding for SASL interpreter should come from services in SASL. Funding for SASL interpreter should come from each public service institution. each public service institution.

The Department of Arts and Culture, in partnership with DeafSA and The Department of Arts and Culture, in partnership with DeafSA and private sectors should run a mass awareness campaign to sensitise private sectors should run a mass awareness campaign to sensitise the public at large on SASL and Deaf culture starting in January 2007. the public at large on SASL and Deaf culture starting in January 2007.

The Department of Arts and Culture should liaise with DeafSA on how The Department of Arts and Culture should liaise with DeafSA on how to implement recommendation 7A of the White Paper on an Integrated to implement recommendation 7A of the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy, particularly the continuous development National Disability Strategy, particularly the continuous development of SASL interpretation as a profession. of SASL interpretation as a profession.

The Department of Education should liaise with DeafSA with The Department of Education should liaise with DeafSA with immediate effect to discuss ways of implementing immediate effect to discuss ways of implementing recommendation 9B of the White Paper on an Integrated recommendation 9B of the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy, for the betterment of National Disability Strategy, for the betterment of Deaf education. Deaf education.

““Sign Language is a real language, equivalent in Sign Language is a real language, equivalent in status to any other language. Deaf persons can sign status to any other language. Deaf persons can sign

about any topic, concrete or abstract as economically, about any topic, concrete or abstract as economically, as effectively, as rapidly and as grammatically as as effectively, as rapidly and as grammatically as

hearing people can. Sign Language is influenced by hearing people can. Sign Language is influenced by entirely equivalent historical social and psychological entirely equivalent historical social and psychological

factors as spoken language - there are rules for factors as spoken language - there are rules for attention-getting, turn-taking, story telling, there are attention-getting, turn-taking, story telling, there are jokes, puns and taboo signs, there are generational jokes, puns and taboo signs, there are generational effects observed in Sign Language, metaphors and effects observed in Sign Language, metaphors and

‘slips of the hand’ ” (Penn, 1993, p.12).‘slips of the hand’ ” (Penn, 1993, p.12).