JOHN MWANGI: Let’s do more for the deaf

Kenya is a multilingual society. Most Kenyans speak at least three languages – mother tongue, English and Kiswahili. This generalisation is always passed as the true linguistic situation in Kenya excluding the use of Kenya Sign Language.

The deaf in any country are a linguistic minority since their mode of communication is used by a very small population. As the world marks International Deaf Awareness Month, there is need to celebrate deaf communities and preserve their cultural and linguistic identity.

Cultural diversity is a fact of life and it entails diversity in language use. The deaf should not be denied recognition as a minority language community. Denying them recognition is actually squandering linguistic and skills necessary for their survival.

Most deaf children are born to hearing parents who often have no knowledge of Sign Language. The children highly depend on school to learn Sign Language.

It becomes worse for those who do not get an opportunity to learn Sign Language. They use survival signs and almost meaningless or linguistically unstructured sounds.

The deaf are the most likely to be least educated among all persons with disabilities. Many deaf students end up training in crafts to become carpenters or tailors.

There have been very high sounding ideas on how the government is working towards improving education for children with disabilities, but the reality is different. Lumping all disabled students into one group then having one policy to manage them does not effectively address the needs of each group with their disability. A realistic policy should take into cognisance their unique needs.

The education of the deaf must take a realistic view. It must be aimed at giving the deaf knowledge and skills that will put them on equal footing with their hearing counterparts in the competitive business of life.

The Kenyan society seems to recognise the needs of people with hearing disability but there is still a gap in this awareness. The Disability Act 2003 requires Sign Language use in TV news. During Covid-19 briefings on TV the government has made sure there is a Sign Language interpreter.

However, only a small percentage of people with disability have access to a TV set. Think of the thousands of deaf people who would like to receive the information through other channels. In administering Covid-19 vaccines, the government needs to have a special desk for people with hearing disability since they might not be fully aware of what is happening.

Deaf Kenyans, like their hearing counterparts, need to be able to have access to the larger society.

Student, Maasai Mara University