Into the World of the Deaf

By: Ms. Isabel L. Templo

"At last night’s TEDx Fort Bonifacio, I was once again transported into the world of the deaf. The first speaker of the night, Ana Arce — who graduated magna cum laude from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde — is Deaf. Deaf, with a capital “D,” she explained through an interpreter — not deaf, deaf-mute, hearing impaired, and certainly not dumb!

Ana’s talk was inspiring. “The Deaf can,” she told the audience. The Deaf, she pointed out, are businessmen and women, sports enthusiasts, artists and photographers — and yes, educators. This, despite the fact that they live and move in a society that is so hearing-centric. Think about it. How have we made life easier for the Deaf? Aside from the TV show “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko,” how many TV shows have had sign language interpreters or even closed captioning? How many theater productions and live events? And how many cinemas show films with subtitles for the Deaf?

Ana closed her talk with a challenge to the hearing: “Let us into your world.” It is time to make our society more Deaf-friendly. We can at least try.

Ana Arce (with scarf) at TEDx Fort Bonifacio

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Interpreting for Ana and for some of the other speakers was Veronica (“Nicky”) Perez, the dean of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS), who happens to be my cousin.

Watching her sign during TEDx, I realized how hard it is to be a sign language interpreter. It’s more than just literally signing what a speaker says. “You have to sign for the Deaf to understand,” Nicky said — which means there can be a lot of explaining and contextualizing going on.

The Deaf community needs more hearing people to learn sign language — and eventually interpret for them. For those who want to learn the language, SDEAS would be a good place to start.

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There’s also the concern about what kind of sign language to use when communicating with the Deaf. The signs used by Linda on Sesame Street are from American Sign Language (ASL). SDEAS is pushing for Filipino Sign Language (FSL).

Many of the signs are universal, but there is one simple difference. “FSL is based on the experiences of Filipinos,” Nicky explained. To make the ASL sign for “dog,” for example, one would slap one’s leg and then snap her fingers. But this is an American’s experience — friendly, well-trained dogs. In the Philippine setting, with dogs roaming the streets freely and barking at people, a more appropriate sign is made by using the hands to mimic the action of a dog’s jaws as it barks.

It’s an interesting language — and like other languages, a living language that continues to remain relevant to those who use it.

The sign for "I love you"

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I also blogged about TEDx Fort Bonifacio here."

Please read the rest of Ms. Isabel Templo's post in her Cybernotebook
http://cybernotebook.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/into-the-world-of-the-deaf/

She is currently Freelance Writer and Editor (Self-employed), and a partner at East Axis Creative, Inc. (http://www.east-axis.com/home.html)

Thank you ma'am for allowing us to post your enlightening thoughts.

Creation of bureau for special kids urged

NEGLECTED SECTOR
Creation of bureau for special kids urged

By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:06:00 03/12/2010

Filed Under: Children, Education, Disabled, Legislation, Government offices & agencies


MANILA, Philippines—With only two percent of Filipino children with special needs getting government support, the Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for the creation of a Bureau of Special Education (BSE) to attend to their needs, outgoing Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said Thursday.

Lapus said the proposed bureau would help not just children with special needs (CSN) but young persons with disabilities (PWD), pointing out that in other countries they received “100-percent state support.”

“We believe the creation of a specific unit to take care of the unique needs of special children is urgent,” said Lapus in a statement.

He said that while CSNs and PWDs comprised a minority, they remained a significant part of the children’s population.

Gifted children

Based on school year 2004-2005 estimates, there were 5.49 million CSNs in the Philippines, or 13 percent of the children’s population. Of the number, an estimated 4.2 million were PWDs while 1.27 million “were gifted children,” Lapus said.

Only around 15,000 of these children were enrolled in school year 2004-2005, however. But the number represented an 88-percent increase since school year 1995-1996 when enrollment was only around 8,000, he said.

To improve the situation, Lapus said he supported Senate Bill No. 2020, which mandates the creation of at least one special education (Sped) center in each school division (one for each of the 17 regions) and up to three centers in the big school divisions.

He asked Malacañang to certify the bill as urgent.

The Senate bill has been approved on second reading, while its counterpart in the House of Representatives has been approved on third reading.

“Most people have not yet recognized that certain CSNs or PWDs have very distinct talents and skills. And their integration and mainstreaming into society will contribute significantly to national development,” Lapus said.

Defining special kids

Children with special needs are those who have autism, have other mental problems, are visually or hearing-impaired, are orthopedically or physically handicapped, learning-disabled, speech-defective, have behavior problems, and those children that encounter health problems under the formal educational system.

“All CSNs, irrespective of the degree of sensory, physical or intellectual disability or needs, will have the opportunity to be educated in the most educationally enhancing environment consistent with the provision of a quality education that best meets their needs,” the Senate bill reads.

Under the proposed law, special day care centers will be put up near existing Sped centers with the support of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The bill provides for special instructional materials which may be transcribed into Braille, large-type print or audio tape without having to pay penalties or royalties.

The bill also allows private institutions participating in the programs to avail of tax breaks and loans, technological and scientific assistance.

It provides for a P600-million yearly budget for five years for the Sped program, while a separate P20 million yearly from the President’s Social Fund and the Philippine Gaming Corp. will finance the creation and operation of the BSE.

Person With Disabilities Day (PWD)

Together to Get There

10 years

"We, Thought many, are on body in Christ." (Rom 12: 4-5)

On top of the heap

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

On top of the heap
By INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
November 8, 2009, 1:15pm

Many people had been awed upon hearing that a deaf girl graduated magna
cum laude. But that sense of awe quickly turned to inspiration when that
same girl delivered a memorable commencement speech in behalf of her
class using merely her hands – and her heart.

Last week, 23-year-old Ana Kristina Arce was all over the news for being
the first deaf student to graduate magna cum laude from the De La Salle-
College of Saint Benilde School. Ana also received the Community Service
award for volunteering to serve in various school programs, as well as
for being the the president of the Benildean Deaf Association, the DLS-
CSB student council, the Lasallian Ministry Program for the Deaf, and
the Summer of Service Program. Ana was also one of the four student
ambassadors in the Summer Leadership Institute in PEN-International,
participated in the 12th Deaf Festival, Immaculate Conception Parish for
outreach program, relief operations for typhoon Ondoy victims and For-
the-Kids mini olympics.

GROWING UP

Ana was born deaf after her mother Vilma was infected by the rubella
virus during her pregnancy. But losing baby Ana was not an option. Vilma
pushed through with the pregnancy and gave birth to Ana on October 27,
1986.

Seemingly a normal baby at first because she could react to noises, Ana
soon showed signs of deafness when she turned 11 months old.

At the age of two, Ana was enrolled at the Maria Lena Buhay Foundation,
an oral school, where she learned to speak and read lips.

“I learned sign language at age seven and it was easy for me to adjust
to communicate in sign language,” she says.

Being active in the deaf community, her sense of belonging made coping a
lot easier. It also helps that a lot of modern forms of communication
have become available “I can communicate with hearing people using
written communication, e-mail communication, SMS or text,” she says.

Also making things a lot easy for her is a sign language interpreter who
is helpful during interviews, seminars, classes, conferences and Mass.
All these make Ana feel no different at all!

MAKING THE BEST OUT OF SCHOOLING

For most people who are differently-abled, studying poses a major
problem and a lot of adjustments in many aspects have to be made. But
for Ana, schooling was bliss. “My parents were always supportive of me
especially with my going to school,” she says.

Looking for a school that would suit Ana’s needs was also something
that needed careful consideration. Her parents enrolled her both in
special and regular schools such as the Philippine Institute for the
Deaf, Philippine Normal University, and UP South to check if any of
these would be ideal for her. Unfortunately, adjustment at these said
schools did not come easy. Her parents then enlisted her at the
Philippine School for the Deaf where sign language is used as the medium
of communication through high school. In her senior year, Ana was
transferred to a private school for the deaf where she finished with
academic honors.

Still, Ana believed there were so much to be accomplished. “Even if I
am deaf, I did not consider deafness as an obstacle to pursuing my dream
of going to college and maybe a master’s degree,” she says.

As a child, Ana always wanted to be a painter. Her inclination towards
the arts pushed her to take up Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies course
with specialization in Multimedia Arts in DLS-CSB. “I wanted to know
how I could do my best as a deaf person while pursuing my special skills
in multimedia arts,” she says.

She went to the right school indeed as DLS-CSB has a diverse group of
people who made her feel welcome. The School of Deaf Education and
Applied Studies or SDEAS, a department exclusively for deaf students
where the Filipino sign language (FSL) is used as a medium of
communication, also helped Ana in her adjustment,

It also helped that at CSB, the hearing student population is encouraged
to learn sign language through the Filipino Sign Language program. The
program urges hearing students get a deaf buddy especially in extra-
curricular activities to get to know deaf students better.

BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE DEAF

Ana says that despite the increasing awareness on people with special
needs, misconceptions about the deaf remains.

For instance the use of the terms “hearing impairment” and “deaf mute
” when referring to them is offensive, she says, because that term
means deaf people’s ears are impaired but they are actually not. “Most
people call us deaf mute but we are not mute. We are simply deaf and can
’t talk because we do not hear what other people say. We are not mute
because our tongues are normal.’’

Ana dreams of writing a book about the aspirations of the deaf. She
implores parents who have deaf kids not to force them to undergo
cochlear implants. “Most of the hearing parents want their deaf
children to learn how to speak so some of them make them wear a cochlear
implant although it’s not always successful. But if kids wear this,
they can’t just participate in physical activities like basketball,
swimming in deep level, and others,’’ she explains.

The best medium of communication, she believes, is still sign language.

Ana also hopes that in the future, hearing teachers of the deaf would
become aware of natural sign language especially in public and private
primary and secondary schools. “Filipino Sign Language should be
promoted as the primary means of communication for the deaf community. I
’m sure deaf children will learn their lessons fast if they use this as
the medium of communication just like me,” she ends.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/228513/on-top-heap


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Institute of Developing Economies, JETRO
Inter-disciplinary Studies Center
Poverty Alleviation and Social Development Studies Group
Deputy Director & Professor (IDEAS)
Senior Research Fellow
MORI, Soya
3-2-2, Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi,261-8545
Chiba, Japan
E-mail: soya_mori@ide.go.jp
Homepage: http://www.ide.go.jp/
Fax: 0+81-43-299-9548
*********************************************************

Rizal is my president

Photo by Nadine Calagos (Deaf Student)

Rizal is teaching the youth people to be good value and leader for our country.

Next year is coming soon, there will be new president 2010, the most people are still undecide whom they want to vote for run president, they still look for the president who is honest, trust and love our country.I feel the same, i still think whom i like to vote. Rizal is my president was showing me and touched my heart, i was thinking and looking at our country right now, there is a lot of youth people, they true know the good value and leader but they dont do because they might think hard to do for our country, some of them are good to do but, the most they do good value and leader for themself not for others and our country.

I hope the people (run for presidents) not forget Jose Rizal what he done for us was freedom, he fought for our love country. I also hope the youth people know good value and leader then they do for others with their true heart.

Written by Jerene Justiniano (Deaf Student)

Espesyalista 2009: A Quiz Bee for Deaf Students

Photo by: Jesus Morales

Last October 24, 2009, the UP Special Education Council (UPSEC) in partnership with SDEAS hosted “Espesyalista 2009: A Quiz Bee for Deaf Students”

Seven elementary schools from Metro Manila and neighboring provinces joined the competition: Antipolo SPED Center, Batino Elementary School, Bagong Silang Elementary School, Barro Obrero Elementary School, Commonwealth Annex, Gen. M. Hizon Elementary School and Rosa Susano Elementary School.

The program started with a prayer lead by an UPSEC member, Jennifer Pampelona, followed by the Philippine National Anthem, which was lead by SDEAS student, Raphael Domingo. Ms. Maria Veronica Templo-Perez, the Dean of SDEAS, gave the welcome remarks. The audience watched in amazement as Silent Steps presented a special number entitled “I Have a Dream”.

As Dean Perez had said in her welcome remarks, it was an opportunity for the SDEAS students to look back at their humble beginnings and remember that they too were once elementary students. For the contestants, it was opportunity to see that there is life even after they graduate from high school and hopefully the thought of going to College would motivate them to study hard and achieve their dreams.

The quiz bee proper was composed of questions from the different subject areas ranging from easy to difficult. After a close fight, Commonwealth Annex emerged as the winner followed by Rosa Susano Elementary School in second place and Bagong Silang Elementary School in third place.

Espesyalista was a venue where elementary Deaf students showed their academic competence. It promoted the use of sign language in Deaf education and empowered the Deaf students, giving them a sense of confidence and a learning experience. But most importantly, it upheld the advocacy that it is the ability and not the disability that matters.

Written by: Bea Francisco