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EUD Members News |
An exciting time for Deaf youth in Scotland |
The Scottish Deaf Association (SDA) has received funding from the Big Lottery’s Young People’s Fund for a new project to support young Deaf people in Scotland.
The project, to be known as Scottish Deaf Youth Association (SDYA), aims to bring together young Deaf people and support them in asserting their identity as well as equipping and empowering them to participate in the wider community.
Helga McGILP, SDA Director says, “Young Deaf people face tremendous obstacles in life, not only in acquiring English and British Sign Language skills but also in gaining access to education, information and services, culture, leisure and social activities. Most people don’t realise how much of our everyday lives is only fully accessible to those who can hear.
“For young Deaf people, difficulties in communicating with hearing peers and lack of understanding can make them feel isolated, frustrated and lacking in self esteem. These problems can be exacerbated when, as young people, they find themselves facing the normal experiences of teenagers such as lack of self-confidence, developing sexuality and forming relationships.
“We are very excited that The National Lottery has granted us funding in order to tackle some of these problems, and provide better life chances and more equality in opportunities for young Deaf people.”
As well as providing services and support to young people, SDYA also aims to tackle the acute shortage of qualified deaf youth workers in Scotland. SDYA will train up to 20 youth workers which will ensure a productive and effective youth-led project, good working practices, new skills for the youth workers and good Deaf role models for the younger deaf people.
SDYA has been awarded £111,426 (€164 463) by The National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund over an initial two year period. During this time, SDYA will be looking to get many young Deaf people involved. SDYA is going to be led by a committee made up of young Deaf people. The committee will be heavily involved in deciding the direction that the project takes and what services it provides. There are other voluntary roles for young Deaf people within the project. This is a chance to get some good training and contribute to the project by becoming a sign language presenter on the SDYA website or helping out at SDYA events.
As well as helping young Deaf people, the project also wants to raise awareness of Deaf people in society. An event for Deaf and hearing youth in Scotland is being planning during the annual ‘Learn to Sign Week’ – 2nd-8th October 2006. This event wants to bring hearing and deaf youth together and break down the communication barriers that exist between them. |
Source: Press Release Sign Community (http://www.signcommunity.org.uk)
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Flemish Sign Language Interpreters on Strike |
At the beginning of the school period, the interpreters Flemish Sign Language (VGT) will go on a two day strike.
In Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) VGT interpreters traditionally work in educational, welfare and professional settings. They are paid either through the ministry of Education or the ministry of Welfare. This implies that they are also under the inspection of those departments.
As far as the cooperation between the department of Education and the interpreters goes, there have been a lot of grievances. First of all the wage is very low (27,04 Euro/hour) and since all interpreters are listed as independents they have no wage when ill or during school holidays. On top of all they have been confronted by outrageous regulations during the last years. The department of Education introduces new norms every year concerning the inspection of the interpreters without consultation with interpreter representation.
After a meeting between the Flemish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (VVTG) and the Federation of Flemish Deaf Organisations (Fevlado) it was decided that a strike at the start of the school year would help to raise the political awareness about the poor working conditions of the Flemish Sign Language Interpreters.
On September 1 st and 4 th all Sign Language Interpreters, about 200 in total, will strike.
Fevlado realises that deaf and hearing persons and above all the deaf students and hearing teachers will be affected by this measure. However in order to alter the situation and to prevent a further escalation of the problems Sign Language interpreters are confronted with, this action is necessary. |
Written by Isabelle Heyerick for Fevlado vzw
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EUDY News |
New EUDY Board elected |
The new EUDY Board was elected in Dublin in August 2006 during the EUDY GA.
Board members are:
- Sean HERLIHY ( Ireland) – President
- Minna KATAINEN ( Finland) – Secretary
- Jaroslav CEHLARIK ( Slovak Republic)
- Kilian KNOERZER ( Germany)
- Johanna KARMGAARD ( Sweden)
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The next EUDY Camp and General Assembly |
At the EUDY General Assembly 2006 in Dublin, Ireland, both Hungary and Serbia bid to host the next EUDY Camp 2008. Serbia won the vote to host the next EUDY camp 2008.
The EUDY General Assembly 2007 will be held in Zurich, Switzerland on 20 th – 23 rd September 2007. |
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EUDY Camp 2006 – President’s word |
The successful delivery of the EUDY Camp seems like a dream except that we have the photographs to prove it really did happen! It is heart warming to see that such a project could be created and carried out so successfully by the Irish Deaf Youth Association, from the design of the logo to the managerial skills of the volunteers.
So far 2006 has been the BEST year for EUDY with some good achievements and developments. Most importantly, we have reached more Deaf Youth than ever, especially from the new member countries. I am pleased to say that more than 100 participants from 26 countries attended the EUDY camp . Many bonds and friendships were established all over Europe, tears were shed when it was time to call an end to a most successful camp.
To see this success for Deaf 18-30 years old and also see the opportunities to become a good leader, gain knowledge about the sign language community, to be a role model in the EUDY camp presents itself at this camp. May it be the first of many and may it be an inspiration to other Deaf youths to become not just good but Great Leaders!
EUDY is now a well-known name and a partner among the Deaf Youth organisations in Europe, and through our events we have inspired some Deaf Youth to create new organisations or new projects. I am delighted to have new board members with new ideas especially one Board member from Eastern Europe. Remember our door is always open!
We unite the Deaf Youth of Europe! |
Written by Seán HERLIHY - EUDY President
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Deaf News around Europe and the World |
Deaf Empowerment in Kosovo |
About 15,000 people in Kosovo are Deaf. Fourteen Deaf clubs (12 Albanian and two Serbian) are functioning throughout Kosovo. Nonetheless, Deaf people do not officially “exist” in Kosovo and are completely ignored by the public authorities. There are no official statistics on Deaf people and no mention of Deaf people’s needs in any Kosovo Law.
“Deaf people in Kosovo are regarded by public authorities as simply ‘disabled’, while they have specific needs and are left outside the public life” explains Enver KURTALANI, Administrator of the Organisational Training and Sign Language Development Project for the Deaf Clubs in Kosovo, the only ongoing training project in Kosovo for Deaf people. “Without a special educational system, based on Sign Language, all Deaf persons are completely shut out from society” adds Colin ALLEN, the Organisational Advisor.
The Project started in 2004, when the Finnish Foreign Ministry and the Finnish Association of the Deaf decided to fund a project to empower the Deaf community in Kosovo and build its capacities. “This means enabling Deaf People to be independent in society “explain Drita TOPRLAK and Nebih CAKAJ, sign language assistants. “In concrete terms, it means to help build a society where Deaf people are able to go to schools that teach in Sign Language, to understand the news on TV through a Kosovar Sign Language Interpreter, and to go to hospitals, tribunals and public offices assisted by professional interpreters paid by the government”. To achieve these goals, the project focuses on the community education: it trains people and interpreters in Kosovar Sign Language, supports the Deaf clubs in Kosovo and aims at creating an organization to truly represent the Kosovan Deaf Community and advocate for its rights.
The international organisations working in Kosovo too have so far completely forgotten about the Deaf in Kosovo, the only activity carried out so far being the OSCE-funded project on the interpretation in Sign Language of the news on one national TV, five minutes every day.
“Sign Language is the mother tongue of the Deaf community” explains Ramadan GASHI, the Deaf Clubs Liaison Officer, “we want to improve its status and ultimately to have it recognized as an official language in Kosovo. This is what would bring a real change”. Or at least, this is what democratic societies do |
Souce: UNMIK newspaper - www.unmikonline.org
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New video interpreting service in Italy |
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (UK) has been working with Italian Sign Language interpreters in the Liguria region in Italy to deliver training for a new video interpreting service.
The one-year pilot scheme “Video Interpretariato” has been designed to serve the Italian sign language users in the district of La Spezia in Liguria, where there are currently no interpreters available for deaf people in the community. This video interpreting service will mean that Italian Sign Language users across the region will now have access to many public services that were previously not available to them.
Videophones will be installed at venues such as the local Job Centre, Social Security and local health authority, where Italian Sign Language users can connect to the interpreters in neighbouring regions. The service will be free of charge for one year, from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. |
Source: WASLI Newsletter 7/2006
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Uganda Deaf Association lobbies for interpreters |
The Uganda National Association for the Deaf (UNAD) has protested the failure by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation TV to provide for a sign language interpreter during its news bulletins.
UNAD Director Alex NDEEZI said UBC-TV had denied the deaf important information in news that used to be provided by the defunct Uganda Television (UTV). NDEEZI said the absence of sign interpreters at UBC-TV and other public places such as courts, hospitals and schools was a gross violation of their human rights.
NDEEZI said some deaf people were languishing in jail without knowing why they were there. “They are sentenced without being availed sign language interpreters to tell them about their purported crimes. They are not given a chance to defend themselves”, he added.
He cited an incident where UNAD offered a sign language interpreter to a suspect who was committed to the High Court on defilement charges but the offer was ignored. NDEEZI appealed to the government to operationalise the constitutional provisions on sign language. |
Source: WASLI Newsletter Issue 6/2006
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Brazilian Theatre of Deaf |
The Brazilian Theatre of Deaf (TBS) is a group of young actors, dancers and deaf history narrators that work with Brazilian popular culture to divulge the art produced by the group for society and deaf communities, to contribute to full social inclusion.
The TBS mounted its first work, established in the text of the Chamber Cascudo, a legend of Brazilian northeast enchantment, "The Husband of the D'água Mother". The play makes a mixture of different languages, theatre, dance, sign language, verbal language, percussion, so that deaf and hearing can see and understand.
"The Husband of the D'água Mother" is a part of the Project “Unmasking the Popular Universe” that consists of the spectacle and a workshop using the techniques of the TBS group including the work of Contação de História in POUNDS.
The Project "Unmasking the Popular Universe" is directed to deaf people and listeners who are interested in TBS.
For more information, please contact lanucia@ig.com.br, npimenta@LSBvideo.com.br or nelson6@LSBvideo.com.br. |
Source: Email TBS (Teatro Brasileiro de Surdo)
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UK Deaf Lives and Signs on the Big Screen |
The lives and signs of Deaf people in the North of England are to be celebrated in two free public film shows.
Deaf people from all over the North of England, from Cumbria to Northumberland, tell the stories of their lives over the past ninety years. From the First World War to the World Wide Web, they describe what it’s been like to grow up Deaf in a hearing society. Running through the forty-minute video is the story of how British Sign Language (BSL) has come from being a despised, hidden and sometimes even forbidden language to one recognised by the Government as the language of the Deaf community in Britain.
Jane Holmes was born in 1915. Her memories range from starving at a residential school for the Deaf at the end of the First World War, to sleeping through the air raids in World War 2.
At the other end of the age range are the young members of Tyneside Deaf Youth Project. The transformation in Deaf people’s lives and aspirations is seen in the fact that their ambitions include being “an interpreter on the telly”!
One thing that Deaf people of all ages share is their love for their language. BSL is what has held the Deaf community together through decades of discrimination and oppression.
But all agree that Sign Language is changing faster than ever, because of changes in technology and lifestyles. It was because of this that North Tyneside Disability Forum got a grant from the Lottery Heritage Initiative Project to film some of the older people’s signs and the changing signs used by younger people.
“This project is so important”, says Sue ADAMS, Chief Officer of NTDF. “The Deaf people I work with were worried that some of the old signs could be lost forever. By filming these interviews, at least we’ve captured some of that heritage for future generations.”
Tessa PADDEN, Chair of Becoming Visible, the Deaf-led group who worked with NTDF to make the film, agrees.
“Nothing is more important to us than our language”, says Tessa. “It would be tragic and ironic if, just as BSL is being recognised, we were to lose so much of the richness of the language as it has been developed over hundreds of years. NTDF deserve the highest praise for realising that and supporting the Deaf community to preserve British Sign Language on video.”
NTDF and Becoming Visible see the screenings not only as a celebration of a wonderful project, but as a foundation for future work, to ensure that BSL will remain a living, evolving language for the twenty-first century.
For more information contact:
Derek Craigie: email derek@ntynedisforum.org
or
Louise Redpath, email bv@bvcommunication.fsnet.co.uk |
Source: Press release by Our Lives and Signs Festival, North England
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First WFD Camp for Deaf Children website |
The Media Team of the First WFD Camp for Deaf Children created a new homepage with photos and news from the very first WFD Camp for Deaf Children in Denmark which was organised from 29th July to 5th August 2006.
Forty children from twenty countries gathered in the Deaf Education and Course Centre of Castberggård in Vejle, Denmark with their adult leaders. The Danish Deaf Youth Association organised this special and unforgettable event in collaboration with the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section.
The new homepage can be found at www.ddu.nu/wfdcc2006/news/ |
Source: Email from organisers
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Other News |
WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations |
Negotiators from around the world have convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York during the month of August to resume talks aimed at completing a new convention that would protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
Delegates from all 192 Member States and representatives of more than 90 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have spent two weeks trying to hammer out the remaining differences in the 33-article draft convention.
A special meeting arranged by the International Disability Caucus was held with Ambassador MacKAY giving an overview of the current convention. He stated the current convention has 33 different articles applied to people with disabilities and any new proposed major changes to articles will not be accepted however this session is to refine the draft articles. He encouraged everyone to work to have this final proposed convention to be adopted by the government representatives at the conclusion of 8 th Ad Hoc Session Meeting. The proposed convention shall be submitted to the United Nation’s 61 st General Assembly Meeting to be adopted by the country ambassadors.
WFD President Markku JOKINEN and WFD President Emeritus Liisa KAUPPINEN continue to monitor the draft articles, which are most important for Deaf people, which are: Article 2 “Definitions”
- Article 9 “Accessibility”
- Article 21 “Freedom of Expression and Opinion, and Access to information”
- Article 24 “Education”
- Article 30 “Participation in Cultural Life, Recreation, Leisure and Sport”
WFD President JOKINEN was pleased to see that the number of Deaf representatives had increased rapidly since the first day of the Ad Hoc Session. Other Deaf representatives who have joined were: Australia Representative (NGO Representative), Italy Representative (Government Representative) and Colombia (NGO Representative) to a total of 15 Deaf Representatives five of whom are officially appointed by their country government.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would mark a major shift in the way the world's 650 million people with disabilities are treated.
“Persons with disabilities are one of the most marginalized groups in society,” said Mr. MacKAY. It is estimated, for example, that 90 per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not go to school.
Persons with disabilities remain among the most marginalized of all populations and are barred by a wide range of physical, legal and social barriers from achieving their full potential. But officials say the convention could lead the way to legislation that reshapes the public's thinking about persons with disabilities, in everything from building and civic design to transportation, education, employment and recreation.
The pact would obligate countries, among other measures, to gradually include disability-friendly features into the construction of new facilities, promote and improve access to education and information and introduce measures that eliminate discriminatory practices against persons with disabilities.
WFD President JOKINEN wishes to share the daily bulletin news which is supplied by the International Disability Caucus (IDC) with the members of the World Federation of the Deaf: www.wfdeaf.org.
For more information on the Convention, please also visit: http://www.ii.tomekklas.com/en/ii_priority_areas/undc/index.html |
Source: UN News Service and www.wfdeaf.org
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European Day of Languages - Celebrating linguistic diversity,
plurilingualism and lifelong language learning |
 The first European Day of Languages took place on 26 September 2001. It was one of the highlights of the European Year of Languages.
The European Year of Languages 2001, jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union was successful in involving millions of people across 45 participating countries. Its activities celebrated linguistic diversity in Europe and promoted language learning.
The general objectives of the European Day of Languages are:
- Alerting the public to the importance of language learning and diversifying the range of languages learnt in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;
- Promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe, which must be preserved and fostered;
- Encouraging lifelong language learning in and out of school, whether for study purposes, for professional needs, for purposes of mobility or for pleasure and exchanges.
The European Day of Languages 2006 will be celebrated on 26 September. For the calendar of events and more information, please check the website: http://www.ecml.at/edl/default.asp |
Source: European Language Gazette from The European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe, http://www.ecml.at/news/newsletter.asp?t=NL_200606&l=E and http://www.ecml.at/edl/default.asp.
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e-Accessibility to be theme for International Day of Disabled Persons 2006 |
Improving access to new information technology for persons with disabilities will be the focus of this year’s International Day of Disabled Persons, the United Nations announced earlier this summer.
The Day, which is marked on 3 December, seeks to promote the integration of people with disabilities into society.
Although access to information and communication technology (ICT) has created opportunities for everyone, these advances have been particularly meaningful for persons with disabilities, allowing them to overcome the societal barriers of prejudice, infrastructure and inaccessible formats that stand in the way of participation.
But, many persons with disabilities remain unable to take full advantage of the Internet, because most websites are inaccessible to the blind and visually impaired, heavily dependent on using the mouse, and because training is often conducted in inaccessible formats and venues. Most persons with disabilities do not have access to new information technology at all.
“The new computer-based information technologies have the potential for opening up a world of new opportunities for persons with disabilities,” said Sarbuland KHAN, Executive Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development. “The problem is that new obstacles are preventing many of these people from reaching their potential. We want to promote good website design that allows all people to benefit from the new technology, and we want product developers to consider the needs of the disabled in their new designs.”
Governments, at the first World Summit on the Information Society in 2003 in Geneva, committed themselves to building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge. By focusing on e-accessibility, this year’s Day of Disabled Persons is intended to mobilize action to allow persons with disabilities to participate in that global vision.
Persons with disabilities are at a considerable disadvantage by not being able to access information technology. For instance, as education becomes increasingly dependent on information technology, not being able to access the Internet limits the learning potential of persons with disabilities.
Several places already have legislation and regulations requiring websites to be fully accessible. Global standards and guidelines on website accessibility are being developed. Once adopted and ratified, the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will require that persons with disabilities can access information technology. It specifies that certain measures should be introduced to eliminate obstacles and barriers to information and communication, and to promote access for persons with disabilities to ICT, including the Internet.
“Making information technology available to persons with disabilities is not only a matter of human rights -- it also makes good business sense,” Mr. KHAN said. “Studies suggest that accessible websites appear higher up the page rankings of search engines and can save costs on web maintenance.”
But many websites remain inaccessible for the visually impaired and the blind. A recent study of the FTSE 100 companies in the United Kingdom showed that around three quarters of company websites did not achieve basic levels of accessibility. By not making their websites accessible, British companies are forfeiting £80 million a year ($147 million) in lost revenue. |
Source: UN Media Advisory
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Forthcoming Events/Agenda |
EFSLI (European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters) AGM & Conference: “Innovative Practice in Team Interpreting” |
Date: 15 September - 17 September 2006
Place: Prague , Czech Republic
Website: http://www.cktzj.com/efsli2006/ |
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EDDE 2006 (European Days of Deaf Education) on Communication and Language Development in Sign Language, Spoken Language and read and written Language |
Date: 19-22 October 2006
Place: Örebro, Sweden
Website:www.edde.nu
Early Registrations Rate until 15 th August 2006 |
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Editorial note
EUD Update is published by EUD in English with support from the European Community – the European Union against discrimination.
The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission, nor the official policy of EUD. The publication is for information only. Readers are invited to reproduce the information provided the source is quoted.
If you wish to receive EUD Update, please send us an email at: info@eudnet.org.
Should you wish to make any contribution or notify any e-mail address modification, please do not hesitate to contact the EUD secretariat, Fax: +32 9 225 08 34, E-mail: info@eudnet.org.
Editors: Mairead O'LEARY and Karin VAN PUYENBROECK. |
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EUD, 29 Elsense Steenweg/Chaussée d’Ixelles #393/32, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel + 32 2 289 7036 - Fax +32 2 289 7037
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