“Hearing Loss”
A report on, an Awareness Raising Workshop on
“Hearing Loss” February 23rd, 2013 at AKU IED, Karachi—Pakistan Organized by
“Hearing Loss” Pakistan Association of Inclusive Education (PAIE) was formed on August 11, 2001, to provide a platform for teachers of mainstream and special schools to meet and learn together about inclusive education.
Aims and Objectives:
To create awareness about inclusive education and its benefit in mainstream schools.
To build the capacity of teachers to serve the needs of all children more effectively.
To provide a platform for teachers of mainstream and special schools to meet and learn about Inclusive Education, advocate that all children should learn together in mainstream schools, regardless of their abilities. Children with special needs have the same rights to education as other children.
Regular Activities: Workshops on second Saturday of every month, Short courses Summer Session
Contact: paie@ptan.org
“Hearing Loss”
Danishkadah was founded in 2006. Danishkadah is an NGO with a difference. Danishkadah means a place to learn / where wisdom excels. Danishkadah was established to empower persons with disabilities. Danishkadah is not an ordinary Disabled People Organization (DPO) to chant slogans, or protest without proposing solutions. It is a non-political organization, which concentrates on issues and solutions. Our approach is inclusive working with all segments of the society. We at Danishkadah believe in inclusion and collaboration with all the segments of society, i.e. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), government, universities, media, corporate sector and general society. Without such collaboration, the ultimate goal of "accessible, barriers-free, and right base society" cannot be achieved. Our Mission Our mission is to empower Persons with Disabilities and, so they can live better and independent lives. And our ultimate goal is "inclusive, barrier-free, and right based society " (Biwako Millennium framework - UNSCAPE) Our Vision In our vision "knowledge is power" Our Focus
Education, Information and Technology
Networking and collaboration - strengthening the SHOs especially in rural areas
Inclusion by breaking the barriers in different segments of society and PWD
Contact: info@danishkadah.org.pk
Participants Ms. Hira Rahat
-
The acadmy
Ms. Hina Javed
-
Milestone Charitable School
Ms. Fatima Akmal
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Milestone
Ms. Sadaf Waqar
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Interactive Kids Rehabilitation Center
Ms. Saima Naz
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The Learning Tree
Ms. Nazia Batool
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Mohammadia Acadmy
Ms. Shafaq Safdar
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Mehran Institute
Ms. Tabassum Abbas
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Korangi Academy
Ms. Rakhshindah Anjum -
SOS herman Geimar higher Secondary School
Ms.Hina Zaidi
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Qammar-e-Bani Hashim School
Ms. Erum Fatima
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Qammar-e-Bani Hashim School
Ms. Natasha Abdul Noor Ali Ms. Zeerak Rafiq
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Mr. Asif Iqbal
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Ms. Shazia Gulzar
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Deaf Reach School / Danishkadah
Ms. Aneela Kamran
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Korangi Academy
Ms. Yasmeen Muhammad -
Ms. Saba Naqi
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Mr. Aqeel-ur-Rehman
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Karachi University / PAIE
Danishkadah / interpreter
“Hearing Loss” Danishkadah and PAIE organized a workshop on “Hearing Loss” to raise awareness regarding people with hearing loss (Hard of Hearing, deafened, and Deaf) and related issues. The targeted audience was mainly the teachers and parents. Around 20 participants benefited directly and 100s of, would benefit indirectly (students and teachers in participants’ institutes / schools) from this workshop. In following pages we are sharing a brief report and finding from the workshop.
Group photo of participants at end of workshop
“Disability” a concept The workshop opened by Ms. Yasmeen Muhammad (PAIE) with welcome note, and introduction of Pakistan Association of Inclusive Education (PAIE). Then in first session “disability concept” were discussed. A question was asked if a persons who is on wheelchair cannot go up on stair what is the reason? As expected participants focused on person’s disability and found reason in the person instead of the environment. Then with some examples and scenarios it was explained that inability of doing something is usually because of the barriers in environment. And instead focusing the disability in the persons, focus should be on making the society inclusive by removing the barriers. If a persons with hearing loss cannot make a voice call to any service it is not because his/her disability but because the service is not made accessible, if the service can be access via text messaging a persons with hearing loss also will able to access the service same as hearing person can do. Another main point of “independent living” often we found that teachers, parents and people in society try to help with kindness but they do not understand the importance of “independent living” of people with hearing loss. So it was made clear, that instead of just helping in day to day chore we all should try to make the society barriers-free to ensure that people with hearing loss can live independently.
Where is the disability? Where is the disability?
Here
Findings We asked participants, Do you have any disability? No body is perfect in this world, everyone is disabled! (a comment of a participant)
We asked participants, Whether they have contact information of related orgs.
We asked participants, if we provide such contact info, will that be useful for them? I need to know information about all the institutes and NGOs working on special needs because parents come to me and seek my advice. And This type of information should also be given to mainstream schools as they might have children with disability, they should know where to refer them. (a comment form participant)
HoH, deafened & Deaf In 2nd session, grouping / categorizing the people with hearing loss, their needs, their movements and platform were introduced, including the new born Asia-Pacific Federation of the Hard of Hearing and Deafened (APFHD). As expected majority had some info about “Deaf” people but not much aware about hard of hearing and deafened. Except one none would able to describe Deaf, hard of hearing, and deafened properly.
One of my friend in college had difficulty in hearing. I was young at that time I hesitate to talk to her as I have to repeat twice or more. I think she felt that (I am sorry). During discussions she used to stay quite because she couldn’t respond immediately. Her hearing difficulty made her antisocial and quite. I think that led her to quit her profession. I really feel sorry for her. I don’t know where is she? I think if I were able and well informed on these communities, could help her . (a comment form participant)
Findings We asked participants, ever you heard about Deaf, hard of hearing and deafened?
We asked participants, about International and regional organization of people with hearing loss.
Note: in our conclusion; Everyone is working in their own circle in the society, there is lack of interaction among the communities of people with hearing loss and mainstream society. And amazingly the special educators who supposed to be well aware all the in and out of all type of students with disabilities are unaware about people with hearing loss. We suggest the organizations of people with hearing loss should organize awareness raising activity with other segments of the society.
Captioning Then real-time captioning was introduce. Why we need captioning and how it can help us in daily life were explained by various examples by a member of Danishkadah who herself is deafened.
Then a short video “Don’t leave me out” was presented. This video is about importance of captioning in daily life, and developed by CCAC.
Findings We asked participants, how effective this video would be, for advocacy?
After seeing this video I can well imagine the importance of Captioning. (a comment form participant)
The video on captioning is very motivating. Before this I couldn't understand the frustration and problem of Deaf people might face like at airport or Hospital.
(a comment form participant)
I am a bad listener, I am a caption reader. Everybody say that I am a bad listener :( . I think may be, I can enjoy movie to see and read caption—caption reading help me. (a comment form participant)
Sign Lang & Interpreting Sign Language (SL) is important for Deaf people, since society in which Deaf people live has different language (i.e. any spoken language) Deaf people mostly depend on interpreting so the role of interpreters is also important. In session of “Deaf community, Sign Language, and SL interpreting� these topics were discuss and also SL alphabets of PSL, ASL, BSL were taught, that has proven to be handy. The session were lead by one of the member of Danishkadah, and one of the most famous interpreter of the city.
ASL = American Sign Language BSL = British Sign Language PSL = Pakistan Sign Language Remember each country has their own Sign Language (SL).
Findings We asked participants, Would you like to learn Sign Language (SL)?
After attending this workshop I’d love to do this (SL Course). A comment from a participant
American Sign Language (ASL) alphabets are most useful in Pakistan and all over the world.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
“Knowledge is Power” In this session Danishkadah’s story—”Knowledge is Power” was presented. And the story books of the same were gifted to all the participants.
The participants watching the video—”Knowledge is power”
Classroom Environment In this session Ms. Suzie and Mr. Jones from UK gave presentation on the topic of “Classroom Environment”, and told participants how they can make the classroom environment accessible and comfortable for people with hearing loss. In this session we used Google Hangout on one screen and text-stream (for remote captioning) on 2nd screen with support of Bee.Communication.
The participants listening Ms. Suzie and Mr. Jones, live from UK
Followed by the presentation on “classroom environment” Ms. Beth of Bee.communication spoken on how “Real-time Remote Captioning” works. She said that I am sitting in one part of UK, Ms. Suzie siting in another part of UK, our caption writer is sitting in USA, and all the participants of workshop are in Karachi-Pakistan, watching, listening and same time reading captioning. So this is an international event. All the participants were happy and amazed to see how the technology working, first time in life!
Communication Exercise There was also a short communication exercise, how information travel and get change, understanding, listening ability, and language play a role in keeping the information accurate. It was strange for us that how a simple body expression totally change during traveling from person to person in the queue, in one group, though both groups were not able to guess correct word.
Participants doing communication exercise
Findings At end of workshop we also asked participants about UN CRPD and related things, 7 participants responded all were totally unaware about the following,
None heard about United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)
None knew if Pakistan signed this convention or not
Only one participant heard about New Asia-Pacific Decade 2013-2022
None heard about Inchon Strategy
None heard about UN ESCAP
Only one participant heard about Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD)
This showed that more efforts are needed to disseminate such information and progress with not only special institute but also with mainstream society. Although most of the participants have access to internet but we believe that on-site seminars and workshop s should be organize with different segments of the society. Danishkadah will be considering further on how to dissemination such info more efficiently and invite everyone who would like to join hands for the cause.
Certificate Distribution At end the certificates were distributed to all the participants.
Certificate Distribution
For Ms. Yasmin (PAIE) for her Hard work
Say YES to INCLUSION Some participants stayed over and take part in Say YES to INCLUSION campaign, an extra activity. A video were made with “YES� sign, will be available later soon.
End Exclusion say YES to Inclusion There are many poor people in the world. Many of them are people with disabilities. These people often do not have money to pay for food, health care or education. This is a campaign to make people see how important it is to help people with disabilities in poor countries.
Read more at http://www.endexclusion.eu/about
Photo Album
Evaluation
Special Thanks
PTAN / IED / AKU
Ms. Suzie Jones for joining as Guest Speaker . She can be reached at Suzie Jones Consultancy FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzie-JonesConsultancy/141383385896642
For providing real-time remote captioning for one session of the workshop and for sharing the info by Ms. Beth Abbott on “Real-time Remote Captioning”. Bee Communication web: www.bee-communications.com
Report can be download from www.danishkadah.org.pk