By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG – DEAF SA has welcomed collaborations aimed at addressing challenges faced by deaf community and those who are hard of hearing.
The commendation came during ongoing commemorations of International Week of the Deaf, themed “Full Inclusion with Sign Language.”
Deaf is globally celebrated from the 18-24 September.
However, in South Africa, a lot of the initiatives took place during the last week of September through a series of events by Deaf SA- Gauteng, in partnership with the City of Johannesburg, (COJ), SABC Foundation, Royalty Communication and Hospitality as well as Wits University.
Judith Madi, DeafSA Gauteng Provincial Director, said they came up with these initiatives in recognition of the challenges faced by the deaf community and those who are hard of hearing.
She said South Africa’s socio-economic problems worsen these challenges.
Madi said these initiatives would go a long way in assisting the deaf community become recognised as part of broader society and for more opportunities to be made available to them.
“This year is all about ensuring the deaf community is part of an inclusive society,” Madi said.
There are approximately 4 million people in South Africa who are hard of hearing or deaf.
South Africa is on the verge of embracing Sign Language as the country’s 12th official language.
– Guardian