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Communication methods - British Sign Language
(BSL), Sign Supported English. Paget Gorman, Cued Speech, Oralism,
and many other hearing inventions, which do you prefer? The Deaf
community has been torn apart by years of complaints, debates, arguments
and a lot of struggle. Different people have different values and
beliefs.
Whatever the case may be - Deaf people have
the right to choose to be taught sign language and use it as their
first language. Equally, Deaf people have the right to use whichever
method of communication they prefer. One notable element in this
discussion has been the sight of the oralists over the last 100
years, and even now, doing their best to remove Deaf people's freedom
of choice and force Oralism on them and their families as the 'One
True Way.' This has included Oralist government advisors stating
in official advice to the Government that if Deaf children are not
taught the Oral Way they will 'remain infantile' and childlike for
the rest of their lives, and be incapable of growing up and fitting
into society.
The Deaf community has still not recovered
from the outcome of the Milan Conference in 1880. This was a major
global conference on Deaf Education, formed by hearing, non-signing
educators, who threw out all the Deaf educators who dared attend.
This conference issued a statement that their own new system of
oral education was far superior to sign language. The hearing 'experts'
then used their official powers to ban the native sign language
of deaf children in schools all over the globe. It still has a hold
on us, and in many countries today.
The recovery of Deaf life, Deaf Culture and
sign languages from this act of cultural genocide, over the last
hundred years, have been gradual. Some countries have recovered
more quickly than others, especially these in Scandinavia. This
does not mean that everything there is perfect, but the quality
and richness of Deaf Culture in these countries astounds many people,
as well as the attitudes of their hearing peers. Hearing people
in these countries know at least what sign language is, and on the
whole, have accepted Deaf people as equals. The United Kingdom,
on the other hand, has many educational establishments that rely
on the oral method rather than sign language. Oralists are hearing
people who have no idea what it is like to be deaf. They focus on
the audiological and medical implications of deafness rather than
Deaf people as a community, as a culture and more importantly, as
people with their own language.
Many Deaf people lead normal lives, and do
not consider deafness as a burden. In fact, it can be the source
of their pride - the astonishing richness of Deaf culture, its long
shared history, fluency in sign language, the huge linguistic heritage
and complexity of expressions available to native signers. Yet many
schools still ban Sign language. Deaf children are frequently punished
for using Sign language in these schools, even in the child's own
private breaktimes.
Put it this way... should a Blind child be
constantly monitored for their entire school career and punished
whenever they are found to have used their ears? Would you force
a black person to paint their skin white or vice versa?
Deaf people are unwilling participants in
an ongoing battle to save our rich cultural and linguistic heritage.
We face an institutional atmosphere that engages in the systematic
denial of the mere existence of our Deaf culture.
We only want to be treated as equals without
having people constantly trying to 'change' us. The communication
problems around Deaf people are the fault of these who persistently
ignore the solutions put forward by the Deaf community themselves.
Some people have even engaged in drastic measures to ban Sign altogether
to 'help us'. Get the point - WE DON'T WANT YOUR HELP TO 'IMPROVE'
OURSELVES IN YOUR IMAGE! We are happy the way we are!
In Deaf education, Deaf people have little
or no access to sign language during years of education, again because
of these who see deafness as a problem. Sign language is regarded
by them as stupid and infantile, despite the fact that hundreds
of Deaf people today are getting degrees at Universities through
sign language.
A number of Deaf people have committed suicide
due to feelings of extreme isolation, because they were taught using
the Oral method, and prevented from learning Sign - this also included
deliberately cutting them off from contact with their Deaf peers.
The problem is that many Oralist organisations
are very rich, due to their control of the large sums of funding
available from government and non-governmental sources for working
in the "deaf industry" - the combined educational, medical,
social care and charitable organisations and institutes that collectively
employ thousands of hearing people and control funding of hundreds
of millions of pounds, all concerned with 'helping' an curiously
ungrateful Deaf audience. These paternalistic organisations all
depend for their continued income and employment on keeping Deaf
people passive and "in need of help."
They are seen as 'saviours'
or as wonderful people, whilst Deaf people have had their lives
totally ruined by these people. Deaf people find it difficult to
put forward their own viewpoints because the Oralists have contacts
and links with the Establishment - people in positions of power
- and face no communication barriers, so they can put forward their
opinions and recommendations on Deaf issues more easily than Deaf
people themselves!
The 24th of April was a day when Deaf people
finally could share their views on Deaf education with members of
Parliament. The Federation of Deaf People, (FDP) organised a lobby
at the Houses of Parliament to bring attention to the problems we
face in education today. Hundreds of Deaf people from all over the
country met at Westminster to meet their MPs and 'voiced' their
concerns. Relentless letter - writing has been ongoing since before
and after the lobby, in the hope that someone, somewhere will be
able to change things.
The lobby was on a Wednesday, much to the
disappointment of many Deaf people who were used to events happening
at the weekend when they were not at work. It HAD to be a Wednesday
because of Parliament's 'Question Time' - the opportunity to meet
MPs and discuss issues that affect us. The Deaf Liberation Front,
in support of the Deaf Education Lobby, decided that there was not
enough being done about this issue. So Parliament Square was blocked
off for a good while, in the hope that something would happen, either
via the media or Parliament. Many university students were involved,
having missed a day of lectures to support the lobby.
One DLF member climbed up a lamp post to
put up a banner - unfortunately it was not possible to get the other
end up, so that it would hang up above Parliament Square, and encourage
people to consider our situation. The police had to climb onto the
roof of a police van to gain access to the activist. Obvious to
the large group of deaf activists below, the police officer was
hurting her as he pulled on her ankle. Another activist had to run
across the square to fetch the only police officer who could sign,
to explain to the officer on the van the harm he was doing to her.
When the banner and the activist were brought
safely back onto earth, Deaf activists managed to grab the 15metre
banner and a tug-of-war event ensued with the police! It went on
for a while at many different locations in Parliament Square! (We
won, by the way!) The demonstration lasted over an hour or two,
with no arrests being made at all on the day. Credit must also go
to the support of our allies, the Disabled People's Action Network
(DAN). Our heartfelt thanks go to these people who understood our
situation better than anyone else ever did. Thanks, comrades.
BSL VIDEO OF REPORT COMING SOON !
Before going
to a local BSL march, there were rumours going around that something
was going to happen after the march. Something exciting! Some friends
of mine are activists and they confided in me that they were planning
to block a road after the march in order to gain some attention
from the media and local people. They felt that the past few BSL
marches received lack of publicity and felt strongly that direct
action was the best plan for this particular march. I agreed with
them. At the same time it was scary because I had no vision of a
Deaf roadblock!!
On the actual
day of the march, it was really successful as hundreds of Deafies
and allies turned up! Some of us were really nervous, waiting around,
watching out for some sign that something was going to happen. A
friend and I were in a dilemma whether to go and sit down on a road
or not! I was wary of it because I didn't want to get arrested and
get a criminal record!
This goes to
show how naïve I was in the beginning! I didn't know much about
the law and didn't have information about police and arrests!
I saw some Deafies
going on the road and sitting down with banners. I thought, gosh
how brave they are! They were smiling and waving their banners.
They were probably scared inside but didn't show it!
On an impulse
I changed my mind and decided to join them! I sat down on my own
on a road and begged a friend to join me. She was so nervous but
with persuasion, sat down with me, waving our hands banners to the
passer bys!
Few more allies
came and sat with us. We didn't know what was going on or what was
happening. You could see a mile of buses, cars and taxis in a queue,
all blocked up by us! Lots of passer bys were walking by and looking
at us out of curiosity. We felt a sense of achievement that we were
at last getting attention one way or other.
The police came
and there were some confusion going on. The police couldn't ask
us to leave without a qualified interpreter and that took a while
for them to figure out what to do or find one! Wink! That gave us
more time to block more public transport! Apparently the road block
caused chaos on the roads of the city! The local TV news came and
filmed us. Publicity at last! The demo went out twice that day,
in the afternoon and again in evening. Achievement at last!
We managed to
block the road for one and half hours! A policeman came to our group
with an interpreter and asked us to move. If we didn't move they
would arrested us! At last the police knew what they had to do.
That was our purpose, to wake the police up and make them realise
that something is wrong with their system and they have to do something
about it! There is nothing wrong with us but with them!
We stood up and
left the road, but there were some activists still sat on the road
which took ages to move! I realised that that demo made its mark
in Deaf history and paved the way for more demos around the country.
I am proud to have took
part in the first BSL march demo.
As far as I can remember, my first demo was
outside RNId office, demanding for a Deaf person to be appointed
as Chief Executive. From then on, I took part in further demos.
A great buddy of mine approached me and asked
if I would attend at a RNId's Conference where a government minister
was opening its exhibition. I agreed.
Since I was also asked if there was anyone
else who have the same determination, I thought of a colleague.
Like me, he was also keen.
So we made arrangements to meet in London.
I arrived London the night before and stay with some great mates
whom I never met before. From that night, these mates are now my
true allies!
After being instructed on what we have to
do, I must admit, I was totally scared and thought what I am letting
myself in for! Part of the instructions, on how we can deal in the
event of being arrested! My God, me at my age, being arrested! No
wonder I was scared.
I vividly pictured myself being thrown into
the cells in a London police station. What would my family say when
they find out their mother/father being detained in police cell
and to appear in court next day!
Then my colleague arrived the next day, the
big day of demo. I quickly briefed him to brace himself on the likelihood
of being arrested! We looked at each other - like me, he wasn't
sure what he is letting himself in for!
However, we decided to go ahead and took
part in the demo. So in our bated breath, I was one of the very
few who want to wear a mask - I remembered I wore the mask of Livermore
whilst my friend worn Scratchy!
Luckily, the activists were by then, becoming
experienced in demos like this one and was able to have a friendly
legal adviser who advised on what we do and what the Bully Boys
cannot do etc!
Believe me, as one of the oldest demonstrators,
I was able to see at first hand, how smooth, so calm and sense of
pride to be with other activists. The bully boys were actually lost
out! In fact, twice they approached me - first, to tell me that
the police have been called. We waited for big crunch - police vans,
blue lights flashing, police with their snarling dogs, but they
never came - not one policeman actually came to see us. Ah! A crafty
trick of tactic by the RNId - typical!
Second time, they try to tell me that I am
wasting my time giving out leaflets to people as the key people
meaning Livermore and Scratchy has already left the premises, where
else, but of course by the back door! They were trying to get rid
of us but again they failed. We were enjoying making the embarrassment
on them!
It was a good fun too! As some of us wore
the masks of Livermore and Scratchy, we led several people a lot
of guessing game, as who were we behind the mask. I thought it was
great and so was my friend. Many others were stronger than me and
weren't wearing masks at all. They are not ashamed to show their
face to the public. I applauded them!
I cannot believe, since I am at a mature
age with grown up family but yet, am still fired up to continue
in our fight for better quality of life in society,
My friend/colleague and I went on and organised
a local BSL march. It was one of the most successful local BSL marches
- a great number of people turned out.
With our allies, a BSL demo was staged by
road blocking which brought a standstill and was well publicised.
Seeing the police trying to tell us to move was funny! For a change,
the police are clowns themselves not us! Picture the police trying
to get an interpreter and that hit them when they cannot find one
available - that what the BSL campaign is all about!
A big THANK YOU to you all great mates as
when I enter my old age, sitting in a rocking chair (which is not
long way off!), thinking back of great achievements we DEAFIES have
done. Picture this, an oldie activist telling the tale to grandkids!
For that, I sure look forward that!
When I first time use climber.
Bit nervous, first practice climber more confident and I feel more
can doing climber. And, when real life. My god... Poilces around.
i feel shit myself. And, I too rush myself. run over climber catch
up. Then, I was stuck, appear 3 poilce watch me . I don't know I
doing my first time Lobby my life experience (thanks to two friends
for their support!) Then, just happen poilce pull my leg left. Really
painful, I closer kicker him face but I didn't kick. I'm angry with
poilce, he was not listen to me of what am I said. No communcation
between poilce and me. Closer warning to me. Oh thanks god. Not
involved. I thought I 'm trouble but nothing happen. Poilce told
me clear myname not trouble. That great..
If you have any stories/experiences/historical
events you want to share about demos or activism, please email them
to DLF
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