Access to sign language, including in education and public services, have not been fully implemented in Lesotho, despite it being critical for human rights of deaf people. Following the commemoration of International Deaf Awareness Week last month under the theme: ‘A world where deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere’, theReporter’s ‘Mantšali Phakoana spoke to the inclusive education coordinator of the National Association of the Deaf Lesotho (NADL), Kelebohile Mavuso, about the commemoration and the rights of the deaf people in Lesotho.
Please tell us about the Deaf Awareness Week and its objectives.
International Deaf Awareness Week is a national week of celebrating deafness. It is observed annually to commemorate the first World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, which took place in September 1951. The first International Day of the Deaf was celebrated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1958. The day of awareness was later extended to a full week, becoming the International Week of the Deaf.
The week focuses on promoting the positive aspects of deafness, encouraging social inclusion, and raising awareness of the organisations that support those who are deaf. It is a time for the global deaf community to come together and celebrate their identity, language, culture, and achievements. It is about gathering together, becoming united, and showing that unity to the rest of the world. The main goal of this celebration is to break down social barriers and create a more inclusive society for deaf individuals.
How did Lesotho celebrate the International Deaf Awareness Week this year?
Lesotho through the National Association of the Deaf Lesotho (NADL) and the deaf community celebrated the week in Maseru, from September 18 to September 24. Initially, we had planned to commemorate the event in Leribe district but due to lack of funding and logistics we had to reconsider our position.
We celebrated by creating awareness on deaf issues through a press conference. We also embarked on a cleaning campaign from our offices passing through Maseru Club foot bridge to Arrival Centre. On the last day we attended church sessions as the deaf community.
During this kind of celebrations, we hold activities such as sign language workshops, cultural events, sports events, advocacy campaigns, and community gatherings.
Access to communication is a fundamental right to everyone. Do deaf people enjoy and have equal access to this right?
Deaf people have the fundamental human right to access information and participate in cultural and social activities. Deaf people still face several barriers due to their sensory disability, such as the lack of accessible communication and limited availability of accommodation and assistive technologies.
However, there have been efforts to improve communication access for the deaf community, such as providing sign language interpreters at workplaces and schools and also on television news and closed-captioning in movies. Still, there is room for progress to ensure equal access to information and opportunities for the deaf community.
Who needs to do what in order to ensure that the deaf enjoy equal access to communication just like others?
Limited access to sign language interpretation: The deaf in Lesotho don’t have access to sign language interpretation in public places. This limits their understanding of important information that is conveyed in spoken language.
Limited access to assistive technology: deaf people don’t have access to the latest assistive technology devices such as video conferencing or text-to-speech that could help them understand spoken content.
Communication barriers: The majority of people in Lesotho do not know Sign language, which makes communication with the deaf challenging.
Discrimination and lack of recognition: Due to stigmatisation and negative perceptions, the deaf are often marginalised, discriminated against, and not seen as active members of society.
Any advice for any businesses or companies with employees who are hearing impaired?
Employers should provide accommodation for deaf employees. They should also ensure the workplace has appropriate facilities such as sign language interpreters, visual aids, and closed captioning or transcripts for videos and training materials.
Employers should also educate co-workers about deaf culture and how to effectively communicate with deaf people. This can be done through workshops or training sessions.
It is also important for companies to foster communication by providing opportunities and resources for deaf employees to communicate with their colleagues, such as video conferencing software, instant messaging, and email.
Promoting inclusion in the workplace by ensuring that deaf employees feel included and valued by involving them in team activities and meetings is also important.
Companies should be open and receptive to feedback from deaf employees regarding how best they can support them better and meet their needs.
Employers should further recognise the unique contributions and skills that deaf employees bring to the workplace, and celebrate diversity within the company culture.
Do deaf children have equitable access to inclusive high-quality education, and if not, how does this affect their future?
Equitable access to inclusive high-quality education is still a challenge in Lesotho, especially for marginalised groups such as deaf children. The government has made efforts to provide education for all but the sector still faces numerous challenges including inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, insufficient teacher training, and cultural and linguistic barriers.
Deaf children in Lesotho face significant challenges in accessing education. Many are excluded from education because of inadequate services and support systems. Most schools are not equipped with the necessary resources and facilities to accommodate the deaf. Additionally, most teachers in Lesotho lack the skills, training, and knowledge to provide effective education to deaf children. As a result, such children often fall behind their hearing peers, limiting their opportunities and potential.
The lack of access to inclusive high-quality education is detrimental to deaf children’s future, as it limits their educational and career prospects. Without an education, they are less likely to secure decent jobs and have a quality lifestyle. Education is the key to eliminating barriers faced by deaf children and ensuring their participation and inclusion in society.
The lack of access to education has particularly severe consequences for deaf children, who face numerous barriers. The government must prioritize the education sector by providing necessary resources, and increasing teacher training and support to ensure deaf children’s full participation and inclusion in society.
Do the deaf have access to banking services, financial freedom and privacy when they seek services?
Financial freedom and privacy are important for everyone, regardless of their abilities. However, it is important to acknowledge that deaf individuals still face challenges in accessing banking services and ensuring their financial privacy. One of them is lack of accessibility. Many banks still do not have accessible websites, mobile apps, or other technologies that are necessary for online banking. In this case, deaf individuals may have difficulty in accessing their accounts, transferring funds, or making payments online. Additionally, many bank phone systems do not have video relay services, making it difficult for the deaf to communicate with customer service bank employees.
Furthermore, deaf individuals face privacy concerns when it comes to their financial information. Banking documents and statements are typically sent using traditional mail, which can be intercepted or read by others. Deaf individuals who rely on sign language may also face challenges communicating sensitive financial information in public spaces.
Overall, it is important for banking institutions to ensure that their services are accessible and inclusive for all customers. Innovative technologies, such as video banking and secure online platforms with captioning and sign language interpretation, can help facilitate this. Additionally, banks can offer private consultations and educate their staff on best practices for communicating with deaf individuals to ensure that their financial privacy is respected.
Tell us about the National Association of the Deaf Lesotho (NADL) and the role it plays in the rights of the deaf persons?
NADL is a non-profit making organisation that was established in 1992 and officially registered with the Law Office in November 1994 with the objectives of advocating, lobbying and protecting the rights of the deaf including access to sign language interpreting services and inclusion within various programmes.
The association plays a critical role in advocating for and protecting the rights of the deaf community in Lesotho, including recognition of sign language as an official language in Lesotho. It also engages with government agencies and organisations to advocate for accessibility, employment opportunities, and inclusion in society. By functioning as a community of support, the National Association of the Deaf Lesotho is committed to break down barriers and promote equality for deaf persons in the country.
NADL is a full subscribing member of the Lesotho National Federation of Disabled (LNFOD). NADL became a member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 2004.
We are working tirelessly for the recognition of, respect for, and promotion of sign language as part of human diversity.
NADL is also working hard to address the misconceptions surrounding sign language. NADL on July 2023 had a meeting with the parliamentary social cluster committee to present our plea for the adoption of the Lesotho Sign Language bill and push for a motion in parliament to make it one of the country’s official languages.
What are the remarkable milestones made by NADL in collaboration with the government on the rights of the deaf persons in the country?
In recent years, both the government of Lesotho and NADL have made significant strides in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, especially the deaf. Some notable milestones include:
Adoption of the Lesotho Inclusive Language Policy in 2018: This policy recognises sign language as a legitimate language in country, to be used in schools by deaf learners. The policy calls for its promotion and use in educational, cultural, and school settings.
Inclusion of sign language interpretation on Lesotho National Television: The government began providing sign language interpretation services during weekdays on LTV 7pm news.
Establishment of a sign language interpreting training programme: NADL has established a programme to train sign language interpreters in Lesotho. This programme aims to increase the number of qualified interpreters in the country, making it easier for deaf individuals to access services and participate fully in society.
Enactment of the Persons with Disability Equity Act in 2021: This law ensures that people with disabilities, including deaf individuals, have equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and other services. It also establishes the Disability Advisory Council to oversee the implementation of the law.
Signing of MOU with Lerotholi Polytechnic: NADL has signed an agreement with the college to provide a sign language interpreting service to accommodate the needs of deaf students at the institutions. We hope other institutions will follow suit.
Donations of assistive technology devices: Assistive technology devices support from the British High Commission in form of laptops were donated to Lerotholi Polytechnic and Lesotho College of Education specially as both institutions currently have deaf students.
Some of those laptops are used by NADL to train deaf people at schools on computer literacy so that they can be able to effectively use computers to apply for jobs and many other technological activities in future.
Overall, these milestones demonstrate a growing recognition of the rights and needs of deaf individuals in Lesotho, and a commitment to ensuring that they participate fully in society.
