DOHA: (The Peninsula): 22/4/2011: The second Gulf Forum for the GCC Deaf Institutions, that concluded in the Ritz Carlton, Doha, Thursday, 21/4/2011, stressed on the role of media in promoting people with special needs especially those with hearing problems.
The two-day forum, organised by National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in collaboration with Qatar Cultural Center for
the Deaf and Mute, had brought in special-needs experts from the GCC region.
The meeting recommended that the media in the GCC should be urged to play its role in promoting people with special
needs. The media should focus on their needs and rights, thus making them more acceptable in the society and for
various job opportunities.
It also called on education institutes to have special curriculum for students with special needs so that it will focus on
early discovery of their talents. All GCC educational institutions should pay attention to the deaf adults to develop their
cognitive skill, knowledge and culture based on the latest educational, physiological and social theories.
The recommendations also stressed on developing ways of training teachers for these people by establishing special
departments in GCC universities, thus helping to develop better teaching methods. It also urged to have specialised
departments in universities to train interpreters of sign language to enhance their skills giving high quality and efficient
education to the people with special needs
Also the forum called on to integrate deaf in schools by providing favourable educational techniques and means to make
societal integration.
It also urged ministries of culture in the region to organise workshops to promote language and culture of the deaf. It also
recommended having sign-language interpreters for all programmes in all GCC satellite channels.
The forum stressed literacy programme for deaf adults, encourage parents to learn sign language and also use modern
technology in communicating.
The forum aimed to help achieve the desired objectives for people with hearing disabilities.
These people are often mistaken as the people who are unable to give back to the community or lack any creativity.
Hence comes the importance of communication and integration of the deaf with the community through sign language,
as they can be effective through education and appropriate support and encouragement, according to officials
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.