What's up with the deaf in Iraq?
We have been relentlessly bombarded with propaganda from left and right about Iraq, its current conditions, security, well-being of the people, education, public works and utilities, and so on. One minute it is all bloody, bombings all over with the population angry at the americans and the next minute, on a different channel, it is all rosy over there, with thousands of schools and hospitals being repaired/rebuilt, and with plenty of Iraqis tremendously grateful for what the Americans did.
A while ago, it came to mind that I never heard anything about the state of the deaf in Iraq. How are they doing? How did they fare under Saddam? Are they any better off or worse off? Do they use sign language or oralism? Do they have interpreters? Do they need any international assistance? Do they have any deaf schools? Are these schools equipped enough? Are the teachers competent enough in sign language to teach? Do the Iraqi universities have any deaf students? Do they get any services? Are they aware of any rights they should/are entitled to? Is Ayad Allawi aware about the needs of the deaf? There are so many questions that have popped up in my mind that I couldn't take it any more, so here I am writing about this. Are there even any truly Deaf teachers in Iraq?
LET'S GO TO IRAQ THIS SUMMER!
I am serious here. Who's with me? All we need is, I believe, 10-20 interested people, and we can start lobbying for serious support. There is no question Gallaudet and NAD should be supportive of this. No one out of their minds wouldn't support this effort to improve the lives if deaf Iraqis. Bring the Deaf Way to them! I guarantee you, several of my international friends would jump at this! Rico, Andreas? Anybody?
$$$ matters. The U.S. is staking at least $200 billion on Iraq. It should be relatively simple to coax a mil or 2 bucks from the government in order to bring the best of education and technology to the deaf Iraqis. The World Bank also comes to mind.
I ventured into the Googleosphere to see what I could learn about the state of the deaf in Iraq. Interesting. There's a state-run sewing factory (sweatshop?) for deaf Iraqis where the women are beaten. Excerpt from the article:
Indeed, there are schools for the deaf in Iraq, 22 of them. ReliefWeb reported that schools for the deaf opened for exams last June. It is sad, they, as expected, have many problems. CARE, an international aid organization, is giving assistance to the 22 deaf schools, but it is not enough. The teachers desperately need training in sign language, and especially in modern instruction techniques. It is appalling! They sent 170 teachers and principals to Jordan for training! I am afraid that the Jordanian method of deaf instruction is very un-Deaf-friendly. I recall in my undergraduate years at Gallaudet, there was a Jordanian girl in my class, and she did not give off the impression that the state of the education of the deaf there was very well-off. Please correct me if I am wrong. Another article here. This article says that the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, provided a $10,000 grant to CARE's Deaf Education program.
It's gonna be so cool if we were able to travel to the ancient lands of Babylon. That, to me, is true world travelling. It's even better when you travel not for the sake of travelling, but to make a difference.
We just gotta do something! It is time to show that the Deaf are very capable of showing the way! We cannot let hearing people handle the fate of the deaf Iraqis in their hands without appropriate Deaf input and involvement. If we don't do something, who will?
I am X'ing my summer for Iraq. A month or 2. Anybody with me?
A while ago, it came to mind that I never heard anything about the state of the deaf in Iraq. How are they doing? How did they fare under Saddam? Are they any better off or worse off? Do they use sign language or oralism? Do they have interpreters? Do they need any international assistance? Do they have any deaf schools? Are these schools equipped enough? Are the teachers competent enough in sign language to teach? Do the Iraqi universities have any deaf students? Do they get any services? Are they aware of any rights they should/are entitled to? Is Ayad Allawi aware about the needs of the deaf? There are so many questions that have popped up in my mind that I couldn't take it any more, so here I am writing about this. Are there even any truly Deaf teachers in Iraq?
LET'S GO TO IRAQ THIS SUMMER!
I am serious here. Who's with me? All we need is, I believe, 10-20 interested people, and we can start lobbying for serious support. There is no question Gallaudet and NAD should be supportive of this. No one out of their minds wouldn't support this effort to improve the lives if deaf Iraqis. Bring the Deaf Way to them! I guarantee you, several of my international friends would jump at this! Rico, Andreas? Anybody?
$$$ matters. The U.S. is staking at least $200 billion on Iraq. It should be relatively simple to coax a mil or 2 bucks from the government in order to bring the best of education and technology to the deaf Iraqis. The World Bank also comes to mind.
I ventured into the Googleosphere to see what I could learn about the state of the deaf in Iraq. Interesting. There's a state-run sewing factory (sweatshop?) for deaf Iraqis where the women are beaten. Excerpt from the article:
With their translator ready to go, Lindner and 352nd Lt. Col. Jim Otwell don bulletproof vests and Kevlar helmets and drive out of the compound to visit the state-run sewing factory for deaf Iraqis.
"We want to find out what your working conditions are, anything that we can do to help you," Otwell tells the young women at the factory. He speaks in English slowly, for the benefit of an Arabic translator, who then turns to an Arabic-speaking sign-language translator to sign Otwell's questions to the seamstresses.
The girls' hands start flying as they tell Otwell about their hated boss.
"She would beat us, and pull our hair!" signs Nadia Jabar.
"What about working conditions ... do you have hearing aids? Books you can read?" Otwell asks.
"Nothing!" they sign back.
Otwell and Lindner tour the building, which is cold and dusty. But inside several of the rooms are old products they can sell - hundreds of Iraqi flags they've sewn, dresses and pillowcases. Already the team has arranged for the factory to produce all the uniforms for Iraq's civil defense forces, and piles of cut brown pant legs line the floor.
Now the workers are getting $60 a month, part of which is spent on housing them at the factory. Otwell and Lindner promise to come back soon, and ask the workers to make a list of things that they really need, so maybe next year the factory can get some upgrades. On the way out, the workers jump and clap, as Lindner and Otwell escort the old boss - who had come back to the factory despite a previous arrest by Iraqi police for beating the workers - away from the building.
Indeed, there are schools for the deaf in Iraq, 22 of them. ReliefWeb reported that schools for the deaf opened for exams last June. It is sad, they, as expected, have many problems. CARE, an international aid organization, is giving assistance to the 22 deaf schools, but it is not enough. The teachers desperately need training in sign language, and especially in modern instruction techniques. It is appalling! They sent 170 teachers and principals to Jordan for training! I am afraid that the Jordanian method of deaf instruction is very un-Deaf-friendly. I recall in my undergraduate years at Gallaudet, there was a Jordanian girl in my class, and she did not give off the impression that the state of the education of the deaf there was very well-off. Please correct me if I am wrong. Another article here. This article says that the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, provided a $10,000 grant to CARE's Deaf Education program.
It's gonna be so cool if we were able to travel to the ancient lands of Babylon. That, to me, is true world travelling. It's even better when you travel not for the sake of travelling, but to make a difference.
We just gotta do something! It is time to show that the Deaf are very capable of showing the way! We cannot let hearing people handle the fate of the deaf Iraqis in their hands without appropriate Deaf input and involvement. If we don't do something, who will?
I am X'ing my summer for Iraq. A month or 2. Anybody with me?
7 Comments:
Despite my distaste for this whole war, I think that we as individual should focus on what we can do under the circumstance. You just presented one of optinion which I found very appealing.
I think that's one most important thing we should during our occupation of the country. Endowing a legacy with noble intention. If there are anybody who are forming the organization for that purpose, count me in.
Naturally, we should first study the subject of "What it mean to be a deaf person in Iraq" That way we can determine what kind of services and assistance they need/want from us. I mean, are we sure that they want to learn english? Or.. Etc.. And more importantly, how can we work with parents of childrens..
If you find anything about that particlar area, please let us know..
I hate to say something ... but are you nuts? It's not safe to be there as of now. You'd lose your heads.
But your comments are valid, though. I often wondered if things are that bad, it is much worse for deafies.
R-
Although he is Iranian, I should ask my fellow frat brother, Ali Behmanesh, to see if he has any information about Deaf Iraqis. I just saw him at Gally last week...he must be visiting...
i heard a rumor that a deaf man travelled to iraq to assist with the reconstruction efforts shortly after saddamn was captured. will have to ask a friend of mine if she's heard anything. or maybe he got beheaded.. -kaybee
*snicker*
R-
Jesus Christ, Ali doesn't know shit about anything! He has information dyslexia. When are you people ever going to realize that!? He isn't from Iraq FYI.
Have y, Jason, already successfully recruit any deaf volunteers to explore and investigative the state of deaf education in Iraq this summer 2005 or what?
RLM
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