Deaf Counseling Part 2

Continuing...

In a nutshell, we still have a loooonnggg way to go in terms of accommodating the Deaf.

Sign Language

Now, advancing in sign language as an 'outsider' is difficult. Intermediate and Advance Class is not readily available in Kota Kinabalu. The Association or the Organisation need to engage a suitable person to teach ( and that person's timing is another matter).

They won't go on with class if the class does not meet the minimum required participants.

Unless you take a full course to be a special education teacher in specific University or Teacher's Colleges across the country, one will not have full access to sign language programs.

No, we don't have programs like they have in Gallaudet University, the Mecca for the Deaf. 

So, what does a person like me, can do to advance in sign language? Where can I obtain the knowledge of its usage and ethics based on the diversity of  different settings? 

The experience of using sign language varies based on what field / industry you are in for example sign language in court setting, sign language in education setting, sign language in technical setting, sign language in medical setting and most importantly my aim is to use sign language in counseling setting.

Why is advancing in sign language important for me? ( specifically)?

In my opinion, because Deaf persons are everywhere, some of them were born deaf, some lost their hearing later in life and they need to be accommodated so that they can fully utilise their potential in a growing society with their own roles and also take part as a contributing human resource to the country. Their 'voices' need to be heard. They need to be mattered. They have all the rights to access whatever everyone else is enjoying, they have the rights to attain the highest education, they have the rights to be someone successful in their own field, they have the rights to enjoy this life as much as we get to enjoy it.

But because they are the minority in certain places, therefore, they are ignored.

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Enough for tonight. Let me have my beauty sleep first :)