Talk sign campaign kicks off
The community is encouraged to support the Talk Sign Campaign, and learn sign language during Deaf Awareness Month.
SEPTEMBER is Deaf Awareness Month and the launch of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society’s Talk Sign Campaign for 2015.
Ambassadors of the Talk Sign Campaign, Richard Trezise, 6th Dan judo and karate instructor, Mark Barnard, captain of the DeafBoks, and Bernadette Abrahams and Zamani Maphumulo, employees of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, are deaf or hard-of-hearing and encourage the public to learn South African sign language. It is a human right for everyone to be able to communicate and be communicated with and for the deaf community this is made possible through sign language.
Richard, who has been deaf since birth, teaches judo and karate at private schools in the greater Durban area. From 3 to 5 October, 22 of his pupils, between the ages of six and 14 years old, will be competing in the SA School Judo Champs in Johannesburg. All 22 were chosen for the KZN judo team. Seven are from Clifton Prep, five from Umhlanga College and three from Crawford La Lucia.
Mark Barnard was born completely deaf in his right ear and with very little hearing in his left. He is the captain of the DeafBoks which became a recognised South African rugby team in March this year. The Memorandum of Understanding between SARU and SADRU (South African Deaf Rugby Union) is currently being finalised. The Deafboks will play their first test against Wales in 2015 with team selection taking place in Pretoria from 18 to 28 September.
Zamani Maphumulo is totally deaf and is the sports co-ordinator for the deaf at the KZN Blind and Deaf Society. He also helps the Society provide SA sign language training. Bernadette Abrahams is hard-of-hearing and has been the social auxiliary worker at the Society since 2005. She provides social work counselling and support to hearing impaired clients.
The Society will be holding a free sign language course at its offices, 23 Ismail C Meer (Lorne) Street in Durban on 26 September. To book contact Sasha Pillay on 031 309 4991 or email admin4@blindanddeafsocietykzn.org.za
Registration is at 9am and the class runs from 9.30am to 1pm. The only prerequisite is that each attendant purchases a Talk Sign sticker for R10.
The three courses held earlier in September were fully subscribed so contact Sasha early to avoid disappointment. Booking is essential.
For more information on the Talk Sign Campaign visit www.talksign.co.za or the Facebook page www.facebook.com/talksign
