Children with Disabilities

20
PERSPECTIVE
For deaf young people,
language is the key
By Krishneer Sen
Krishneer Sen, a deaf youth activist
from Suva, Fiji, and recipient of the
World Deaf Leadership scholarship,
is studying information technology
at Gallaudet University, United
States. In 2012, he served as an
intern with UNICEF Fiji.
Access to information and
means of communication are
essential for anyone to realize
their rights as a citizen. Without
ways to gather knowledge,
express opinions and voice
demands, it is impossible to
obtain an education, find a job
or participate in civic affairs.
In my country, Fiji, lack of
access to information and
means of communication are
the biggest issue facing deaf
children. Information and
communication technology
(ICT), which I am studying
at university, is helping deaf
people around the world, creating
opportunities that simply
would not have been possible
a generation ago. Where available,
ICT provides deaf people
with the chance to communicate
and connect with friends,
reduces their isolation and
opens up avenues for their participation
in political, economic,
social and cultural life. Those
who lack access – because they
live in rural areas, are poor or
lack education, or for whom
appropriately adapted devices
are not yet available – experience
frustration and exclusion.
Deaf Fijians like me have
limited access to the media,
THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2013: Children with Disabilities
emergency services – and even
simple telephone conversations.
In the absence of such
assistive technology as captioned
telephones, we must
rely on people who can hear to
serve as interpreters, or resort
to text messaging. This will not
change until ICT and media
policy for people with disabilities
become a top government
priority.
Deaf people can succeed and
contribute to society just like
hearing people. Developing
their abilities begins with education
and language. Because
deaf children grow up in a
hearing world, quality education
necessarily means bilingual
education. In Fiji, deaf
children should be taught Fiji
Sign Language in addition
to the languages commonly
taught to hearing Fijian children
(English, Fijian and Hindi),
and this should start at birth.
Bilingual education helps deaf
children develop their ability
to communicate using the languages
of hearing people: Deaf
children who can communicate
effectively in sign language will
find it easier to learn other languages,
like English. I believe
that bilingualism will give deaf
children better access to the