Know the life of challenge

The ongoing Week for the Deaf in Sharjah aims to familiarise you with the unique world of those with the impairment


For those of us who are blessed with all faculties, how much do we understand about impairment or how it must be to live with one? The 28th Week for the Deaf, currently being marked by the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), offers an opportunity for many of us to understand and relate to hearing impairment which challenges scores of people including children on a daily basis.

The SCHS's week-long celebration, which began on Sunday, gives us an opportunity to be with children affected by the condition and help raise awareness about the life unique to them said Sheikha Jamila bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director, SCHS.

"Such a week will in many ways help in enhancing the lives of the deaf and those hard of hearing," she said.

The week for the deaf has been observed every year since 1989, at the Al Amal Institute for Deaf People, which is part of SCHS. This year about 127 children of the institute have taken part, with many showing with works of art.

These were on display during the inaugural ceremony at an exhibition put up by Al Amal Institute. The chief guests at the ceremony included Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Sheikha Budoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi and Sheikha Noor. Last year during this week students had expressed their stand on ongoing events in Palestine by producing the biggest painting on the Intifada.

Picking one week out of the 52 in a year is small but bold step, said Sheikha Jamila, particularly because of its focus on educating society about the impairment and the preventive measures that can be taken. She called it "a learning time" for others to try and empathise with what the hearing impaired, particularly children, go through.

"Most encouragingly it is a time when we educate ourselves about the capabilities and potential that these children cultivate within and amongst them," she said. She stressed on the need to integrate these children with those similarly affected, as also those not affected by the condition. This she said gives both groups a chance to understand each other.

Commenting on the art show organised, Sheikha Jamila said, "Art is a very good medium through which these children can express themselves. It is the most apt way in which they can vent their tensions and feel the much needed psychological relaxation."

She praised the talent of these children, noting that their highly developed power of visual concentration allowed them to use art to reveal their inner selves and pent-up emotions.

Wafa Thani, an art teacher at the institute, explained that these children had a "well-visualised taste for art", and those with an artistic inclination only needed guidance and appreciation to achieve excellence in the field.

Mohammed Abu Zahra, an art teacher at the institute, is a fine example of what Wafa meant. Afflicted with hearing impairment, it was fascinating to watch him communicate with his students and guide the strokes of their paintbrushes.

Mariam Mukhbil, Abdullah Habib and Mohammed Saif, three students showing their art work, said they drew what they felt like. "It is our expression," they said, "that is what art is for us for now."

Institute director Afaf Al Haridi said all the activities planned for the week were focused on raising awareness, preventing the condition, introducing educational tools and how they could be used for communication.

She stressed that the underlying objective was on creating and building job opportunities for people with hearing impairment, by setting up small businesses for them. "We want to reiterate that these children though challenged are as capable as any other child and all they need is an opportunity to prove their mettle."

Most of the events are being held at the institute itself where students will mingle with others not similarly challenged throughout the week.

Lectures form an integral part of the week. They include talks by experts from the Traffic Department who will explain the rules of traffic, speech experts who will lecture on corrective speech and analysis for teachers from regular schools. Yet another lecture will be given by an expert from the Mother and Baby Care Department of the Ministry of Health, who will talk to parents on how to deal with their challenged children and point out the small but vital things in caring for them.

An entire day is being devoted to children from Sharjah nurseries who will spend time at the institute's nursery section. Varied activities such as drawing, henna, face painting and sports have been planned. For older girls from the institute, a lecture on beauty for a better self is being organised, during which a beauty expert from Paris Gallery will speak.

The older girls can also take part in an inter-group competition which includes drawing, sports and cooking.

Afaf said that a concerted effort had been made in planning individual as well as group activities for the children, in order to allow better integration and group participation.

Tomorrow an outdoor picnic has been organised for all the students and their families. Advice on how to look after the children after school hours, how to care for their hearing aids and similar topics will be discussed in an informal environment.

Saturday, the last day, has been set aside for families to talk about their experiences. Among those slated to talk is a mother of four children with hearing impairment.

Those interested in participating in SCHS's activities for the week can get a detailed programme brochure from the centre.