Skip to main content

What Do You Think About The Deaf Awareness Month in September?


Welcome to Deaf Awareness Month in September!

You all know how special month this is. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, February is African American Heritage Month, August is Indonesian Independence Month, etc. And, now, we have a special month, Deaf Awareness Month in September. Why September? Union Nations recognized the International Sign Language Day on September 23th and World Federation of the Deaf always celebrate the International Deaf Week on September 20th-30th. 

I was born in Indonesia, where the unfriendly country to Deaf community. We haven't professional and certificated sign language interpreters, 24-hour CART (Communication Access Real Time)/ real-time texting, equal in the law, and others. And, we also have Deaf stigmas/ stereotypes that we've often found. That is cause of information less access and lowest Deaf awareness. Everyone thinks Deaf people are illness because they can't hear, although we all healthy and can do anything except ears. We can drive, we can call with video-telephone, we can cooking, we can dance, we can play music,  and we all can do anything hearing people do. We have sign language interpreters actually but we have only limited sign language interpreters number. They are volunteers. Deaf population in Indonesian reaching almost over 2 million, but sign language interpreter are only below 100 people. that's so really far. So, we all have to working hard to increase the number of sign language interpreter every provinces based on the Deaf population. We all hoping at least 40-50% of their populations between Deaf people and sign language interpreter or persons who know sign language. That takes more needed time and process. 


I'm a Deaf person who was born in Indonesia, definitely, I will be disappointed of what is happening in Indonesia, but I'm still proud of be where I grow up and who am I. I feel that is part of my heritage that I had. So, I have to fight for my dream and country. I take a change for the future of my country and also the Deaf children. Deaf children need a role model. So, I lost role model when I was kid, and, now, it is has role model that from the foreign countries, such as Australia, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States. They are my role model right now, because they are also Deaf people. Role model is crucial in the Deaf children growth. So, we must have Deaf role model who could inspire Deaf children. I hope so that all would be happen.

We all going to build up and grow up well until the present. We and I have to be grateful that how would happen until now. I know the past was bad and darkness, which we had a period of gloom and darkness. But, we going to fine and still working to freedom and equity of humans. So, we feel little proud of ours. But, we still many job that should be finished. So, we will going on! 


I watched a CODA (Children of Deaf Adult) movie and released in August 2021. It was remarkable and crying. I cried a lot of CODA movie. I've never met with CODA people, except I met Deaf family who were born to hearing children but they aren't speak sign language and they taught in the read lips. So, I hope I will meet CODA people who know sign language and Deaf culture. It will be incredible.

My belief to the Lord and dream. I fight for my dream and hope. That's not just mine but the country was I born in. I'm exhausted already on high read lips concentration in all my life. So, I want to speak in sign language which that's part of my Deaf identity and culture. I'm proud of what language I spoke. I need a change to my life and country, so, we all should believing in our mission and dream. We can't lose our hope and dream. Never give up before you will have the energy to take over! 

Well, I'm going to say welcome to Deaf awareness month in September! I hope you will going to happy to celebrate and learn more about Deaf history, culture, and sign language. That's would be fun! Trust in me!

Thanks, everyone!

My favorite Deaf awareness quote:


HAPPY CELEBRATE DEAF AWARENESS MONTH!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SPECIAL LETTER: How It Is Important to Papua and Deaf-Black Community in Indonesia?

Papuan Island (West Papua and Papua) Papua, formerly Irian Jaya, is the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia, comprising most of Western New Guinea [1] . The province is located on the island of New Guinea. Its capital and largest city is Jayapura. The province has a large potential in natural resources, such as gold, nickel, petroleum, etc [2] . Papua has two different provinces, Papua and West Papua. West Papua, formerly Irian Jaya Barat or Irian Barat is a province of Indonesia. It covers the two western peninsulas of the island of New Guinea, Bird’s Head Peninsula, and Bomberai Peninsula, along with nearby islands. Manokwari is the province’s capital, while Sorong is its largest city [3] . Koteka (penis gourd) Papua has cultures, 264 regional languages, tribes, ethnicities, and traditions [1] . The famous tribes are Dani and Asmat tribes.  Dani tribe is located in West Papua and Asmat tribe is located in Papua. Besides, Papuan people also wear their traditional clothes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Terjemahan: Apa yang Anda Pikirkan Tentang Deaf Power?

Deaf Power mempromosikan sejarah, bahasa, dan nilai-nilai komunitas Tuli di seluruh dunia. Sebagai kedua bahasa dan simbol, itu akan menyebarkan kebanggaan budaya kami . (Sumber: www.deafpower.me oleh Christine Sun Kim dan Ravi Vasavan). Mengapa saya menulis Deaf Power di blog saya? Saya seorang Tuli dan pengguna bahasa isyarat, saya memiliki banyak pengalaman dan momen tentang identitas Tuli. Menjadi identitas Tuli, saya menghadapi diskriminasi dan rasisme di semua lingkungan dan komunitas. Saya menjadi orang Tuli sejak umur 5 hari setelah kelahiran. Hal pertama adalah pengobatan dan terapi pendegaran. Dokter dan orangtua menginginkan kekurangan saya menjadi orang dengar. Jadi, saya menghabiskan masa kecil saya dengan pengobatan dan pergi ke rumah sakit. Saya hanya sedikit mendapatkan pendidikan dari ibu saya atau keluarga saya. Saya tidak tahu siapa mengajarkan saya seperti itu. Kehidpan pertamaku adalah sangat sedikit kata-kata yang saya didapatkan dalam hidup saya. Saya ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gloss, A Forgotten Learning Foreign Language and Translate

I was testing a student who stood up to share her short story in signs in our class. She was so good at signing despite sign language being the third language that she is learning and isn't a native speaker. She was confused about gloss or glosa in Indonesian. That's the thing that is most often forgotten when learning and translating a foreign language. Foreign language teachers almost never teach about gloss to students and yeah, I am sure some do and some do not.  The Gloss (Gr) means when a word is attached to a sign in simple terms. It refers to the way that ASL (American Sign Language) names signs in order to give a sense of the meanings behind them. A word or word that represents that sign does not signify its meaning in any way (source: What Are Glosses in Sign Language/  https://www.ilovelanguages.com/what-are-glosses-in-sign-language ). A gloss happens because it causes when a student who learns a second language but their mind that used to be a native language as bo...
Post a Comment
Read more