ZWELETEMBA COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Please read about our annual meeting held on the 20 August 2010 to find out more.

ZWELETEMBA
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 20 AUGUST 2010 AT LEWENSRUIMTE FOR THE DEAF – COMMITTEE ROOM

1. Opening and welcome:
   Mr van den Bergh welcomes everybody and Elizabeth does Scripture reading: Proverbs
   2:9-10 1 “Then you will understand what is right and just and keep only the good mans path; 2for wisdom will sink into your mind.” There after Philip says a prayer.
   
   Mr van den Bergh then introduces the people from the various departments. He uses a PowerPoint presentation to explain the work which Elizabeth does. He commends Elizabeth for the excellent way in which she does her work. The largest part of the work she does is awareness. She traces and tracks down children and older people whom have hearing dissabilities and refers them to the correct places and people. She works in difficult situations and has a lot of problems to get to her destinations, sometimes she has to make use of various busses. The clinics are of huge assistance helping her with the screening of the children.
   Mr van den Bergh thanks me Chanette Dreyer (Audilogist) for the testing which she does for Elizabeth on such a regular basis.
   
   
2. Annual & Financial Report
   Discussion of the report – see attached.
   
   
3. Guest speaker: NID, Public, Education and Awareness team
   Mr Hennie Krog:
   He emphasises how important it is to be a part of their Public, Education and Awareness Team. He mentions that many people have the habit of saying they pity the Deaf. They should however not only use words, they should add actions to the words by making them available to assist and help where needed where ever possible.
   
   Mr Tim Stones, a member of the PE en A Team using a PowerPoint tells the history of his life:
   
   Hearing loss a Multifaceted Reality
    Experience of hearing loss is unique, personal
    Different modes of communication: Sign Language and Oral
    Disability or Cultural / Linguistic Minority
    Difficulties in communication results in many life challenges
    Not easy to access info, support services
    Accommodation in workplace a problem
   
   My Story: Birth
    Oxygen deprivation at birth – resuscitation needed
    No muscle tone, seizures
    Life support
    Recovered muscle tone, BUT lost most of my hearing
   
   Early childhood
    At 3, doctors said I was “retarded”, needed “special care”
    Parents advised to place me in a home – “can always have other children”
    Another 2 years before speech therapist realised I had a hearing loss
    Diagnosed with bilateral sensory-neural hearing loss
    Fitted with hearing aids shortly before 6th birthday – learnt to speak while simultaneously learning to read
   
   School days
    Parents sent me to “mainstream” school
    Learnt to cope in a confusing world – sound accessible with hearing aids, but distorted
    I withdrew socially, feeling isolated and bewildered
    A LOT of support from my parents enabled me to achieve results for university acceptance
    Discrimination from teachers
   
   University Studies
    Studied at two universities
    At both, lectures were not accessible for persons with hearing loss
    Most lecturers not accommodating of my needs (despite efforts to explain my needs to them)
    Note-taking support from class-mate, and battling through texts on my own, enabled me to graduate
    I hold a BA with 3 Majors; an MA (Religious Studies); and PgDip Journ
   
   Career at National Institute for the Deaf
    Started as Researcher in 2006
    NID supports Deaf and Hard-of-hearing people in all aspects of our lives, from early childhood to post-retirement
    NID is an empowering place to work, emphasises equipping Deaf and Hard-of-hearing people with skills to thrive in a hearing world
    Deaf adults with multiple disabilities receive nurturing and supportive care, with emphasis on optimum independence and self-sufficiency.
   
   Involvement in Deaf Sports
    Chairperson of Boland Deaf Sports Association
    Deaf Athletics Administrator for Boland, as well as Western Cape
    Member of Executive Committee of WC Deaf Sports Federation
    Previous Secretary of WC Deaf Cycling Association
    Acting Convenor of SA Deaf Rugby Union
    Have National Colours for Athletics – represented Britain at World Deaf Athletics and Deaflympics, in the Marathon
   
   Still Active in “mainstream” Athletics
    Recently selected to represent South Africa at Africa Masters Athletics Championships (Algeria, 2010)
    Am current SA Masters 10 000m Champion
    OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS IN “MAINSTREAM”!
    Many challenges remain to achieve equal access to opportunities in all social spheres, not just in sport
   
   Radio, and other correspondence
    I have spoken on Radio about challenges and triumphs of Deaf and disability sport
    I have corresponded with ASA and SASSU, exploring ways to accommodate athletes with hearing loss in their events and structures
    Response: Deaf athletes can compete, BUT in own events, NOT alongside hearing! – Disadvantage to hearing athletes, due to different starting systems! (Makes no sense!)
    Example of negative stereotyping, discrimination
   
   Mutual Responsibility
    Both Deaf / Hard-of-hearing, and hearing, have responsibility to find ways to improve the quality of life of Deaf and H of H persons
    Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing must be patient, explain clearly our needs and challenges
    Hearing persons must remember: We are all just people, with varying degrees of difficulty with our hearing
   
   Conclusion
    With appropriate support and accommodation, we can enjoy the same benefits and opportunities that hearing people take for granted.
    Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people can, indeed, accomplish anything we set our minds to. We just cannot hear, or hear well.
   
   
4. Conclusion and Refreshments
   Mr van den Bergh thanked mr Tim Stones and Hennie Krog for their much needed and very interesting presentation.
   
   He also thanked everyone for attending the meeting and invited them to enjoy tea and refreshments.