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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
- 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.
- Annual & Financial Report
Discussion of the report – see attached.
- 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.
- 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.
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