Social workers learn sign language   |18 August 2021

Last Wednesday’s session in full swing (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

A group of social workers are being trained in sign language with the aim of acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to provide services to meet the needs of vulnerable population, including people who are deaf.

The training has been organised by the social affairs department within the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Association of People with Hearing Impairment (Aphi).

A fist group of ten social workers based at district level are attending the training which started last Wednesday and will last for six months.

The training is being facilitated by sign language teacher Shana David.

Apart from Ms David as the main sign language teacher, other persons on the team are Calvin Morel as the video technician and Anita Gardner as the project coordinator and interpreter. Ms Gardner is the chairperson of Aphi.

The training will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays of every week at the school for people with hearing impairment which is based at the ex-maritime school, Mont Fleuri.

It was the principal secretary for social affairs, Linda William Melanie, who initiated and contacted the school to organise the training for the social workers. PS Melanie thought it is imperative for social workers to have the necessary skills  to address deaf clients’ unique requirements.

“We do, at times, encounter some clients with hearing impairment and we find it difficult to understand them. Now with the training we will be in a better position to attend to their needs,” said Brenda Dick, a social worker at Anse Royal.

“I took the opportunity because I always wanted to learn the language. Given the fact that I encounter many people with hearing impairment, as they know me being social worker, especially in the Cascade district where I work, the training will help me to interact with them and to solve their problems,” said Louisa Bibi.  

Mrs Gardner said that inclusion can only happen if everyone learns sign language. She noted that it is a right for deaf people to access information and services and to participate in decision making.

“They have the right to participate fully in the society and what better way to encourage the process to help them participate if not by getting the general public, service providers and professionals to learn sign language,” Ms Gardner said, noting that training is designed for the social workers taking into consideration their line of work and the possibility of having a deaf client.

She said that the association had been organising sign language classes every Saturday for interested persons but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the classes were not able to continue for quite a while.

She added that the association will continue to promote the training for sign language especially in the media and social media.

Mrs Gardner commended the initiative taken by the social affairs department and encouraged other groups from different departments to enroll.

Interested persons can call 2749791 or email: lizyepoutande@yahoo.com.au for enrollment.

Patrick Joubert