KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society

The 10^th of March is Talk Sign Day. Talk Sign campaign was initiated in 2013 by the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, a Society which has been at the forefront of rendering quality services to blind and deaf people in KZN for nearly 9 decades. This year’s Talk Sign campaign will be commemorated under the theme “Lets Unite and Sign”. Over the years the campaign has raised awareness about deafness and South African Sign Language (SASL), the dos and don’ts dos when interacting with deaf people, the rights of the deaf, etc. It has also helped to raise money for the much-needed services the Society renders (by selling stickers).

This year’s Talk Sign campaign is a historic one in South Africa because it is being celebrated for the first time after Government gave recognition to the SASL as the country’s 12^th official language. This is a great achievement because it recognizes sign language as official medium of communication, which addresses the marginalisation the Deaf has been experiencing. This historic Constitutional Court landmark decision also makes sign language more accessible to those with hearing conditions and to those without.

The Court’s decision is in line with Article 21 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – to freedom of expression and opinion and access to information. South Africa is signatory to the Convention. According to the article, State parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, including by, among others, accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative[1] and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions.

Sign language, like spoken language, is a language in its own right. It is a medium of communication that enables the Deaf community to communicate with each other as equal members of society.

The recognition and acknowledgement of deaf people’s access to sign language means respecting their access to public services and other opportunities they are entitled to on equal bases with those without hearing conditions. This gives the Deaf access to information and expression when they approach public institutions such as a police station, the courts, health care facilities, information on media outlets (e.g., Tv). This has a ripple effect in turn as it gives the Deaf more opportunities to the enjoyment and attainment of socio-economic, cultural, recreational and political rights as enshrined in numerous local and international instruments. More access to education and information means more access to better opportunities in life.

It is worth noting that it is only when everyone’s rights are upheld that their full potential is realised and used to the fullest extent. When the playing field is levelled everyone has equal opportunities. This helps people to become active and productive citizens by reducing their dependence on others.   

[1] example: gestures, eye gaze, vocalizations, sign language and facial expressions