Eighty members of the Regional Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association of Gradiška, Srbac and Prnjavor organized a ten-day sign language school for their members, volunteers and representatives of local public institutions.
This project is financed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Srpska in cooperation with the Red Cross of Grad, the Hospital and the Center for Social Work.
The teachers at the school, which lasts until the end of June, are Marina Macanović and Marina Bošnjak, sign language translators of the Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of the Republic of Srpska. The need for sign language interpreters is great because of everyday difficulties in communication.
“Having an interpreter, especially in public institutions, means making important information available to a deaf and hard of hearing person. Such a need is greatest in public administration, health institutions, businesses, but also in everyday life”, emphasizes Ljubinka Zlojutro, secretary of the Regional Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Gradiška, Srbac and Prnjavor.
How does learning sign language help?
Learning sign language does not solve the problem of deafness, but it helps these people to have interlocutors and become more active members of their community. When asked whether the need to learn sign language is taken seriously, Zlojutro answers:
“I would say no, although Gradiška is a good example of the status of deaf and hard-of-hearing people, their employment, education, and the exercise of their daily rights. We advocate that all public institutions have people, officials and workers who know this language, because it is an urgent need. Also, incentives for officials who know this language and use it in the workplace must be specified by law.”
The Association states that this is the seventh cycle of learning sign language, which is mostly financed with money from civic associations or donations.
“If there are no donations – there is no training, no application of the law, and no human rights that we are talking about and for which we are advocating,” warn this association, which is among the most numerous in the Grado area and neighboring areas.
How many deaf and hard of hearing people are employed
How many deaf and hard of hearing people are employed, how their education is regulated, what is their economic status, is a key question for the representatives of this association. Ljubinka Zlojutro explains:
“Employment has improved, we have more and more deaf and hard-of-hearing people who have jobs. Everyone who actively sought a job achieved that right. Practice has shown that they are very hard workers, dedicated to entrusted jobs. They are very creative. In addition to the crafts they do, and for which they were trained, there are artists, painters, gifted people among them. Young people are included in the regular education system and complete secondary education, as well as higher education.”
Modest requirements
According to Ljubinka Zlojutro, the deaf and hard-of-hearing are trying to make the best use of the opportunity given to them by employment, to justify it.
They have more modest requirements, and people who, due to their old age or lack of qualifications, live on personal disability benefits cannot work. Many are lonely, and due to poor communication, they refrain from going to a health facility when they need it. Learning sign language and other activities aim to change such practices, they write Independent newspaper.
