Since the press coverage in Sin Chew Daily and The Star over the past 2 weeks, we have hundreds of responses from the public from all over the country. Responses vary - a large percentage want the calendar, other responses include those from :

• potential employers wanting to hire Deaf people in their workplace
• Deaf persons relating to the issues raised in the articles, in need of acceptance and in need of jobs
• Parents of Deaf people who want to connect with us
• Individuals who want to view the original artwork and/or buy the original pieces
• Individuals who wish to know how they can assist in making a difference in the lives of Deaf persons
• Individuals who talk about how the coverage impacted them

You can rest assured that we are making all effort to respond to the various responses in a timely fashion. Please bear with us.

Dear reader, we are not able to control the style of the Press when it refers to Deaf people. But from my experience over the years, I came to learn what the big “D” means.

Deaf with the capital “D” focuses on the person.
The word “deaf” focuses on the hearing impairment.

A group of Deaf people shared this with me, and this learning has stayed with me for years.

“Deaf and Dumb”. Two to three centuries ago, this might have been seen as acceptable term to describe Deaf people. But not today. “Dumb” can appear quite demeaning and insensitive to the Deaf person’s feelings because “Dumb” in today’s understanding refers to someone who is “not intelligent”.

Deaf people are happy to be called Deaf.

Agnes

Star, Metro Wednesday October 24, 2007

The lonely lifestyle in a world of silence

BEING deaf is not just living in a world of silence. It is a lonely and, at times, frustrating life. 

“It can get boring,” laments Mohamed Kham Johari, 28, a design and printing clerk, who used sign language to communicate.  

Lim: We feel that hearing people, in general, have no confidence in us.

The deaf are often neglected or even ignored by the hearing community, as the common perception is that deafness is tantamount to a physical and mental disability.  

“We feel that hearing people, in general, have no confidence in us and don’t see us as equals,” said Lim Anuar, 38, an art director at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.  

Employment placement is a challenge as the deaf people face difficulty in getting jobs that commensurate with their abilities and academic achievements.  

All together: (From left) Lim, Foo, Lam, Agnes, Mario, Kham and Ong discuss the calendar.

“The deaf face a lot of barriers as far as employment is concerned because of ignorance and reluctance on the part of the employers, as well as the attitudinal barriers within the deaf individuals themselves,” said RC Deaf Missions directors and sign language interpreter Agnes Peter.  

The RC Deaf Missions was set up in 2006 by Agnes and her brother Mario after many years of working with the deaf.  

“The mission is very employment focused. We want to educate potential employers that the deaf can contribute as well, and deserve opportunity where jobs are concerned,” Agnes said.  

“We work with the deaf, not for the deaf.” 

Mario: We don’t want the deaf to be treated differently.

The mission provides various services like consultancy and training for the deaf, sign language interpreting services and courses, skill enhancement workshops for sign language interpreters, among others.  

“We don’t want the deaf to be treated differently. What we have noticed also is that employers don’t give equal treatment to deaf employees, and the margin for salary increment is very low,” Mario said. 

It is not just about the salary at the workplace, acceptance is also important.  

“Colleagues have told me I’m lucky I’m deaf so I don’t have to hear all the nonsense that goes around. It’s not about that, what we want is to feel involved,” Lim said.  

Saito College student Rachel Lam, 23, hopes for a future where the deaf are treated normally.  

“We only have a hearing problem. It doesn’t mean we cannot work. Please don’t offer us lower pay just because we are deaf,” she said.  

In spite of everything, these people are a gutsy lot.  

“We have been facing challenges since the beginning, and we will continue to do so,” Lim said.  

Note: For more details on the RC Deaf Missions, visit www.rcdeafmissionsmalaysia.com or call 019-261 9920 (Agnes) or 013-350 5688 (Mario). �

You can obtain the calendar from us or you may visit any of these outlets to purchase a copy

1. Times Bookshop - 3 outlets - Pavillion, KLCC Suria, Bangsar Shopping Centre
2. Silverfish Books - Bangsar Baru, KL
3. First Edition Bookstores - Damansara Utama, PJ
4. Readers’ Corner, Subang Parade
5. Mentor Bookstore, Jalan Panggong KL, The Curve, Times Square, Queensbay in Penang

  

The Deaf Art Calendar is receiving public attention. Mario and I recently visited Silverfish Books over the weekend. The calendar is found in a prominent place where customers won’t miss to see it. Silverfish Books is in addition, providing us the opportunity to talk to its customers in a book launch event on Nov 17. See you there too.

Silverfish Books is currently located at:
67-1 Jalan Telawi Tiga, Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Website: www.silverfishbooks.com

Its new address, starting 16th November 2007 will be 58-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru (it is the row facing the houses where the post office is, upstairs from the pet shop, next to DHL).