DEPARTAMENTAL
NEWS
Deaf Around the World
D
eaf around the world face major differences in how they are treated and what facilities are available to assist them. In the USA and Canada there are laws requiring closed captioning on television and Deaf indviduals have excellent educational opportunities from Kindergarten through University. Here in North America, there are also many organizations giving various types of support to the Deaf. In India, a Deaf person may have opportunity to go to a ‘Deaf school’ if they live in the city, but not if they come from the thousands of little
villages still prevalent there. Over 50 years ago, before there was a school for the Deaf in Alberta, one of our Deaf members from Northern Alberta had to go all the way to Montreal. When she was taken to the train station and had to get on the train, she did not understand what was happening because neither she nor anyone in the family could sign for her. Fortunately, she received a good education and for many years served as a secretary in an Alberta government position. In some parts of the world, families with a Deaf child are
embarrassed and even resort to hiding them, or largely keeping them back from society. We know of a situation in Mongolia where for years a Deaf son was hidden in the home whenever company came. A while ago in China, Deaf people were embarrassed to be seen ‘signing’ while walking down the street. As a church, Adventists have had some accommodation for the Deaf but 99% of our churches around the world still have nothing for the Deaf community. Ellen White talks about meeting a Deaf man, Brother
The Deaf Ministry team at the last 2015 General Conference with Dr. Larry Evans and helpers at the Deaf Ministry booth. Many excellent contacts were made with leaders from around the world!
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Alberta Adventist News
DECEMBER 2018
