Reach out to the deaf on Talk Sign day
Schools and corporates are encouraged to buy Talk Sign stickers for R10 each and to wear them on Talk Sign Day, 8 March.
DIARISE Talk Sign Day on Friday, 8 March and reach out to those who are Deaf by adopting Talk Sign at your school or business.
The Talk Sign campaign, an initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society, is now in its sixth year and is aimed at ensuring that all people in society, school children in particular, become aware of Sign Language, of the plight of the deaf , of the need for deaf people to communicate and to raise money for their cause.
The Talk Sign Campaign mission is to create awareness among the South African hearing community, which will make them sensitive to the needs of the Deaf and hearing impaired. This would promote sign language that, in turn, enables two-way communication. The long-term plan is to fully integrate the Deaf community into schools, social and competitive sports, the workplace and all aspects of life. In a nutshell, the Talk Sign campaign aims to have South African Sign Language (SASL) approved as South Africa’s 12th official language.
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Speaking at the recent launch at the Pavilion Hotel, Justice Zak Yacoob, president of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, said he felt deafness was the worst disability, as it affected the level of information deaf people received in the world.
“Information shut out is the problem and the right for a person to receive information is dented which affects their growth as a person. We are trying to cure this deficit of growth with this campaign,” he said.
Sponsor of the campaign, Ashok Sewnarain, CEO of International Bank Vaults, said as a businessman it was vital that he support a campaign such as this.
“Loneliness and living in isolation is not a healthy lifestyle for anyone and it is our duty and responsibility to take care of and support people who are challenged. Businesses need to assist good organisations such as the KZN Blind and Deaf Society. We need to think and dream big and help the people of Durban, SA and Africa to go out bold and big and make the impossible possible,” he said, adding that he would be pledging R100 000 towards the campaign this year.
Schools and corporates are encouraged to buy Talk Sign stickers for R10 each and to wear them on Talk Sign Day, 8 March.
To place an order for stickers, contact Denika on 031 309 4991 or email: denika@talksign.co.za.
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