“This event is very important because it gives deaf people a chance to be recognised and accepted by the community,” says the event head organiser, Beanca Smith. She adds that this is a yearly event and now that they are approaching the festive season, they already have charity events pending. The Department of Social Development urges all South Africans to fully support the initiative to make South African Sign language an official language in South Africa.
“Deaf persons continue to experience high levels of marginalisation and exclusion due to a general lack of understanding of deaf culture; lack of South African Sign language proficiency, and the availability of, and expense associated with professional sign language interpreter services. This limits the social participation and integration of deaf persons.” “One way of addressing this marginalisation is having South African Sign language recognised as an official language in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, and the country needs to seriously discuss this matter if we’re going to walk the talk in advancing disability rights.” The Department encourages South Africans to learn South African Sign language, include deaf persons in their social circles at home, work and places of worship, and to take action and speak out against any discrimination, abuse or other forms of human rights violations perpetrated against deaf persons.
