GEORGE TOWN – Covering the mouths and noses provides a protection from the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, but for the hearing impaired and non-verbal community, it presents another obstacle to their already disadvantaged position.
With everyone masked, it is impossible for the hearing impaired to read lips.
Because of their disability, many are among the first candidates to be dismissed from their employment during these unprecedented times.
The community can only hope that their able bodied counterparts would be sensitive to their plight and communicate with them when indoors or use sign language, or be patient while they write down their requests.
YMCA Staff and Program Coordinator for the Deaf, Sharon Ong, explained that the deaf community is often overlooked, and now, they are badly affected by the pandemic.
“Some have been laid off from work, and we find it difficult to find part-time jobs because of our disability. I have been talking and counselling some of those affected because they are so down.”
YMCA has organised some programmes for the deaf to join English classes and leadership workshops for their self-improvement.
As many are dejected from their lost incomes, Ong explains that workshops are one way to reduce their increasing stress and anxiety.
Penang Deaf Association deputy president Sideek Shahul Hamid revealed that at least 20% of their members were axed during this period.
“It is not a 'first-in, last-out' principle. Even after working many years, reaching a particular wage level, some are let go because they’d rather take new people with lower pay,” he signed.
With 2,000 members, Sideek mentioned that some of them come from other states like Perak and Kedah.
“Many in Kedah have been made redundant during this time,” he added.
“I am fortunate to be able to work with the Penang City Council (MBPP) for the past 18 years, at the landscape department. I was one of the first hearing-impaired people to be recruited. Now there are 16 full-timers in MBPP and 22 contract workers at the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP). However, those who are not working for the government face a higher risk of being retrenched.”
He explained that this causes monetary issues.
Rent still has to be paid, but there is no job to bring in the money.
Some families are surviving on below a RM1,200 salary per month.
“Of course, there are communication issues because no one knows how to sign in the workplace. In my line of work, superiors usually show us how it is done, and I follow. Now with the masks, I can’t read lips. I sometimes feel very angry, to the point of being envious because I am always the last one to get the information.”
He also mentioned that many of the hearing impaired today cannot read lips.
That puts the deaf at a disadvantage when it comes to assimilating to society as many people don’t know how to sign.
“A company would hire the laziest worker than a hardworking deaf person. They say that there will be communication issues if they hire people like us.”
Fortunately, with technology, communication between the deaf community has gotten better.
During the present movement control order period, Sideek conducted meetings via Zoom with their fellow community members.
Video calls on Whatsapp and WeChat are a big help.
“Smartphones are essential within our community. I am always holding my phone because it is an important part of our lives in terms of communication.”
“I hope that people start to learn how to do sign language. Especially the police, hospitals, and public places where we come in contact. As of now, there are only two sign language interpreters in Penang – some states do not even have one!”
When asked about how the community can be engaged to learn how to sign, he said that many videos on YouTube can help with basic signing. He wants the deaf community to have similar rights with others, but the communication disparity has to be bridged.
During the lockdown, the association has offered aid to those who are affected by giving out food, helping out with job placements, and conducting signing classes to those who need it.
State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh urged the hearing impaired community to write more when communicating in view of the necessity for everyone to mask up.
As for jobs, Phee urged those who have lost their jobs, particularly from the disabled community to contact his office at Komtar.
"We will provide them with opportunities to locate jobs."
Phee said that Penang was collaborating with two or three companies in the private sector to offer jobs to the disabled, who lost theirs during the pandemic. – The Vibes, September 23, 2020.
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