Inclusive education, is it fit for the deaf?

October 15, 2009 in Deaf Experiences, Discrimination Issues, Laws on Disability, Sign Language, deaf culture
Tags: deaf education, Department of Education, inclusive education, Sign Language, Special Education, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

This issue has been discussed and debated countless times with hearing people as protagonists. We have been dictating education to them since “education” was invented. Deaf education in the Philippines started more than 100 years ago. Has there been an improvement since then? Don’t we think it’s about time that the deaf people should be more involved in these discussions? It’s their rights that we’re securing, not ours. I hope that when the people from the government especially from the Department of Education start making in-depth discussions about inclusive education, they should at least give the deaf people a chance to be heard.

What’s in a Sign Name?

January 20, 2009 in Blogroll
Tags: Barack Obama sign name, Fidel Ramos, Filipino Sign Language, Gloria Macapacal-Arroyo, Jojo Esposa, Joseph Estrada, Sign Language, sign name

A few hours from now, the American nation will be witnessing a historic event. The most powerful nation in the world will inaugurate its first African-American president in history, Barack Obama. Most of the news articles on DeafRead are related to that momentous event. The most popular blog post happens to be the sign name [...]

Spider-Man with I-Love-You Sign

September 12, 2008 in Hello from Me, Sign Language
Tags: Filipino Sign Language, I-love-you sign language, Mekanda Robot, Raul Roco, Sign Language, Spider-man

This I-love-you sign of Spider-man has been used as part of the logo and emblem of most schools for the deaf and associations here. It also became a signature hand symbol used by a popular and charismatic politician former Senator Raul Roco when he ran for president in 2001. So “I LOVE YOU” sign is the same in the US, and of course, in my beloved country, the Philippines. By the way, the phrase is translated as “MAHAL KITA” or “INIIBIG KITA” in Filipino.

Interpreting: To mouth or not to mouth?

May 10, 2008 in Interpreting Issues
Tags: Filipino Sign Language, mouth words, Philippines, Sign Language

Using Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, I ask,
To mouth the words or not to mouth? That is the question.
A sign language interpreter oftentimes portray multiple roles depending on the situation, client’s educational background and the overall environment where interpreting takes place. He may be both an interpret and a teacher. This is very true especially in a [...]

Deaf Laugh

April 27, 2008 in Deaf Experiences
Tags: deaf laugh, Jefferson Cortez, pangasinan, Sign Language

Now what is a deaf laugh? A laugh without sound? Is it different from a regular laugh? Is it even louder than a hearing laugh?
Well, basically, there is no difference. A laugh, chuckle, giggle, chortle, cackle that you hear can also be heard from deaf people. Now, what made it different?
When we were in Alcala, Pangasinan [...]