Educating the Deaf

This morning I met the one sign interpreter employed by UDSM. He has two students that he is responsible for. This is the first year that the university has provided accommodation for hearing impaired students. In talking with him, we discussed the deaf education program in Tanzania. There really isn’t one. There is a shortage of interpreters because there is no where in Africa to be trained as an interpreter. There is very little access for most deaf children to learn sign. If they do learn sign there are no interpreters available in the public school system and very few interpreters for hire if the parents can afford it. The deaf children, who are completely capable in every other way, are forever at an educational disadvantage because they start behind in the educational system. Only recently has there been any action directed at educating deaf children in the traditional education system.

From what Thomas told me, any of the training that has been done has been from American interpreters that want to increase hearing impaired education in Tanzania. Of the children I’ve met in Tanzania that are hearing impaired, only one has had a cochlear implant, a surgically inserted hearing aid. I have no idea what it costs here, but I’m sure that only the wealthiest families can afford the procedure and maintenance along with the doctor’s fees. I have to wonder if families with hearing impaired children in rural areas even know that there is such a procedure available to help their children regain their hearing.

In the US, the public school system is required to provide accommodation to special needs students whether it is in class interpreters or special classes. The health system from the time a disability is discovered accommodations are made and information provided to help parents help their children. There are play groups to teach toddlers and parents sign language.

The changes in educating special needs children in Tanzania are slow coming, but they are coming. So far great strides have been made in educating the blind. Even the university is accommodating many blind students. The hard part to watch is the number of students that are being excluded from the educational system now. The government is making slow strides in legislation and funding for special needs education and funding for educational programs. The problem is not only with visually and hearing impaired children, it is for children and adults with physical disabilities as well. There is little assistance for anyone with disabilities. There are few options for employment. Many disabled people are reduced to begging.