Tertiary education: where does the hearing impaired go?

This morning 27 – 4 – 2009, I woke up to hear on a morning newspaper review programme that Ghana now has a female blind lawyer.

Some months back, at the 2008 graduation of the University of Ghana, the Daily Graphic posted on its front page a picture of a blind graduant receiving acknowledgement from the President, John Evans Atta Mills.

News of this sought gladdens my heart as it gives hope not only to a lot of other physically challenged but to physically fit people to aim higher.

I am however worried about the hearing impaired, I have tried over the years to find out here the deaf go after secondary /technical education.

EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES
SO WHERE DO THE HEARING IMPAIRED GO?
NO WHERE! They are not able to pursue tertiary education. They are left to fend for themselves and this is not because they do not want to pursue tertiary education but because (as I was told by a special education teacher) it would mean each lecture room would have to have a translator; and it would be expensive for the tertiary Institutions.

Is it not a shame that just because someone cannot hear or speak he or she would not be able to achieve greater heights? So it is a curse to be a hearing impaired in our society!

I am wondering how the society for the disabled in Ghana have over the years handled this issue as we only hear of them when it comes to issues of ridicule as in a publication on
(www.deaftoday.com/news)(2003, September 25). TV3 "Music Music" programme humiliated the Deaf. etc

Over the years our society has pretended the hearing impaired do not exist. We only see them as good for charity thus they are always found roaming our offices with envelopes form God knows here soliciting for funds.

Even though attempts had been made in the past by the national television to introduce a translator in their news bulletin segments this has been short lived.

EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES
In fact, there are still some employers who worry about working with hearing impaired persons. They may fear communication problems with hearing impaired persons or express doubts about their working abilities. Some simply want to avoid trouble as they do not have great confidence in employing hearing impaired persons and so do not bother to do so. On the other hand, some employers are not open enough, they normally select hearing candidates. For clerical posts, the employer may worry that hearing impaired persons cannot handle phone calls and so give up to employ them. Hence, for some hearing impaired persons with fair qualifications, they can only secure jobs in low-end skills labour market. From what I get from hearing impaired persons, their interpersonal relationship in workplace is poor and they have difficulties in establishing good relationship with hearing colleagues and not to say breaking into the circle of hearing persons. Thus, apart from working, they seldom talk to others.
For God sake these people are not mentally challenged! In my view they cannot be classified as physically challenged! Some of these people can indulge in anti social behaviours if the society chooses to neglect them and be a menace to society.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I must acknowledge the hostess .of MMA Nkomo; Madam Afia Ansaa Ampene for the support to the Deaf by employing the services of a translator to translate the discussions.

RECOMMENDATION
Let us not think they are only good for vocational training. I call on the Ghana Education Service to do more to enable them enjoy their right to tertiary education.

I wish to encourage the television stations to help the course of the hearing impaired by using subtitles as often as possible in their transmissions. This may not be a profitable venture but it is for a good course.

I wish to take this opportunity to call on the newly inaugurated Disability Council Board to take this matter up so that we can harness the potentials of our hearing impaired brethrens.

Credit: Dansoa Akowuah
[Email: dansoa1232002@yahoo.com]

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