| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (25 min. 6 sec.) ; 151640868 bytes |
| Summary |
Patrick Otema was born deaf in remote Uganda and at 15-years-old has never had a conversation. Can a determined group of sign language teachers help youngsters like him break their silence?Patrick is just one person among the two per cent of Ugandans who are deaf, either from birth or because of common diseases like measles, mumps or malaria. They end up living in a silent withdrawn world, unable to communicate, and are often stigmatised and abused in their communities. But a determined group of sign language teachers are offering a helping hand - and finally giving them a voice."I think I can teach him easily, in the past I was also like him," teacher Raymond Okkelo says.He became deaf as a child after contracting malaria. Now he's established the first ever sign language course in Patrick's remote community of Agago in northern Uganda."I couldn't use sign language, the only thing I could do was hide in fear," he tells Kiki.People walk many kilometres to attend his classes. The pupils range from a nine-year-old boy to an 80-year-old woman - whole families hoping to at last be able to communicate properly with each other.It's just one indication of the task ahead for the teachers and campaigners trying to improve the education and outlook for deaf people in Uganda."When a child has the language, he's free," says Grace Ampaire, the head teacher of a boarding school for deaf children in the southern town of Kygegwa.Some of the children are so abused and ostracised at home, that they don't want to leave at the end of term."There is one child here, who whenever he does something wrong, the father could tell the other siblings that 'you slap that stupid deaf'," she says. "They are abused in many ways.""Most families say being deaf means being stupid," 16-year-old pupil Jackline Mukamungu says. "When I was young, I couldn't communicate, I felt sad.""Now, I'm happy here with other deaf people and we can sign well... the way I've changed is that today I feel proud."Find out if Patrick too finally manages to speak and see this remarkable story |
| Notes |
Closed captioning in English |
| Event |
Broadcast 2015-08-18 at 21:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: NC |
| Subject |
Childlessness -- Psychological aspects.
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Childlessness -- Social aspects.
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Family size -- Decision making.
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Married people -- Attitudes.
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Childfree choice.
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Australia.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Brockie, Jenny, host
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Benisch, Angela, contributor
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Cloutier, Sarah, contributor
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Cookson, Adele, contributor
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Elgar, Mark, contributor
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Harman, Brownyn, contributor
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Hickman, David, contributor
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Hume, Yang-En, contributor
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Irvine, Stephen, contributor
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Murray, Kate, contributor
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Obeid, Maha, contributor
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Regan, Catherine, contributor
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Schutter, Jeff, contributor
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Whitten, Mandi, contributor
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